The 1968 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1968 NCAA University Division football season. The Trojans competed in the Pacific-8 Conference (Pac‑8) and were coached by John McKay, who was in his ninth year as head coach.
Season overview
- Overall record: 9–0–1
- Conference record: 6–0–1 (Pac‑8 champions)
- Final rankings: #2 in the Associated Press (AP) poll, #2 in the Coaches poll
- Bowl game: 1969 Rose Bowl – USC defeated Ohio State, 14–12
The Trojans finished the regular season undefeated, with the sole non‑win being a 21–21 tie against Notre Notre Dame on November 23, 1968. The team secured the Pac‑8 title and earned a berth in the Rose Bowl, where they captured a narrow victory over the #2 ranked Ohio State Buckeyes.
Key personnel
- Head Coach: John McKay (9th season)
- Notable players:
- O. J. Simpson – running back, consensus All‑American, Heisman Trophy winner (1968) and leading rusher with 1,709 yards.
- Jimmy Jones – quarterback, starter for the majority of the season.
- Steve Sogge – defensive back, team captain.
- Mike Haffner – offensive lineman, All‑Conference selection.
Season schedule and results
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Sep 21 | at Texas Tech | Lubbock, TX | W 9–7 |
| Sep 28 | at Oregon State | Corvallis, OR | W 16–14 |
| Oct 5 | at Stanford | Stanford, CA | W 28–6 |
| Oct 12 | at Washington State | Pullman, WA | W 35–7 |
| Oct 19 | Oregon | Los Angeles, CA | W 27–14 |
| Oct 26 | at Washington | Seattle, WA | W 20–7 |
| Nov 2 | UCLA | Los Angeles, CA | W 20–12 |
| Nov 9 | at California | Berkeley, CA | W 23–13 |
| Nov 16 | Arizona State* | Los Angeles, CA | W 55–0 |
| Nov 23 | vs. Notre Dame* | Los Angeles, CA | T 21–21 |
| Jan 1 (1969) | vs. Ohio State (Rose Bowl) | Pasadena, CA | W 14–12 |
* Non‑conference games; the Notre Dame game was a nationally televised matchup that ended in a tie.
Post‑season and honors
- The Trojans' Rose Bowl win contributed to USC being recognized as a national champion by several selectors, though the AP and Coaches polls named Ohio State as the #1 team after the regular season.
- O. J. Simpson received the Heisman Trophy, becoming the first player from USC to earn the award. He was also a consensus first‑team All‑America.
- Several USC players from the 1968 roster were selected in the 1969 NFL/AFL Draft, including O. J. Simpson (first overall pick).
Historical significance
The 1968 season is noted for USC's dominant defense, a high‑scoring offense led by Simpson, and the team's success under John McKay, who would later be inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame. The Rose Bowl victory contributed to a period of sustained excellence for the USC football program throughout the late 1960s and early 1970s.
