The 1979 USC Trojans football team represented the

University of Southern California , mottoeng = "Let whoever earns the palm bear it" , religious_affiliation = Nonsectarian—historically Methodist , established = , accreditation = WSCUC , type = Private research university , academic_affiliations = , endowment = $8. ...

(USC) in the 1979 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their fourth year under head coach

John Robinson John Robinson may refer to: Academics *John Thomas Romney Robinson (1792–1882), Irish astronomer and physicist * John J. Robinson (1918–1996), historian and author of ''Born in Blood'' *John Talbot Robinson (1923–2001), paleontologist *John ...

, the Trojans compiled an 11–0–1 record (6–0–1 against conference opponents), won the

Pacific-10 Conference The Pac-12 Conference is a collegiate athletic conference, that operates in the Western United States, participating in 24 sports at the NCAA Division I level. Its football teams compete in the Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS; formerly Divis ...

(Pac-10) championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 389 to 171. The team was ranked #2 in both the final AP Poll and the final UPI Coaches Poll. Quarterback Paul McDonald led the team in passing, completing 164 of 264 passes for 2,223 yards with 18 touchdowns and six interceptions.

Charles White Charles or Charlie White (or occasionally Whyte) may refer to: Artists and authors * Charles White (artist) (1918–1979), African-American painter, printmaker, muralist * Charles White (writer) (1845–1922), Australian journalist and author * C ...

led the team in rushing with 332 carries for 2,050 yards and 19 touchdowns. Dan Garcia led the team in receiving with 29 catches for 492 yards and three touchdowns. The team was named national champion by the College Football Researchers Association, an NCAA-designated major selector.

Schedule

Season summary

at Texas Tech

at Oregon State

Paul McDonald completed eight of nine passes for 108 yards and two touchdowns in just one half of action while

watched from the sidelines with an injured shoulder. McDonald led the Trojans to touchdowns on their first five possessions before he and the rest of USC starters sat for the second half.

Minnesota

at LSU

Washington State

Stanford

*Charles White 32 rushes, 221 yards

at Notre Dame

at California

Arizona

at Washington

vs. UCLA

Rose Bowl (vs. Ohio State)

*Charles White 39 rushes, 247 yards

Personnel

1979 Team Players in the NFL

*Marcus Allen *Chip Banks *Hoby Brenner *Joey Browner *Brad Budde *Steve Busick *Ray Butler *Dennis Johnson *Myron Lapka *Ronnie Lott *Jeff Fisher *Chris Foote *Roy Foster *Bruce Matthews *Paul McDonald *Larry McGrew *Don Mosebar *Anthony Muñoz *Eric Scoggins *Dennis Smith *Keith Van Horne *Charles White

Awards and honors

* Brad Budde, Lombardi Award *Charles White, Heisman Trophy *Charles White, Maxwell Award *Charles White, Walter Camp Award

References

{{Pac-12 Conference football champions USC USC Trojans football seasons Pac-12 Conference football champion seasons Rose Bowl champion seasons College football undefeated seasons

USC Trojans football The USC Trojans football program represents University of Southern California in the sport of American football. The Trojans compete in the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision, Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) of the National Collegiate Ath ...