The 1966 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1966 NCAA University Division football season. In their seventh year under head coach John McKay, the Trojans compiled a 7–4 record (4–1 against conference opponents), won the Athletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU or Pac-8) championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 199 to 128.[1] The team was ranked #18 in the final Coaches Poll in late November; the final AP poll of early December included only the top ten this season
Quarterback Troy Winslow led the Trojans in passing, completing 82 of 138 passes for 1,023 yards with 6 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. Don McCall led the team in rushing with 127 carries for 560 yards and 5 touchdowns. Ron Drake led USC in receiving with 52 catches for 607 yards and four touchdowns.[2]
Date | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance | Source |
---|
September 17 | at Texas* | No. 9 | | | W 10–6 | 42,000 | [3] |
September 24 | Wisconsin* | No. 5 | | | W 38–3 | 52,325 | |
October 1 | at Oregon State | No. 5 | | | W 21–0 | 29,217 | |
October 8 | Washington | No. 6 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| | W 17–14 | 55,960 | |
October 15 | at Stanford | No. 5 | | | W 21–7 | 61,500 | |
October 22 | Clemson* | No. 5 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| | W 30–0 | 44,614 | [4] |
October 28 | at Miami (FL)* | No. 5 | | | L 7–10 | 51,156 | |
November 5 | California | No. 9 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| | W 35–9 | 47,199 | |
November 19 | at No. 8 UCLA | No. 7 | | | L 7–14 | 81,980 | |
November 26 | No. 1 Notre Dame* | No. 10 | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)
| | L 0–51 | 88,520 | |
January 2, 1967 | vs. No. 7 Purdue* | | | NBC | L 13–14 | 101,438 | |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
- Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
|
USC at Texas
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• No. 9 Trojans |
3 |
7 | 0 | 0 |
10 |
Longhorns |
0 |
0 | 0 | 6 |
6 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| Q1 | | USC | Rossivich 23 yard field goal | USC 3–0 |
| Q2 | | USC | Winslow 9 yard run (Rossivich kick) | USC 10–0 |
| Q4 | | TEX | Bradley 3 yard run (pass failed) | USC 10–6 |
|
[5]
Notre Dame at USC
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• No. 1 Fighting Irish |
14 |
17 | 13 | 7 |
51 |
No. 10 Trojans |
0 |
0 | 0 | 0 |
0 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| 1 | | ND | Larry Conjar 2-yard run (Joe Azzaro kick) | ND 7-0 |
| 1 | | ND | Tom Schoen 40-yard interception return (Joe Azzaro kick) | ND 14-0 |
| 2 | | ND | Joe Azzaro 38-yard field goal | ND 17-0 |
| 2 | | ND | Jim Seymour 13-yard pass from Coley O'Brien (Joe Azzaro kick) | ND 24-0 |
| 2 | | ND | Jim Seymour 39-yard pass from Coley O'Brien (Joe Azzaro kick) | ND 31-0 |
| 3 | | ND | Dan Harshman 23-yard pass from Coley O'Brien (Joe Azzaro kick) | ND 38-0 |
| 3 | | ND | Nick Eddy 9-yard run (kick failed) | ND 44-0 |
| 4 | | ND | Dave Martin 33-yard interception return (Joe Azzaro kick) | ND 51-0 |
|
[6]
Purdue vs. USC
|
1 |
2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
• No. 7 Boilermakers |
0 |
7 | 7 | 0 |
14 |
Trojans |
0 |
7 | 0 | 6 |
13 |
|
|
Scoring summary |
---|
| Q2 | | PUR | Perry Williams 1-yard run (Griese kick) | PUR 7–0 |
| Q2 | | USC | McCall 1-yard run (Rossovich kick) | Tied 7–7 |
| Q3 | | PUR | Perry Williams 1-yard run (Griese kick) | PUR 14–7 |
| Q4 | | USC | Rod Sherman 19-yard pass from Troy Winslow (pass failed) | PUR 14–13 |
|
- ^ "Southern California Yearly Results (1965-1969)". College Football Data Warehouse. David DeLassus. Archived from the original on September 5, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015.
- ^ "1966 Southern California Trojans Stats". SR/College Football. Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2015.
- ^ "Troy's Winslow lassoes Longhorns 10–6". The Sacramento Bee. September 18, 1966. Retrieved April 30, 2023 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans paddle Clemson". Fort Worth Star-Telegram. October 23, 1966. Retrieved January 21, 2024 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Palm Beach Post. September 18, 1966
- ^ "Irish Trouncing of U.S.C. Worst in Trojans' History". The New York Times. November 27, 1966. Retrieved August 17, 2019.