The 1978 USC Trojans football team represented the
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California (USC, SC, or Southern Cal) is a Private university, private research university in Los Angeles, California, United States. Founded in 1880 by Robert M. Widney, it is the oldest private research university in C ...
in the
1978 NCAA Division I-A football season. Following the season, the Trojans were crowned national champions according to the
Coaches Poll
The Coaches Poll is a weekly ranking of the top 25 NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) college football, Division I college basketball, and Division I college baseball teams. The football version of the poll has been known officiall ...
. While
Alabama
(We dare defend our rights)
, anthem = "Alabama (state song), Alabama"
, image_map = Alabama in United States.svg
, seat = Montgomery, Alabama, Montgomery
, LargestCity = Huntsville, Alabama, Huntsville
, LargestCounty = Baldwin County, Al ...
claimed the
AP Poll
The Associated Press poll (AP poll) provides weekly rankings of the top 25 NCAA teams in one of three Division I college sports: football, men's basketball and women's basketball. The rankings are compiled by polling 62 sportswriters and broad ...
title because it had defeated top-ranked
Penn State #Redirect Pennsylvania State University
The Pennsylvania State University (Penn State or PSU) is a Public university, public Commonwealth System of Higher Education, state-related Land-grant university, land-grant research university with campu ...
in the
Sugar Bowl, the Trojans felt they deserved the title since they had defeated Alabama and
Notre Dame during the regular season, and then
Michigan
Michigan () is a state in the Great Lakes region of the upper Midwestern United States. With a population of nearly 10.12 million and an area of nearly , Michigan is the 10th-largest state by population, the 11th-largest by area, and the ...
in the
Rose Bowl. Both USC and Alabama ended their seasons with a single loss.
Schedule
The Trojans finished the regular season with an 11–1 record before going on to defeat the
Michigan Wolverines 17–10 in the
Rose Bowl.
Personnel
Game summaries
Notre Dame
"Trojans' Late Field Goal Stymies Irish Comeback." Palm Beach Post. 1978 Nov 26.
/ref>
Rose Bowl
1978 Trojans in the NFL
All 22 starters played in the NFL.
*Marcus Allen
Marcus LeMarr Allen (born March 26, 1960) is an American former football running back who played in the National Football League (NFL) for 16 seasons, primarily with the Los Angeles Raiders. Considered one of the greatest goal line and short- ...
*Chip Banks
William "Chip" Banks (born September 18, 1959) is a former All-Pro professional American football linebacker.
High school and college career
Banks graduated from Lucy Craft Laney High School in Augusta, Georgia. He played college football at ...
*Lynn Cain
Lynn Dwight Cain (born October 16, 1955) is a Head Football Coach and retired American football running back in the National Football League.
College career
After winning All Eastern League Defensive Back with the Roosevelt Roughriders in High S ...
* Rich Dimler
*Ronnie Lott
Ronald Mandel Lott (born May 8, 1959) is an American former professional football player who was a cornerback and safety in the National Football League (NFL) for 14 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s.
Lott played college football for the Univ ...
*Anthony Muñoz
Michael Anthony Muñoz (born August 19, 1958) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle for 13 seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals of the National Football League (NFL). He played college football for t ...
* Charles White
*Brad Budde
Brad Edward Budde (born May 9, 1958) is a former American college and professional football player who was an offensive guard in the National Football League (NFL) for seven seasons during the 1980s. Budde played college football for the Unive ...
*Garry Cobb
Garry Wilbert Cobb (born March 16, 1957 in Carthage, North Carolina) is a former American football linebacker in the National Football League for the Dallas Cowboys, Detroit Lions, and Philadelphia Eagles. He played college football at the U ...
*Larry Braziel
Larry Braziel (born September 25, 1954) is an American former football player who played seven seasons in the National Football League
The National Football League (NFL) is a professional American football league that consists of 32 tea ...
* Paul McDonald
* Riki Gray
* Ray Butler
* Steve Busick
*Keith Van Horne
Keith Van Horne (born November 6, 1957) is an American former professional football player who was an offensive tackle in the National Football League (NFL) for 13 seasons during the 1980s and 1990s. He played college football for the Unive ...
* Dennis Smith
*Allen, Lott, and Muñoz are the only three starters on the team enshrined in the Pro Football Hall of Fame
The Pro Football Hall of Fame is the hall of fame for professional American football, located in Canton, Ohio. Opened on September 7, , the Hall of Fame enshrines exceptional figures in the sport of professional football, including players, coa ...
.
Awards and honors
Charles White: Heisman trophy, Maxwell Award, Walter Camp Award, UPI Player of the Year
References
{{Pac-12 Conference football champions
USC
USC Trojans football seasons
College football national champions
Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons
Rose Bowl champion seasons
USC Trojans football
The USC Trojans football program represents University of Southern California in the sport of American football. The Trojans compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) and the Pac-12 ...