1974 USC Trojans football team

1974 USC Trojans football
UPI poll national champion
Pac-8 champion
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 18–17 vs. Ohio State
ConferencePacific-8 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 2
Record10–1–1 (6–0–1 Pac-8)
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
1974 Pacific-8 Conference football standings
Conf. Overall
Team W   L   T W   L   T
No. 2 USC $ 6 – 0 – 1 10 – 1 – 1
Stanford 5 – 1 – 1 5 – 4 – 2
California 4 – 2 – 1 7 – 3 – 1
UCLA 4 – 2 – 1 6 – 3 – 2
Washington 3 – 4 – 0 5 – 6 – 0
Oregon State 3 – 4 – 0 3 – 8 – 0
Washington State 1 – 6 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
Oregon 0 – 7 – 0 2 – 9 – 0
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1974 USC Trojans football team was an American football team that represented the University of Southern California (USC) as a member of the Pacific-8 Conference during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In their 15th year under head coach John McKay, the Trojans compiled a 10–1–1 record (6–0–1 in conference games), won the Pac 8 championship, and outscored their opponents by a total of 363 to 142. They lost the season opener on the road against No. 20 Arkansas and went undefeated the rest of the season, including a week 2 victory over No. 8 Pittsburgh and a comeback victory over No. 5 Notre Dame in which they scored 55 unanswered points after trailing 24–0. They concluded the season with an 18–17 victory over No. 3 Ohio State in the 1975 Rose Bowl, converting a two-point conversion in the fourth quarter for the win.[1]

USC was ranked No. 1 in the final United Press International (UPI) poll, receiving 27 of the 34 first-place votes from the coaches panel. The Trojans were ranked No. 2 in the final AP poll, trailing Oklahoma; Oklahoma was not included in the UPI poll as the school was on probation for recruiting violations.[2]

Running back Anthony Davis tallied 1,354 rushing yards and 13 touchdowns, finished second behind Archie Griffin in the Heisman Trophy voting, and won the W. J. Voit Memorial Trophy as the outstanding college football player on the Pacific Coast. Davis and linebacker Richard Wood were consensus first-team picks on the 1974 All-America college football team. Tight end Jim Obradovich and guard Bill Bain also received first-team All-America honors from one or more selectors.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendanceSource
September 14at No. 20 Arkansas*No. 5
L 7–2254,622[3][4]
September 28at No. 8 Pittsburgh*No. 18
W 16–752,934[5][6]
October 5Iowa*No. 9
W 41–352,095[7][8]
October 12vs. Washington StateNo. 7
W 54–732,000[9][10]
October 19at OregonNo. 6
W 16–732,500[11][12]
October 26Oregon StateNo. 6
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 35–1052,392[13][14]
November 2CaliforniaNo. 6
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
T 15–1553,921[15][16]
November 9at StanfordNo. 11
W 35–1083,500[17][18]
November 16WashingtonNo. 8
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 42–1151,157[19][20]
November 23at UCLANo. 8
W 34–982,467[21][22]
November 30No. 5 Notre Dame*No. 6
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)
W 55–2483,522[23][24]
January 1, 1975vs. No. 3 Ohio State*No. 5
W 18–17106,721[25][26]
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Game summaries

Washington

Team 1 234Total
Washington 0 308 11
• USC 7 14147 42
Scoring summary
1USCDiggs 36-yard pass from Haden (Limahelu kick)USC 7-0
2USCDavis 7-yard pass from Haden (Limahelu kick)USC 14-0
2USCDavis 1-yard run (Limahelu kick)USC 21-0
2WASHRobbins 46-yard field goalUSC 21-3
3USCCarter 1-yard run (Limahelu kick)USC 28-3
3USCEvans 3-yard run (Limahelu kick)USC 35-3
4USCFord 36-yard run (Limahelu kick)USC 42-3
4WASHMcBride 4-yard run (Conley pass from McBride)USC 42-11

[27]

Roster

1974 USC Trojans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
G 66 Bill Bain
RB 42 Ricky Bell So
RB 28 Anthony Davis Sr
WR 26 Shelton Diggs So
QB 8 Vince Evans So
QB 10 Pat Haden Sr
G 61 Donnie Hickman So
G 65 Melvin Jackson Jr
WR 25 J.K. McKay Sr
TE 89 Jim Obradovich
OT 76 Marvin Powell So
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
DB 44 Mike Burns So
DT 79 Gary Jeter So
LB 57 David Lewis So
DT Greg Marderian
LB 52 Rod Martin So
CB 46 Danny Reece Jr
LB 55 Eric Williams So
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
PK 11 Chris Limahelu
K/P 39 Glen Walker So
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches
Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured
  • Redshirt

[28]

