The 1981 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their sixth year under head coach John Robinson , the Trojans compiled a 9–3 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10), and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 284 to 170.[1]
Quarterback John Mazur led the team in passing, completing 93 of 194 passes for 1,128 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Marcus Allen led the team in rushing with 433 carries for 2,427 yards and 22 touchdowns. Jeff Simmons led the team in receiving yards with 28 catches for 543 yards and one touchdown.[2] Heisman Trophy , the Maxwell Award , and Walter Camp Award and was also the Pac-10 player of the year .
Schedule [ ] Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 12 Tennessee * No. 5 W 43–762,147 September 19 at Indiana * No. 2 ONTV W 21–051,167 September 26 No. 2 Oklahoma * No. 1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC W 28–2485,651 October 3 at Oregon State No. 1 W 56–2233,000 October 10 Arizona No. 1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA L 10–1356,315 October 17 Stanford No. 7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (rivalry ) W 25–1776,291 October 24 at Notre Dame * No. 5 W 14–759,075 October 31 No. 14 Washington State No. 4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 41–1760,972 November 7 at California No. 3 W 21–374,000 November 14 at Washington No. 3 L 3–1347,347 November 21 No. 15 UCLA No. 10 ABC W 22–2189,432 January 1, 1982 vs. No. 7 Penn State * No. 8 NBC L 10–2671,053 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Game summaries [ ] Tennessee [ ]
by Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
Tennessee
0
0
7
0
7
• USC
6
20
10
7
43
Scoring summary Q1
USC Allen 9 yard run (kick failed)USC 6–0 Q2
USC White 50 yard pass from Mazur (run failed) USC 12–0 Q2
USC Allen 12 yard run (Livingston kick) USC 19–0 Q2
USC Allen 4 yard run (Livingston kick) USC 26–0 Q3
USC Allen 55 yard run (Livingston kick) USC 33–0 Q3
USC Livingston 47 yard field goal USC 36–0 Q3
TEN Morris 1 yard pass from Cockrell (Reveiz kick) USC 36–7 Q4
USC Boyer 3 yard pass from Salisbury (Jordan kick)USC 43–7
Marcus Allen 22 Rush, 210 Yds (sat out most of second half)[3]
UCLA [ ]
UCLA vs. USC
by Quarter
1
2
3
4
Total
UCLA
7
11
3
0
21
• USC
3
9
0
10
22
Source: Eugene Register-Guard
Scoring summary 1
USC Jordan 38-yard field goal USC 3-0 1
UCLA Nelson 11-yard run (Johnson kick) UCLA 7-3 2
USC Jordan 44-yard field goal UCLA 7-6 2
USC Allen 7-yard run (pass failed) USC 12-7 2
UCLA Coffman 23-yard pass from Ramsey (Ramsey to Coffman pass) UCLA 15-12 2
UCLA Johnson 32-yard field goal UCLA 18-12 3
UCLA Johnson 28-yard field goal UCLA 21-12 4
USC Jordan 22-yard field goal UCLA 21-15 4
2:14
USC Allen 5-yard run (Jordan kick) USC 22-21
Roster [ ]
1981 USC Trojans football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
John Mazur QB
Defense
Special teams
Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible
1981 Team Players in the NFL [ ] Awards pand honors [ ] References [ ] 
