CFB Most Influential Programs
#8 USC Trojans
School: USC Trojans
First Game: 1888
Winning Percentage: .695 (8th)
Appearances in AP/Rank: 813 (6th)
Average AP Ranking: 9.5
National Titles: 11
Claim to Fame: Easily the most successful football program on the West Coast.
Why I have them in my Collection: USC has been one of the most consistent programs across the span of college football. From countless famous alumni, Heisman Trophies, and iconic coaches, the Trojans are the reason many of us would love to squint and struggle to stay up for PAC-12 after dark (R.I.P.).
In the 60s and 70s, the Trojans would amass 5 total national championships and always have their say in the discussion. Also during that time, they were a part of a football game that would, for lack of a better term, help some schools in the south realize that in order to remain relevant in college football, they would have to integrate.
In 1970, USC’s fully integrated team went down to play Bear Bryant’s Alabama and beat them 42-21. There’s been numerous articles written about the game, but USC’s running back Sam “Bam” Cunningham showed out above the rest with the way he ran all over the Crimson Tide. It has never been confirmed if Bear Bryant’s goal for this game was to show his own fans and boosters that they needed to get with the times, but the effect that game did have was just this. Alabama would become an integrated force on the gridiron in the 70s tying USC’s total national championships in the decade with 3, and sharing one in 1978.
Most schools in the deep south would not fully jump in until much later.
The Trojans also had a heck of a run in the early 2000s winning back to back national championships in 2003 and 2004 with Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart both being in the backfield and both being Heisman trophy winners. The 3 peat was cut short though when the spurned Heisman hopeful Vince Young and Texas beat the Trojans in the 2005 Rose Bowl in an absolute classic of a game. After that, legendary coach Pete Carroll left for the NFL, and the Trojans haven’t quite been the same since.
Even still, USC is a pillar of college football, and college football history. They aren’t quite as infamous as Miami but they also have their fair share of controversies, some of which really have nothing to do with the actual football program. But in terms of schools that thrived while the south was dragging its feet with integration, USC was absolutely one of the programs that took full advantage.
Also, another school with band stand tunes that truly annoy anyone if they’re a USC hater.
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