Statistics

Anthony Davis

Running back Anthony Davis led the team with 1,354 rushing yards on 288 carries during the regular season for an average of 4.7 yards per carry. He added 67 yards on 13 carries in the 1975 Rose Bowl. Davis also led the team with 15 touchdowns for 90 points scored. He also ranked third nationally with 1,908 all-purpose yards, including pass receptions and kickoff and punt returns.[29]

Against UCLA, he broke O. J. Simpson's Pac-8 career rushing record. He concluded the 1974 regular season with career totals of 52 touchdowns, 314 points scored, and 3,657 rushing yards.[29]

He also set a national career record with six touchdowns on kickoff returns and a single-season record with three kickoff returns for touchdown during the 1974 season.[29]

Others

The team's leading rushers following Davis were Allen Carter (505 yards, 5.4 yards per carry), Ricky Bell (261 yards, 6.7 yards per carry), Pat Haden (240 yards, 2.6 yards per carry), Dave Farmer (204 yards, 7.6 yards per carry), and Vince Evans (201 yards, 4.8 yards per carry).[30]

Quarterback Pat Haden completed 58 of 127 passes (45.7%) for 807 yards, 11 touchdowns, nine interceptions, and a 113 passer rating. Backup Vince Evans completed six of 16 passes (37.5%) for 113 yards.[30]

The team's leading receivers were J. K. McKay (29 receptions for 446 yards and seven touchdowns), Anthony Davis (14 receptions for 87 yards and two touchdowns), and Shelton Diggs (eight receptions for 200 yards and two touchdowns).[30] Diggs caught the game-winning two point conversion in the 1975 Rose Bowl.

Awards and honors

Anthony Davis

Running back Anthony Davis received numerous awards and honors for his performance during the 1974 season, including the following:

Davis was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2005.[37]

All-America honors

Linebacker Richard Wood, sometimes known as "Batman",[38] was a consensus first-team All-American, receiving first-team honors from multiple selectors, including the AP,[32] UPI,[34] and Newspaper Enterprise Association (NEA).[39] It was Wood's third consecutive year as an All-American.[32] Wood was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2007.[40]

In addition to Davis and Wood, three other USC players received first-team All-America honors from one or more selectors:

  • Guard Bill Bain received first-team honors from The Sporting News[41] and Time. Time described Bain as a "bruiser who can play anywhere along the line. He's been prying open gaps for Anthony Davis for two years."[35]
  • Tight end Jim Obradovich received first-team honors from the NEA.[39]
  • Safety Charlie Phillips received first-team honors from the FWAA.[33]

All-Pac-8 honors

Twelve USC players received first-team honors from the AP or UPI on the 1974 All-Pacific-8 Conference football team: Davis (AP-1, UPI-1); Obradovich (AP-1, UPI-1); Wood (AP-1, UPI-1); Bain (AP-1); Phillips (AP-1); safety Marvin Cobb (AP-1, UPI-1); tackle Marvin Powell (AP-1); defensive lineman Gary Jeter (AP-1); defensive lineman Art Riley (AP-1); linebacker Ed Powell (AP-1); defensive back Danny Reece (AP-1); and placekicker Chris Limahelu (AP-1). Five others received second-team honors: quarterback Pat Haden (AP-2); tackle Steve Knutson (AP-2); wide receiver J. K. McKay (AP-2); defensive lineman Otha Bradley (AP-2); linebacker Dale Mitchell (AP-2).[42][43][44]

