American college football season
The 1981 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1981 NCAA Division I-A football season . In their sixth year under head coach John Robinson , the Trojans compiled a 9–3 record (5–2 against conference opponents), finished in a tie for second place in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10), and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 284 to 170.[1]
Quarterback John Mazur led the team in passing, completing 93 of 194 passes for 1,128 yards with seven touchdowns and five interceptions. Marcus Allen led the team in rushing with 433 carries for 2,427 yards and 22 touchdowns. Jeff Simmons led the team in receiving yards with 28 catches for 543 yards and one touchdown.[2] Allen became the first player in NCAA history to rush for over 2,000 yards in one season. He also gained a total of 2,683 offensive yards, led the nation in scoring, and won the Heisman Trophy , the Maxwell Award , and Walter Camp Award and was also the Pac-10 player of the year .
Game summaries
Tennessee
Tennessee at #5 USC
1
2 3 4 Total
Volunteers
0
0 7 0
7
• No. 5 Trojans
6
20 10 7
43
Scoring summary 1 USC Allen 9-yard run (kick failed)USC 6–0
2 USC White 50-yard pass from Mazur (run failed) USC 12–0
2 USC Allen 12-yard run (Livingston kick) USC 19–0
2 USC Allen 4-yard run (Livingston kick) USC 26–0
3 USC Allen 55-yard run (Livingston kick) USC 33–0
3 USC Livingston 47-yard field goal USC 36–0
3 TEN Morris 1-yard pass from Cockrell (Reveiz kick) USC 36–7
4 USC Boyer 3-yard pass from Salisbury (Jordan kick)USC 43–7
Marcus Allen 22 Rush, 210 Yds, 4 TD (sat out most of second half)[4]
Indiana
Oklahoma
#2 Oklahoma at #1 USC
1
2 3 4 Total
No. 2 Sooners
7
10 0 7
24
• No. 1 Trojans
7
7 0 14
28
[6]
Marcus Allen 39 rushes, 208 yards [7]
Oregon State
Marcus Allen 35 rushes, 233 yards [8]
Washington State
California
Marcus Allen 46 rushes, 243 yards [10]
UCLA
Game information
First quarter
USC – Steve Jordan 38-yard field goal. USC 3–0.
UCLA – Kevin Nelson 11-yard run (Norm Johnson kick). UCLA 7–3.
Second quarter
USC – Steve Jordan 44-yard field goal. UCLA 7–6.
USC – Marcus Allen 7-yard run (pass failed). USC 12–7.
UCLA – Ricky Coffman 23-yard pass from Tom Ramsey (pass good). UCLA 15–12.
UCLA – Norm Johnson 32-yard field goal. UCLA 18–12.
Third quarter
UCLA – Norm Johnson 28-yard field goal. UCLA 21–12.
Fourth quarter
USC – Steve Jordan 22-yard field goal. UCLA 21–15.
USC – Marcus Allen 5-yard run (Steve Jordan kick), 2:14. USC 22–21.
Top passers
Top rushers
UCLA – Kevin Nelson – 26 rushes, 79 yards, TD
USC – Marcus Allen – 40 rushes, 219 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
George Achica blocked Norm Johnson 's game-winning 46-yard field goal attempt in the final seconds to preserve the USC victory.
Vs. Penn State (Fiesta Bowl)
#7 Penn State vs. #8 USC
1
2 3 4 Total
• No. 7 Nittany Lions
7
10 9 0
26
No. 8 Trojans
7
0 3 0
10