The 1981 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their sixth year under head coach John Robinson , the Trojans compiled a 9–3 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10), and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 284 to 170.[ 1]
Quarterback John Mazur led the team in passing, completing 93 of 194 passes for 1,128 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Marcus Allen led the team in rushing with 433 carries for 2,427 yards and 22 touchdowns. Jeff Simmons led the team in receiving yards with 28 catches for 543 yards and one touchdown.[ 2] Heisman Trophy , the Maxwell Award , and Walter Camp Award and was also the Pac-10 player of the year .
Date Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance Source September 12 Tennessee * No. 5 W 43–762,147 [ 3] September 19 at Indiana * No. 2 ONTV W 21–051,167 [ 4] September 26 No. 2 Oklahoma * No. 1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC W 28–2485,651 [ 5] October 3 at Oregon State No. 1 W 56–2233,000 [ 6] October 10 Arizona No. 1 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA L 10–1356,315 [ 7] October 17 Stanford No. 7 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (rivalry ) W 25–1776,291 [ 8] October 24 at Notre Dame * No. 5 W 14–759,075 [ 9] October 31 No. 14 Washington State No. 4 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 41–1760,972 [ 10] November 7 at California No. 3 W 21–374,000 [ 11] November 14 at Washington No. 3 L 3–1347,347 [ 12] November 21 No. 15 UCLA No. 10 ABC W 22–2189,432 [ 13] , 1982 vs. No. 7 Penn State * No. 8 NBC L 10–2671,053 [ 14] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game
[ 15]
1981 USC Trojans football team roster
Players
Coaches
Offense
Defense
Special teams
Pos.
#
Name
Class
K
5
Steve Jordan Fr
K
Scott Livingston
P
Dave Pryor
Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) Ineligible
[ 16]
1981 team players in the NFL
edit
^ "Southern California Yearly Results (1980-1984)" . College Football Data Warehouse . David DeLassus. Archived from the original on July 22, 2015. Retrieved July 20, 2015 .^ "1981 Southern California Trojans Stats" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved July 21, 2015 .^ "USC puts Tennessee to rout in 43–7 win" . The Los Angeles Times . September 13, 1981. Retrieved August 18, 2022 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Allen runs through IU" . Chronicle Tribune . September 20, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "USC beats Oklahoma in last 2 seconds" . Chicago Tribune . September 27, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Allen gains 233 yards as USC breezes 56–22" . The Roanoke Times . October 4, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Arizona jolts USC off top" . Fort Worth Star-Telegram . October 11, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "USC guns down Stanford, 25–17" . Mount Vernon Argus . October 18, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Trojans defeat Irish in bout of heavyweights" . The Muskegon Chronicle . October 25, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Allen, Southern Cal roll past Cougars 41–17" . The Macon Telegraph & News . November 1, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "USC's Trojans wear down Cal" . Santa Cruz Sentinel . November 8, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "USC 'blown out' in Seattle" . The San Bernardino County Sun . November 15, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Blocked field goal costs UCLA" . Statesman Journal . November 22, 1981. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "Penn State pounds USC in Fiesta Bowl" . The Arizona Republic . January 2, 1982. Retrieved November 2, 2024 – via Newspapers.com .^ "1981 USC Trojans Schedule and Results" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2024 .^ "1981 USC Trojans Roster" . SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. Retrieved November 2, 2024 .^ "Heisman.com - Heisman Trophy" . Archived from the original on April 11, 2007. Retrieved April 16, 2007 .^ "Football" . Archived from the original on July 7, 2011. Retrieved December 9, 2008 .^ "Sports" . Archived from the original on December 10, 2008. Retrieved January 30, 2009 .