References

  1. ^ "Southern California Yearly Results (1970-1974)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
  2. ^ Mal Florence (January 3, 1975). "USC Wins 49/50 of a National Title: No. 1 Dissenter Is Oklahoma, the Writers' Choice". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 6 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  3. ^ Mal Florence (September 15, 1974). "Trojans' Dream of No. 1 Is Just Hog Wash, 22-7: Davis Has 106-Yard TD Against Razorbacks". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 10 – via Newspapers.com.
  4. ^ "Razorbacks upset Southern Cal, 22–7". The Marshall News Messenger. September 15, 1974. Retrieved March 28, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  5. ^ Russ Franke (September 29, 1974). "USC Whittles Down Pitt, 16-7". The Pittsburgh Press. pp. D1, D2 – via Newspapers.com.
  6. ^ "USC offense tops Pitt defense 16–7". The Tennessean. September 29, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  7. ^ Mal Florence (October 6, 1974). "USC Goes Far With Fumbles; Phillips Turns Iowa Errors Into Long TDs in 41-3 Rout". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 12 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  8. ^ "Hawk fumbles let USC romp". Omaha World-Herald. October 6, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  9. ^ Harry Missildine (October 13, 1974). "Trojans Thump Washington State; Anthony Davis Enjoys Big Evening: Third Period Explosion Insures USC Triumph". The Spokesman-Review. p. 1 (sports) – via Newspapers.com.
  10. ^ "Davis on target; Trojans bag Cougs". Tri-City Herald. October 13, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  11. ^ Don Chapman (October 20, 1974). "Trojans Drop Ducks: Limahelu, Davis Aid 16-7 Win". Statesman. Salem, Oregon. pp. 41, 42 – via Newspapers.com.
  12. ^ "Field goals lift USC pat Ducks". Oakland Tribune. October 20, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  13. ^ Mal Florence (October 27, 1974). "USC Takes Its Time and Wins, 31-10". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 14 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  14. ^ "USC outlasts Oregon State". Santa Cruz Sentinel. October 27, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  15. ^ Mal Florence (November 3, 1974). "USC Gets Tie With Cal and One With Stanford". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 12 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  16. ^ "SC escapes with tie". Independent Press-Telegram. November 3, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  17. ^ Jim Bainbridge (November 10, 1974). "McKay gets last sneer as Troy buries Stanford, 34-10". The San Francisco Examiner. pp. 1C, 3C – via Newspapers.com.
  18. ^ "Davis leads USC to a bed of roses". The Argus of Fremont. November 10, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  19. ^ Mal Florence (November 17, 1974). "USC, UCLA Warm Up for Each Other With Easy Wins: Washington Routed, 42-11; Davis Rolls for 147 Yards". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 12 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  20. ^ "Trojans waltz past Huskies". Ventura County Star. November 17, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  21. ^ Mal Florence (November 24, 1974). "A.D. Dances Past O.J., USC Past UCLA: 82,467 See Trojans Win Another New Year's Date in Pasadena, 34-9". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 4 – via Newspapers.com.
  22. ^ "USC comes out smelling like roses again, 34–9". Independent Press-Telegram. November 24, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  23. ^ Mal Florence (December 1, 1974). "A.D. Turns Irish Around, Upside-Down, 55-24: Behind 24-0, USC Hurries Back". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 8 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  24. ^ "Incredible USC rally rips Irish". The Fresno Bee. December 1, 1974. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  25. ^ Mal Florence (January 2, 1975). "Trojans Gamble and Make 8 the Hard Way, 18-17: Haden Passes to McKay, Diggs to Top Buckeyes in Rose Bowl". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1, 6 – via Newspapers.com.
  26. ^ "Trojans' rally decks Buckeyes 18–17". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. January 2, 1975. Retrieved September 21, 2025 – via Newspapers.com.
  27. ^ Eugene Register-Guard. November 17, 1974
  28. ^ "Trojans vs. Cougars: probable starters". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. October 12, 1974. p. 14.
  29. ^ a b c d "Davis Again Given Voit Grid Honor". The Valley News. December 26, 1974 – via Newspapers.com.
  30. ^ a b c "1974 Southern California Trojans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  31. ^ Mal Florence (December 4, 1974). "Griffin Thought He Would Lose to A.D." Los Angeles Times. p. 1 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  32. ^ a b c "Davis, Wood Named on AP All-American". Los Angeles Times. December 7, 1974. p. 7 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  33. ^ a b "All-America Team". Los Angeles Times. December 3, 1974. p. 3 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  34. ^ a b "Buckeyes head UPI all-stars". Long Beach Independent and Press-Telegram. December 5, 1974. p. C3 – via Newspapers.com.
  35. ^ a b "Anthony Davis: As Tough to Bring Down as Supercharged Rhino". Los Angeles Times. December 9, 1974. p. 2 (part III).
  36. ^ "A.D.: It's time to be moving on". Long Beach Independent. December 31, 1974. p. C1 – via Newspapers.com.
  37. ^ "Anthony Davis". National Football Foundation. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  38. ^ Mal Florence (October 29, 1974). "USC's Batman: Cancel the Alfalfa Tea; Richard Wood Is Back on Steak". Los Angeles Times – via Newspapers.com.
  39. ^ a b "1974 NEA All-America". Berkeley Daily Gazette. December 4, 1974. p. 18 – via Newspapers.com.
  40. ^ "Richard Wood". National Football Foundation. Retrieved September 21, 2025.
  41. ^ "Archie Sporting News grid player of year". Long Beach Independent and Press-Telegram. December 11, 1974. p. C7 – via Newspapers.com.
  42. ^ "AP All-Pac-8 Team". Los Angeles Times. December 6, 1974. p. 14 (part III) – via Newspapers.com.
  43. ^ "All Pac-8 Selections". The Times, San Mateo. December 5, 1974. p. 22.
  44. ^ "Davis, Bartkowski top All-Coast club". Lodi News-Sentinel. December 4, 1974.
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