The 1926 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1926 college football season. In their second year under head coach Howard Jones, the Trojans compiled an 8–2 record (5–1 against conference opponents), finished in second place in the Pacific Coast Conference, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 317 to 52. The season featured the first game in the Notre Dame–USC football rivalry; Notre Dame won by a 13 to 12 score in Los Angeles. The team was ranked No. 6 in the nation in the Dickinson System ratings released in December 1926.[1] Tackle Marion Morrison later had a successful acting career under the stage name, John Wayne.[2]
Schedule
| Date | Opponent | Site | Result | Attendance | Source |
|---|
| September 25 | Whittier* | | W 74–0 | 15,300 | [3] |
| October 2 | Santa Clara* | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| W 42–0 | 36,000 | [4] |
| October 9 | Washington State | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| W 16–7 | 34,700 | [5] |
| October 16 | Occidental* | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| W 28–6 | 22,000 | [6] |
| October 23 | at California | | W 27–0 | 72,000 | [7] |
| October 30 | Stanford | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)
| L 12–13 | 78,500 | [8] |
| at Oregon Agricultural | | W 17–7 | 26,000 | [9] |
| November 20 | Idaho | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| W 28–6 | 17,400 | [10] |
| Montana | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA
| W 61–0 | 18,600 | [11] |
| December 4 | Notre Dame* | - Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
- Los Angeles, CA (rivalry)
| L 12–13 | 74,378 | [12] |
- *Non-conference game
- Homecoming
|
[13][14][15]
Roster
Roster from 1927 El Rodeo yearbook[16]
References
- ^ "Stanford Eleven Adjudged Best: Navy Ranks Second Under Dickinson System of Rating Teams". The Morning Post. Camden, N.J. December 17, 1926. p. 23 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Doc Five: College football players turned famous actors – No. 1, John Wayne, USC". Yahoo.com.
- ^ "Trojans smash Poets 74–0 in season's opener". The Los Angeles Times. September 26, 1926. Retrieved January 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Braven Dyer (October 3, 1926). "Trojan Horde Tramples Broncos, 42 to 0: Drury's Devastating Smashes Ruin Rivals; Santa Clara Defense Breaks After First Quarter and Jones's Men Roll Up Astonishing Score". Los Angeles Times. pp. 1-a-1, 1-1-3 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans extended to defeat W.S.C., 16–7". The Fresno Morning Republican. October 10, 1926. Retrieved January 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojan gridders defeat Oxy, 28–6". The Fresno Bee. October 17, 1926. Retrieved January 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Trojans maul Bears". The Sacramento Union. October 24, 1926. Retrieved January 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ Paul Lowry (October 31, 1926). "Stanford Corrals Thundering Herd, 13 to 12". Los Angeles Times. p. Sports 1 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Play of Kaer and Cravath Outstanding". Los Angeles Record. November 12, 1926. Retrieved October 21, 2022 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "U.S.C. eleven humbles Idaho, 28 to 6". Modesto News-Herald. November 21, 1926. Retrieved January 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Montana goes to slaughter wild Trojans". Santa Barbara Daily News. November 26, 1926. Retrieved January 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "Notre Dame conquers hosts of Troy 13 to 12". The Fresno Morning Republican. December 5, 1926. Retrieved January 10, 2026 – via Newspapers.com.
- ^ "1926 Trojans Schedule and Results". College Football at Sports-Reference.com. Sports Reference. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ^ "1926 USC Football Schedule". University of Southern California Athletics. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ^ "2025 USC Football Media Guide". University of Southern California Athletics. p. 139. Retrieved January 20, 2026.
- ^ 1927 USC El Rodeo Yearbook page 37
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National championship seasons in bold |