LOS ANGELES -- It’s big-game week for the USC Trojans of the Pac-12, as it’s just a matter of days before they are challenged by the Nebraska Cornhuskers of the Big Ten in the National University Holiday Bowl.
On Saturday evening (5 p.m. PST/ESPN) in San Diego’s Qualcomm Stadium, two of the most storied programs in college football lore get together, surprisingly for just the fifth time.
For Steve Sarkisian’s Trojans, they’ll be looking to prove they’re truly on the fast track back to college football’s elite, while the Cornhuskers, with interim head coach Barney Cotton, will be looking to get their first victory against that West Coast power from Los Angeles.
The Trojans currently own a 3-0-1 mark against the Huskers. How did the Trojans build such an impressive resume against the lads from Lincoln?
Let’s take a look at the previous four games between two of college football’s most recognizable brands:
1969: This was supposed to be a Trojans team rebuilding after going through the dominance of the previous O.J. Simpson era (1967-68). Making their first trip to Lincoln, it figured that with inexperienced sophomore quarterback Jimmy Jones, the Trojans would probably be shaken by the environment. But it was the capacity 67,058 in Memorial Stadium that were shaken. The Trojans struck first in the opening quarter with a 1-yard TD run by tailback Mike Berry, the first of his two scores.
In the second quarter, Trojans wide receiver Bobby Chandler was on the receiving end of a 45-yard TD bomb from the athletic Jones. Later, SC fullback Charlie Evans silenced Memorial Stadium with a 4-yard scoring reception from Jones. The Trojans held a 21-7 lead at half, and with Berry’s 1-yard third-quarter score and placekicker Ron Ayala’s fourth-quarter 34-yard field goal, the Trojans never looked back
Final score: USC 31, Nebraska 21
1970: An early September night game in Los Angeles before 73,768 in the Coliseum, the No. 9 Cornhuskers were looking for revenge when they opened the scoring in the second quarter with a surprise 17-yard fullback pass from Dan Schneiss to receiver Guy Ingles. The No. 3 and two-touchdown favorite Trojans tied it on a 4-yard run by quarterback Jimmy Jones. Nebraska came right back with quarterback Jerry Tagge connecting to scintillating wingback and future Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Rodgers for a 15-yard touchdown.
Down 14-7 at the half, the Trojans roared back in the third quarter, culminated by a 1-yard TD run by fullback Charlie Evans. However, on the second play after the ensuing kickoff, Huskers I-back Joe Orduna ripped off a 67-yard scoring jaunt to put Nebraska in front again, 21-14. The Trojans rallied in the fourth quarter, moving 80 yards, capped by a 9-yard scoring run by tailback Clarence Davis. The Trojans missed on a Hail Mary on the final play of the game, as Nebraska would then go on to the national championship with an 11-0-1 record.
Final score: USC 21, Nebraska 21
2006: It had been some 36 years since these teams had last played against each other. There was great anticipation for the “reunion.” Before 92,000, Pete Carroll’s Trojans program, which was now at its zenith, wasn’t about to let Nebraska pull a major upset on the road.
While the Trojans had lost Heisman Trophy quarterback Matt Leinart to graduation, in stepped redshirt junior John David Booty. Leading 7-3 in the second quarter, Booty found wide receiver Steve Smith for a 3-yard touchdown that put the Trojans ahead 14-3. The Trojans led 21-10 in the fourth quarter, and tailback Chauncey Washington sealed the victory with a 7-yard touchdown run. It wasn’t pretty, but it was another victory.
Final score: USC 28, Nebraska 10
2007: Based on their team’s effort the season before, the 84,959 mostly Nebraska fans in Memorial Stadium were hopeful of a potential upset in Lincoln. Instead, what the Cornhuskers received from the Trojans that September evening on national television was a major league flogging from the Men of Troy.
Carroll’s team had that unbeatable “look” when they came out for pregame warm-ups, and the Huskers found that last season’s “inexperienced” Trojans were now very experienced and extremely talented. Fullback Stanley Havili and tailback Chauncey Washington each had two touchdowns while tight end Anthony McCoy and tailbacks Allen Bradford and Stafon Johnson each added a score. The Trojans pounded out 313 yards on the ground to just 31 yards for the Cornhuskers.
Final score: USC 49, Nebraska 31