The 1975 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the Pacific-8 Conference during the 1975 NCAA Division I football season . In their 15th year under head coach John McKay , the Trojans compiled an 8–4 record (3–4 in Pac-8, fifth), and outscored their opponents 247 to 140.[1]
Quarterback Vince Evans led the team in passing, completing 35 of 112 passes for 695 yards with three touchdowns and nine interceptions. Ricky Bell led the team in rushing with 385 carries for 1,957 yards and 13 touchdowns. Randy Simmrin led the team in receiving with 26 catches for 478 yards and one touchdown.[2]
Opening with seven wins, the Trojans lost all four conference games in November, and were invited to the Liberty Bowl .
Schedule Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 12 Duke * No. 4 W 35–756,727 [3] September 19 Oregon State No. 4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 24–750,165 September 27 Purdue * No. 3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 19–656,170 October 4 at Iowa * No. 3 W 27–1654,600 October 11 Washington State No. 3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 28–1047,468 October 18 Oregon No. 3 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 17–350,542 October 25 at No. 14 Notre Dame * No. 3 ABC W 24–1759,075 November 1 at California No. 4 ABC L 14–2858,871 November 8 Stanford No. 9 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (rivalry ) L 10–1368,249 November 15 at Washington No. 13 L 7–853,700 November 28 No. 14 UCLA ABC L 22–2580,927 December 22 vs. No. 6 Texas A&M * ABC W 20–052,129 *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
Roster 1975 USC Trojans football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible
Game summaries
Duke Ricky Bell 34 rushes, 256 yards [4]
Oregon State
Purdue
At Iowa 1 2 3 4 Total • USC 0 7 17 3 27 Iowa 10 0 0 6 16
Scoring summary Q1 IOWA Quartaro 26 yard field goal IOWA 3–0 Q1 IOWA Holmes 1 yard run (Quartaro kick) IOWA 10–0 Q2 1:26 USC Hertel 3 yard run (Walker kick) IOWA 10–7 Q3 10:03 USC Simmrin 10 yard pass from Hertel (Walker kick) USC 14–10 Q3 USC Hertel 6 yard run (Walker kick) USC 21–10 Q3 USC Walker 47 yard field goal USC 24–10 Q4 11:26 USC Walker 25 yard field goal USC 27–10 Q4 0:20 IOWA Wellington from McLaughlin (pass failed) USC 27–16
[5]
Washington State 1 2 3 4 Total Washington St 3 0 0 7 10 • USC 0 14 7 7 28
Scoring summary 1 Washington St Diedrick 24-yard field goal Washington St 3-0 2 USC Hertel 2-yard run (Walker kick) USC 7-3 2 USC Reece 64-yard punt return (Walker kick) USC 14-3 3 USC Tatupu 28-yard run (Walker kick) USC 21-3 4 4:42 USC Bell 3-yard run (Walker kick) USC 28-3 4 Washington St Williams 5-yard run (Diedrick kick) USC 28-10
Ricky Bell 38 Rush, 217 Yds
[6]
At Notre Dame 1 2 3 4 Total • USC 0 7 7 10 24 Notre Dame 6 8 0 3 17
Scoring summary Q1 ND Hunter 52 yard run (kick failed) ND 6–0 Q2 USC Diggs 21 yard pass from Evans (Walker kick) USC 7–6 Q2 ND Lopienski 13 yard blocked punt return (Haines pass from Hunter) ND 14–7 Q3 USC Bell 2 yard run (Walker kick)Tie 14–14 Q4 ND Reeve 27 yard field goal ND 17–14 Q4 7:28 USC Evans 2 yard run (Walker kick) USC 21–17 Q4 USC Walker 35 yard field goal USC 24–17
[7]
1975 team players in the NFL The following players were drafted into professional football following the season.
[8]
In Popular Culture Scenes from the November 8 game against Stanford are featured in a 1976 episode of the television series Emergency! entitled “The Game.”
References 
