As USC gets ready to play Michigan in its first Big Ten football conference game, it a great time to talk about the undeniable connection between USC and the Big Ten. That connection is the Rose Bowl. “The Granddaddy of Them All” traditionally pitted the winner of the Pac-12 Conference and the Big Ten Conference in Pasadena each year on New Year’s Day from 1947 through 2023, with a few exceptions made for the Bowl Championship Series and the College Football Playoff. The Trojans have an incredible 18-7 record against the best teams in the Midwest at the Rose Bowl.
The Trojans have dominated their series with the teams in the Big Ten, and you would have to go all the way back to the 1940s to find a decade when the Big Ten had a winning record against the Men of Troy.
In addition, USC has had many home and away series over the years against Big Ten teams. The Trojans went 16-1 in the 1970s when the legendary John McKay and John Robinson thrashed the Big Ten. Against Illinois, Iowa, and others, USC was willing to go against the Big Ten and make trips to the Midwest to test itself. Imagine McKay being around today to contemplate the reality of playing in Big Ten towns and cities on a consistent basis. He certainly would have had a colorful quote or two to make sense of everything in his own inimitable style.
Pete Carroll was undefeated against the Big Ten, going 8-0 in nine years at USC. Trojan fans remember USC beating up Ohio State in 2008 and then winning a nail-biter one year later in Columbus in 2009. Throughout various eras of USC history, the Trojans shined in the Big Ten football realm in those 94 games. They hope to continue to develop that positive track record in 2024 and beyond. Here is a look at how the Trojans have fared against every team currently in the Big Ten.
Iowa 7-3
The Trojans hammered the Hawkeyes in the 2003 Orange Bowl, which in many ways launched the Pete Carroll dynasty, but Kirk Ferentz and the Hawkeyes won the last meeting in the 2019 Holiday Bowl, 49-24. The score was 28-24 early in the third quarter, with momentum on the Trojans’ side, but Kedon Slovis went down with a shoulder injury and the USC offense did nothing the rest of the game.
Indiana 4-0
USC defeated Indiana in the 1968 Rose Bowl to win John McKay’s second national championship with the Trojans.
Illinois 11-2
USC won the last meeting in the 2008 Rose Bowl, 49-17. Now we know why college football commentator and writer Tom Fornelli hates on the Trojans so much.
Purdue 3-1
The most famous Purdue-USC game was the 1967 Rose Bowl, in which Purdue quarterback Bob Griese defeated the Trojans.
Northwestern 5-0
USC and Keyshawn Johnson ran wild against Northwestern, winning the 1996 Rose Bowl and giving John Robinson one last victory in the Granddaddy.
Minnesota 6-1-1
USC’s great teams of the late 1970s played and beat Minnesota to stay in the national championship race.
Wisconsin 6-1
The 1963 Rose Bowl — USC 42, Wisconsin 37 — is a college football classic, one of the greatest games in the sport’s history. It also gave John McKay his first of four national titles as the Trojans’ head coach.
Penn State 6-4
No one will ever forget Sam Darnold’s magic in the 52-49 comeback win over Penn State in the 2017 Rose Bowl. That was an epic which cemented Darnold’s legend at USC.
Maryland – NO GAMES
The next USC-Maryland game will be the first one.
Rutgers – NO GAMES
USC’s first game against Rutgers is the late night Friday night special on Oct. 25. Stay up late with us as we cover that game.
UCLA 50-34-7
The most famous USC-UCLA game of the 91 played was in 1967. The two teams were ranked in the top four. USC won by a point and went on to win the national championship.
Washington 51-31-4
The rivalry’s golden years were in the late 1970s and early 1980s, when John Robinson and Don James went at each other in the Pac-8 and Pac-10.
Oregon 38-23-2
USC’s strong start to 2024 will hopefully narrow the recruiting gap with Dan Lanning and Oregon.
Nebraska 4-0-1
USC and Nebraska met in the late 1960s and early 1970s, when they were both top programs. They won the national title in consecutive years, Nebraska in 1971 and USC in 1972.
Michigan State 4-4
USC would love to get a chance to avenge the 1988 Rose Bowl, won by the Spartans against Larry Smith’s first Trojan team.
Ohio State 13-10-1
Woody Hayes versus John McKay in Pasadena at the Rose Bowl. Does it get any better than that? USC and Ohio State met multiple times with the national title on the line. The Buckeyes won the celebrated 1-versus-2 battle in 1969. USC won in 1975 on the famous Shelton Diggs 2-point conversion catch to beat OSU 18-17 and win McKay’s fourth national title with the Trojans.
Michigan 6-4
When USC and Michigan meet, you know it’s a big game. The two schools have met eight times in the Rose Bowl, more than any other Granddaddy matchup. USC won six of those eight Rose Bowls, with the 1979 and 2004 wins producing national championships for the Men of Troy.
This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC’s all-time record against every Big Ten football school
