American Football Database
American Football Database
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1968 USC Trojans football
Pac-8 champion
Rose Bowl, L 16–27 vs. Ohio State
ConferencePacific-8 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 2
APNo. 4
1968 record9–1–1 (6–0 Pac-8)
Head coachJohn McKay (9th season)
CaptainO. J. Simpson
CaptainSteve Sogge
Home stadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum (c. 94,500, grass)
Seasons
← 1967
1969 →
1968 Pacific-8 football standings
v · d · e Conf     Overall
Team W   L   T     W   L   T
#4 USC 6 0 0     9 1 1
#15 Oregon State 5 1 0     7 3 0
Stanford 3 3 1     6 3 1
California 2 2 1     7 3 1
Oregon 2 4 0     4 6 0
UCLA 2 4 0     3 7 0
Washington State 1 3 1     3 6 1
Washington 1 5 1     3 5 2
† – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

The 1968 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1968 college football season. In their ninth year under head coach John McKay, the Trojans compiled a 9–1–1 record (6–0 against conference opponents), won the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac-8) championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 259 to 168.[1] The team was ranked #2 in the final Coaches Poll and #4 in the final AP Poll.

Steve Sogge led the team in passing, completing 122 of 207 passes for 1,454 yards with nine touchdowns and nine interceptions. O. J. Simpson led the team in rushing with 383 carries for 1,880 yards and 23 touchdowns. Jim Lawrence led the team in receiving with 26 catches for 386 yards and two touchdowns.[2] Simpson won both the Heisman Trophy and the Walter Camp Award.

Schedule[]

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 21at No. 16 Minnesota*No. 2W 29–2060,820
September 28at Northwestern*No. 3W 24–747,277
October 5No. 13 Miami (FL)*No. 2W 28–371,189
October 12at No. 18 StanfordNo. 2W 27–2481,000
October 19WashingtonNo. 1
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 14–760,990
November 2at OregonNo. 1W 20–1333,500
November 9No. 11 CaliforniadaggerNo. 1
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 35–1780,871
November 16No. 13 Oregon StateNo. 1
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 17–1359,236
November 23at UCLANo. 1
W 28–1675,066
November 30No. 9 Notre Dame*No. 2
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA (Jeweled Shillelagh)
T 21–2182,659
January 1, 1969vs. No. 1 Ohio State*No. 2L 16–27102,063
  • *Non-conference game
  • daggerHomecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster[]

1968 USC Trojans football team roster
Players Coaches
Offense
Pos. # Name Class
WR 9 Chandler, BobBob Chandler So
QB 7 Holmgren, MikeMike Holmgren Jr
TE 84 Klein, BobBob Klein Sr
WR 28 Lawrence, JimJim Lawrence Sr
TE 86 Miller, BobBob Miller Sr
T 78 Montgomery, MarvMarv Montgomery Jr
QB 6 Sogge, SteveSteve Sogge Sr
RB 32 Simpson, O. J.O. J. Simpson Sr
T 77 Smith, SidSid Smith Jr
Defense
Pos. # Name Class
FS 17 Battle, MikeMike Battle Sr
DT 71 Cowlings, AlAl Cowlings Jr
CB 16 Durko, SandySandy Durko Jr
DE 83 Gunn, JimmyJimmy Gunn Jr
DE 85 Hayhoe, BillBill Hayhoe Sr
LB 55 Snow, JimJim Snow Sr
Special teams
Pos. # Name Class
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

Legend
  • (C) Team captain
  • (S) Suspended
  • (I) Ineligible
  • Injured Injured
  • Redshirt Redshirt

1969 NFL Draft[]

The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.

Player Position Round Pick Franchise
O.J. Simpson Running back 1 1 Buffalo Bills
Bob Klein Tight end 1 21 Los Angeles Rams
Bill Hayhoe Defensive tackle 5 116 Green Bay Packers
Bob Miller Tackle 6 138 New Orleans Saints
Jim Lawrence Back 8 189 New Orleans Saints
Jack O’Malley Tackle 12 302 San Francisco 49ers
Mike Battle Defensive back 12 311 New York Jets
Wilson Bowie Running back 13 320 Detroit Lions

[3]

Awards and honors[]


References[]

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