1974 USC Trojans football team

The 1974 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the Pacific-8 Conference during the 1974 NCAA Division I football season. In their 15th year under head coach John McKay, the Trojans compiled a 10–1–1 record (6–0–1 in Pac-8, first)), and outscored their opponents 363 to 142.[1] The team was ranked #1 in the final UPI Coaches Poll and #2 in the final AP Poll due to Oklahoma being on probation from the Coaches’ Poll.

1974 USC Trojans football
Coaches' Poll national champion
Pac-8 champion
Rose Bowl champion
Rose Bowl, W 18–17 vs. Ohio State
ConferencePacific-8 Conference
Ranking
CoachesNo. 1
APNo. 2
Record10–1–1 (6–0–1 Pac-8)
Head coach
Captains
Home stadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Seasons
← 1973
1975 →
1974 Pacific-8 Conference football standings
ConfOverall
TeamW L TW L T
No. 2 USC $6011011
Stanford511542
California421731
UCLA421632
Washington340560
Oregon State340380
Washington State160290
Oregon070290
  • $ – Conference champion
Rankings from AP Poll

Quarterback Pat Haden led the team in passing, completing 70 of 149 passes for 988 yards with 13 touchdowns and 11 interceptions. Anthony Davis led the team in rushing with 301 carries for 1,421 yards and 13 touchdowns. J.K. McKay led the team in receiving with 34 catches for 550 yards and eight touchdowns.[2] Vince Evans backed up Haden. Allen Carter backed up Davis. The fullbacks were Ricky Bell, Dave Farmer and Mosi Tatupu. The starting flanker, Shelton Diggs, caught the two point conversion that lifted USC over Ohio State in the January 1975 Rose Bowl.

Schedule

DateOpponentRankSiteResultAttendance
September 14vs. No. 20 Arkansas*No. 5L 7–2254,622
September 28at No. 8 Pittsburgh*No. 18W 16–752,934
October 5Iowa*No. 9W 41–352,095
October 12vs. Washington StateNo. 7W 54–732,000
October 19at OregonNo. 6W 16–732,500
October 26Oregon State No. 6
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 35–1052,392
November 2CaliforniaNo. 6
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
T 15–1553,921
November 9at StanfordNo. 11W 35–1083,500
November 16WashingtonNo. 8
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA
W 42–1151,157
November 23at UCLANo. 8
W 34–982,467
November 30No. 5 Notre Dame*No. 6
  • Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
  • Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)
W 55–2483,552
January 1, 1975vs. No. 3 Ohio State*No. 5W 18–17106,721
  • *Non-conference game
  • Homecoming
  • Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game

Roster

1974 USC Trojans football team roster
PlayersCoaches
Offense
Pos.#NameClass
RB42Ricky BellSo
RB28Anthony DavisSr
WR26Shelton DiggsSo
QB8Vince EvansSo
QB10Pat HadenSr
G61Donnie HickmanSo
G65Melvin JacksonJr
WR25J.K. McKaySr
OT76Marvin PowellSo
Defense
Pos.#NameClass
DB44Mike BurnsSo
DT79Gary JeterSo
LB57David LewisSo
LB52Rod MartinSo
CB46Danny ReeceJr
LB55Eric WilliamsSo
Special teams
Pos.#NameClass
K/P39Glen WalkerSo
Head coach
Coordinators/assistant coaches

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

[3]

Game summaries

Washington

1234Total
Washington030811
USC71414742

[4]

References