USC Football: USC’s biggest enemies in the 1970’s
By Jason Elbaum
Ohio State Buckeyes
Widely known as the college football powerhouse of the Big 10 conference, Ohio State met up with USC in the Rose Bowl on New Years Day for three consecutive seasons from 1972-1974. The Buckeyes were led by legendary coach Woody Hayes and the only player to ever win multiple Heisman Trophies, running back Archie Griffin.
The January 1st, 1973 edition of the game was a matchup that could have determined the national champion that season, but top-ranked USC would not be denied as they capped off an undefeated season by thrashing the Buckeyes 42-17.
The next season, the Trojans found a way back to the Rose Bowl despite tying with Oklahoma and losing a close game to Notre Dame. Ohio State had been undefeated going into its final game of the season against arch-rival Michigan but tied 10-10 to fall short of an undefeated season. The Buckeyes took out their anger on USC on New Years Day 1974, beating the Trojans 42-21, but still finished second in the AP Poll to close out the season.
Ohio State was ranked number one throughout the 1974-1975 season before being upset by Michigan State late in the season. The Trojans fought off a loss to Arkansas in the season opener to run off five wins in a row before tying with Cal and closing out the season with four more wins to set up a rubber match with the Buckeyes.
With Ohio State ahead 17-10 in the closing minutes, quarterback and future USC athletic director Pat Haden found John McKay’s son J.K. McKay for a 38-yard touchdown pass. The Trojans elected to go for a two-point conversion, and Haden made a jump pass to Shelton Diggs to give USC the lead for good.
Oklahoma was ranked number one in the AP Poll that season, but probation prevented them from participating in a bowl game. With Notre Dame upsetting Bear Bryant’s Alabama team in the Orange Bowl, USC jumped to number one in the rankings and claimed the national title in John McKay’s final Rose Bowl as coach.