USC Trojans football

USC Trojans football
2026 USC Trojans football team
First season1888; 138 years ago
Athletic directorJennifer Cohen
Head coachLincoln Riley
4th season, 35–18 (.660)
LocationLos Angeles, California
StadiumLos Angeles Memorial Coliseum
(capacity: 77,500)
NCAA divisionDivision I FBS
ConferenceBig Ten
ColorsCardinal and gold
   
All-time record886–375–54 (.694)
Bowl record36–20 (.643)
National championships
Claimed1928, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004
Unclaimed1929, 1933, 1976, 1979, 2002, 2007
National finalist
Poll era1931, 1932, 1962, 1968, 1972
Conference championships
PCC: 1927, 1928, 1929, 1931, 1932, 1938, 1939, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1947, 1952
Pac-12: 1959, 1962, 1964, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969, 1972, 1973, 1974, 1976, 1978, 1979, 1984, 1987, 1988, 1989, 1993, 1995, 2002, 2003, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2017
Conference division championships
Pac-12 South: 2015, 2017, 2020, 2022
Heisman winnersMike Garrett – 1965
O. J. Simpson – 1968
Charles White – 1979
Marcus Allen – 1981
Carson Palmer – 2002
Matt Leinart – 2004
Reggie Bush – 2005
Caleb Williams – 2022
Consensus All-Americans86
RivalriesUCLA (rivalry)
Oregon (rivalry)
Notre Dame (rivalry)
Stanford (rivalry)
California (rivalry)
Uniforms
Fight song"Fight On"
MascotTraveler
Marching bandSpirit of Troy
OutfitterNike
Websiteusctrojans.com

The USC Trojans football team represents the University of Southern California in American football. The Trojans compete in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) and the Big Ten Conference (Big Ten). They play home games at the 77,500-capacity Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, located in Exposition Park adjacent to USC's University Park, Los Angeles campus.

Formed in 1888, the program has over 860 wins and claims 11 national championships, including 7 from the major wire-services: AP Poll and/or Coaches Poll. USC has had 13 undefeated seasons including 8 perfect seasons, and 37 conference championships. The Trojans have produced eight Heisman Trophy winners, the most all-time by a university, and have had 582 NFL draft picks, which is only bettered by the University of Notre Dame. USC alumni include 84 first-team Consensus All-Americans, including 27 unanimous selections, and 35 College Football Hall of Fame members, including former players Matt Leinart, O. J. Simpson, and Ronnie Lott and former coaches John McKay and Howard Jones. The Trojans boast 14 inductees in the Pro Football Hall of Fame, tied with Notre Dame for most of any school, including Junior Seau, Bruce Matthews, Marcus Allen, and Ron Yary. Among all colleges and universities, as of 2022, USC holds the all-time record for the most quarterbacks (17) and is tied with the University of Miami for the most wide receivers (40) to play in the NFL. The Trojans have 56 bowl appearances, 39 of which are among the New Year's Six Bowls. With a record of 36–20, USC has the highest all-time post-season winning percentage of schools with 50 or more bowl appearances.

The Trojans play in red uniforms and helmets, both with gold highlights. Recognizable symbols include their fight song, "Fight On", and a horse mascot named Traveler. USC's fiercest and most prominent rivalry is with the Notre Dame Fighting Irish. It arose from frequent competition for national championships and is one of the best-known in college football. They also share a significant crosstown rivalry with the UCLA Bruins.

As of 2023, USC is the only FBS school to never play a school from the Football Championship Subdivision (FCS) since the 1978 split.