The 1971 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1971 NCAA University Division football season. In their 12th year under head coach John McKay, the Trojans compiled a 6–4–1 record (3–2–1 against conference opponents), finished in second place in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8), and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 229 to 164.[1] The team was ranked #20 in the final AP Poll.
Jim Jones led the team in passing, completing 89 of 161 passes for 995 yards with seven touchdowns and ten interceptions. Lou Harris led the team in rushing with 167 carries for 801 yards and four touchdowns. Edesel Garrison led the team in receiving with 25 catches for 475 yards and five touchdowns.[2]
Schedule
| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| | No. 16 Alabama* | No. 5 | | L 10–17 | 67,781 | [3] |
| September 18 | | at Rice* | No. 17 | | W 24–0 | 22,000 | [4] |
| September 25 | | Illinois* | No. 16 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| W 28–0 | 49,390 | [5] |
| October 2 | | at No. 8 Oklahoma* | No. 17 | | L 20–33 | 61,826 | [6] |
| October 9 | | Oregon | | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| L 23–28 | 50,111 | [7] |
| October 16 | 7:30 p.m. | No. 15 Stanford | | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)
| L 18–33 | 65,375 | [8] |
| October 23 | | at No. 6 Notre Dame* | | | W 28–14 | 59,075 | [9] |
| October 30 | 1:31 p.m. | at California | No. 20 | | W 28–0 | 54,000 | [10] |
| November 6 | | Washington State | No. 17 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| W 30–20 | 57,432 | [11] |
| November 13 | | at No. 19 Washington | No. 15 | | W 13–12 | 59,800 | [12] |
| November 20 | | UCLA | No. 15 | | T 7–7 | 68,426 | [13] |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
- All times are in Pacific time
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[14]
Game summaries
At Notre Dame
| Team |
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • USC |
14 |
14 | 0 | 0 |
28 |
| Notre Dame |
7 |
0 | 7 | 0 |
14 |
Scoring summary |
| 1 | | USC | Garrison 31-yard pass from Jones (Rae kick) | USC 7-0 |
|
| 1 | | ND | Huff 1-yard run (Thomas kick) | Tie 7-7 |
|
| 1 | | USC | Garrison 24-yard pass from Rae (Rae kick) | USC 14-7 |
|
| 2 | | USC | Cunningham 1-yard run (Rae kick) | USC 21-7 |
|
| 2 | | USC | Dyer 53-yard interception return (Rae kick) | USC 28-7 |
|
| 3 | | ND | Cieszkowski 4-yard run (Thomas kick) | USC 28-14 |
[15]
At Washington
| Game information
|
- First quarter
- USC – Mike Rae 34-yard field goal. USC 3–0.
- WASH – John Brady 21-yard pass from Sonny Sixkiller (kick failed). Washington 6–3. Drive: 2 plays, 31 yards.
- Second quarter
- Third quarter
- USC – Jimmy Jones 7-yard run (Mike Rae kick). USC 10–6.
- Fourth quarter
- WASH – Pete Taggares 2-yard run (run failed). Washington 12–10. Drive: 48 yards.
- USC – Mike Rae 28-yard field goal. USC 13–12.
|
Jimmy Jones sets school record for total career touchdowns (42), breaking the old mark held by Mort Kaer.
Personnel
| 1971 USC Trojans football team roster
|
| Players
|
Coaches
|
| Offense
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Defense
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Special teams
| Pos. |
# |
Name |
Class
|
| P
|
|
Dave Boulware
|
|
- Head coach
- Coordinators/assistant coaches
- Legend
- (C) Team captain
- (S) Suspended
- (I) Ineligible
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References
- ^ "Southern California Yearly Results (1970-1974)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ "1971 Southern California Trojans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Alabama upsets So. Cal, 17–10". Albuquerque Journal. September 11, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Owls slugged 24–0 by USC". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. September 19, 1971. Retrieved March 27, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Troy stumbles but whitewashes Illinois". The Modesto Bee. September 26, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Swift Sooners trample Trojans". Independent Press-Telegram. October 3, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Ducks hand USC another setback, 28–23". Santa Barbara News-Press. October 10, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Tribe dumps Trojans, 33–18; snifs roses". The Sunday Oregonian. October 17, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "ISU, Notre Dame suffer losses". The Terre Haute Tribune. October 24, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans blast Bears, 28–0 behind QB Jimmy Jones". Ventura County Star-Free Press. October 31, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans troubled despite victory". The Daily Breeze. November 7, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Rae's field goal earns Troy win". The Times-Herald. November 14, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Bad punt helps UCLA tie Southern Cal, 7–7". Richmond Times-Dispatch. November 21, 1971. Retrieved September 30, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Schedule/Results (1971 Southern California)". NCAA Statistics. National Collegiate Athletic Association. Retrieved September 30, 2025.
- ^ "Notre Dame Falls 28-14". The Palm Beach Post. October 24, 1971.
- ^ "Rae Boots Trojans Past Huskies, 13-12." Eugene Register-Guard. 1971 Nov 14. Retrieved 2021-Dec-06.
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National championship seasons in bold |