2010 USC Trojans football team
Encyclopedia
The 2010 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California
in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season
. The Trojans were led by head coach Lane Kiffin
, who was in his 1st season. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
and are members of the Pacific-10 Conference.
throwing a USC record-tying five touchdowns.
. Compared with the previous match's high-scoring, the game remained close with the Cavaliers failing by only three points.
. Minnesota went on to fire its head coach Tim Brewster
later in the season. The game was also the 19th straight nonconference win by the Trojans, a streak that would be broken later in the season by Notre Dame.
in 1951
.
's Washington Huskies upset the Trojans by kicking a last-second field goal. Sarkisian was an assistant coach at USC prior to taking over the program at Washington.
Erik Folk
, who hit the game-winning field goal for Washington, was named Pac-10 special teams player of the week. He went 4-for-4 on field goals and completed two PAT attempts. The previous year, Folk kicked a 22-yarder to defeat the Trojans 16-13.
and avenged their season-ending loss from the previous year.
, USC lost to Notre Dame and ended its victory streak against its arch rival dating back to 2001. The Fighting Irish scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:23 remaining in the game, and the Trojans failed to convert a two-minute drill after a pass to Ronald Johnson that would have resulted in a touchdown and the probable win was dropped. Mustain later threw an interception that ended the game and gave Notre Dame the victory.
University of Southern California
The University of Southern California is a private, not-for-profit, nonsectarian, research university located in Los Angeles, California, United States. USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university...
in the 2010 NCAA Division I FBS college football season
2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season
The 2010 NCAA Division I FBS football season, or the college football season, began on Thursday, September 2, 2010. The season progressed through the regular season and bowl season, and concluded with the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game on Monday, January 10, 2011.-Rule changes for...
. The Trojans were led by head coach Lane Kiffin
Lane Kiffin
Lane Monte Kiffin is the current head coach of the University of Southern California Trojans college football team. He was previously the head coach of the Tennessee Volunteers college football team, the Oakland Raiders of the NFL, and the offensive coordinator for the Trojans...
, who was in his 1st season. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum is a large outdoor sports stadium in the University Park neighborhood of Los Angeles, California, at Exposition Park, that is home to the Pacific-12 Conference's University of Southern California Trojans football team...
and are members of the Pacific-10 Conference.
Pre-season
- July 1, 2010 – Running backs coach Todd McNairTodd McNairTodd Darren McNair is a former professional football player and coach. McNair was the running backs coach and special teams coordinator for the USC Trojans football team, where he was also a recruiter. McNair has received publicity related to NCAA sanctions imposed on the USC football team for his...
's contract expired June 30, 2010. He played a key part in the NCAA's investigation of the school's athletic department dealing with former Trojans running back Reggie BushReggie BushReginald Alfred "Reggie" Bush II is an American football running back for the Miami Dolphins of the National Football League. He was drafted by the New Orleans Saints in the first round of the 2006 NFL Draft...
. - July 6, 2010 – Seantrel HendersonSeantrel HendersonSeantrel Henderson is an American football offensive tackle for the University of Miami. He attended Cretin-Derham Hall High School and originally signed a letter of intent to play college football at the University of Southern California, but was released from his commitment in July 2010 and...
, the nation's No. 1-ranked offensive tackle recruit was given a release from his commitment to play with USC. Following the release from his commitment, Henderson signed to play with the University of Miami (Fla.) Hurricanes football team. Defensive end Malik Jackson is transferring to Tennessee2010 Tennessee Volunteers football teamThe 2010 Tennessee Volunteers football team represented the University of Tennessee in the 2010 college football season. The team was coached by Derek Dooley who is in his first season as the 22nd coach in UT football history. The Vols played their home games at Neyland Stadium and competed in the...
.
Schedule
Hawaii Warriors
The Trojans began the season by taking advantage of the NCCA's Hawaii scheduling exemption which permits an extra non-conference game when traveling to Hawaii, which allowed them a 13-game schedule without a bowl game. The game turned out to be an offensive showcase, with Matt BarkleyMatt Barkley
Matt Barkley is an American football quarterback and student athlete at the University of Southern California, playing for the Trojans football team. As a high school player, Barkley was named 2007 football Gatorade National Player of the Year, and then the 2007 Gatorade national male athlete of...
throwing a USC record-tying five touchdowns.
Virginia Cavaliers
In their home debut the Trojans hosted the Virginia Cavaliers, who played their first game ever in the state of CaliforniaCalifornia
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
. Compared with the previous match's high-scoring, the game remained close with the Cavaliers failing by only three points.
Minnesota Golden Gophers
USC extended its victory streak against Big Ten schools to 11 games in a road win against the embattled Golden Gophers, who lost their previous game to FCS foe South DakotaSouth Dakota Coyotes
The South Dakota Coyotes, also known as the USD Coyotes , are the athletic teams for the University of South Dakota. Their team colors are vermilion and white. They have been members of The Summit League of the NCAA's Division I since the 2011-12 season...
. Minnesota went on to fire its head coach Tim Brewster
Tim Brewster
Tim Brewster is an American football player and coach. He most recently served as the head coach of the University of Minnesota from 2007 until he was fired midway through the Golden Gophers' 2010 season.-Playing career:...
later in the season. The game was also the 19th straight nonconference win by the Trojans, a streak that would be broken later in the season by Notre Dame.
Washington State Cougars
Southern California began their conference schedule after dropping six spots in the AP rankings since the preseason poll despite going undefeated. Washington State scored on their opening drive, but the Trojans went on to score 50 points in a blowout, earning Lane Kiffin a 4-0 record, the best start of a USC coach's tenure since Jess HillJess Hill
Jesse Terrill Hill was an American athlete, coach and college administrator who was best known for his tenure as a coach and athletic director at the University of Southern California. His career spanned six decades...
in 1951
1951 USC Trojans football team
The 1951 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1951 college football season.-Schedule:The Trojans finished the regular season with a 9-1 record.-1951 team players in the NFL:...
.
Washington Huskies
For consecutive years, head coach Steve SarkisianSteve Sarkisian
Steve Sarkisian is an American football coach and former player of American and Canadian football. He is currently the head football coach at the University of Washington, a position he has held since the 2009 season...
's Washington Huskies upset the Trojans by kicking a last-second field goal. Sarkisian was an assistant coach at USC prior to taking over the program at Washington.
Erik Folk
Erik Folk
Erik Folk is an American college football player who is the current placekicker of the University of Washington and mostly remembered for kicking a 22 yard field goal to beat 3rd ranked USC on September 19, 2009 with just three seconds remaining and again in 2010, leaving the University of...
, who hit the game-winning field goal for Washington, was named Pac-10 special teams player of the week. He went 4-for-4 on field goals and completed two PAT attempts. The previous year, Folk kicked a 22-yarder to defeat the Trojans 16-13.
Stanford Cardinal
For the second week in a row USC lost in the final seconds of the game by a field goal, as Stanford kicker Nate Whitaker made a 30-yarder as time expired. It marked the first time since 2000 that Stanford defeated the Trojans at Stanford Stadium, and the first time since 2001 that USC has lost two games in a row.California Golden Bears
Matt Barkley once again tied the USC mark for touchdown passes in a game by throwing five to put the Trojans up 42-0 at halftime. USC rested its starters in the second half, allowing 14 points, but still prevailed by 34 points.Oregon Ducks
The Ducks came into the game ranked 1st in the AP poll. The previous three weeks a team ranked number one had lost, but the Trojans were unable to continue this streak. USC cut the lead to three during the third quarter, but Oregon scored all the game's remaining points and won by margin of three touchdowns.Arizona State Sun Devils
The Trojans eked out a single-point victory against Arizona State thanks to a rare defensive two-point conversion in the fourth quarter. After the Sun Devils scored a touchdown to put them in the lead by four points Torin Harris blocked the extra point and ran it back to the opposite end-zone, cutting ASU's newly-found lead to two. Kicker Joe Houston later kicked a 29-yard field to put the Trojans in the lead, which they maintained during the game's final minutes.Arizona Wildcats
USC beat Arizona to extend its win streak in Tucson to nine with a 160 yard performance by Marc TylerMarc Tyler
Marc Tyler is an American football running back for the University of Southern California Trojans football team.-High school career:...
and avenged their season-ending loss from the previous year.
Oregon State Beavers
The Trojans lost their third straight game in Corvallis and lost Matt Barkley to injury late in the second quarter. Oregon State's 36–7 victory marked the worst defeat for USC against the Beavers in 96 years.Notre Dame Fighting Irish
Playing with its backup quarterback Mitch MustainMitch Mustain
Mitchell Mustain is an American football quarterback who is currently a member of the Georgia Force of the Arena Football League. He played college football at USC. Mustain played his freshman year of college at the University of Arkansas in 2006 before transferring to USC in 2007...
, USC lost to Notre Dame and ended its victory streak against its arch rival dating back to 2001. The Fighting Irish scored the go-ahead touchdown with 2:23 remaining in the game, and the Trojans failed to convert a two-minute drill after a pass to Ronald Johnson that would have resulted in a touchdown and the probable win was dropped. Mustain later threw an interception that ended the game and gave Notre Dame the victory.
UCLA Bruins
After losing to rival Notre Dame the week before, USC bounced back to close their season with a win over cross-town rival UCLA to retain the Victory Bell. Quarterback Matt Barkley returned after missing the previous week and threw one of the team's two touchdown passes. Allen Bradford led the Trojans by gaining 212 yards rushing and catching a 47-yard touchdown throw to extend the victory streak against the Bruins to four.Rankings
| Poll | Pre | Wk 1 | Wk 2 | Wk 3 | Wk 4 | Wk 5 | Wk 6 | Wk 7 | Wk 8 | Wk 9 | Wk 10 | Wk 11 | Wk 12 | Wk 13 | Wk 14 | Final |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| AP | 14 | 16 | 18 | 20 | 18 | NR | NR | NR | 24 | NR | NR | 20 | NR | NR | NR | NR |
| Coaches | Ineligible for ranking | |||||||||||||||
| Harris | Not released | Ineligible for ranking | ||||||||||||||
| BCS | Not released | Ineligible for ranking | ||||||||||||||