Posted
11/6/25

 



A Look at the NU-USC Series



 Here is the fourth and final of HTP's posts this season taking a look at opponents that NU has played in the past, but not very recently.

USC and Northwestern have a series that goes back to 1952, and it is NU's only series with at least five games in which NU has remained winless (the 'Cats are 0-5 against USC*).
 

NU at USC-- Friday, September 26, 1952
Northwestern will play its first Big Ten game vs. USC this week on Friday night. NU's very first game against the Trojans was also on a Friday night.

USC and the 'Cats kicked off a home-and-home series under NU coach Bob Voigts with a road game to begin the 1952 season.  Since their 1949 Rose Bowl win against Cal, the 'Cats had plodded along, skirting .500 for the next three seasons. USC had also had a couple of middle-of-the-road seasons, but were looking to make a statement in '52.

They began that statement by knocking off Washington State and then burying NU, 31-0.

At the Coliseum, 59,756 people watched a very close game for three quarters. NU held the Trojans to three points until the fourth quarter, when USC exploded with four touchdowns in eight minutes to seal the win.

NU's halfback, Wally Jones, pushed the ball to the USC 15-yard line, the 'Cats' greatest threat to score, before USC intercepted NU quarterback Don Rondou to snuff the drive.



USC at Dyche Stadium-- Saturday, October 2, 1954


The second half of NU's 1950s home-and-home with USC took place in Evanston in 1954.

Coming off a lackluster 3-6 season in 1953, NU appeared to rebound in the 1954 opener by knocking off Iowa State. The 'Cats then hosted USC in front of 30,725 fans.

Again, NU had a shot at the Trojans for much of the game; however, a rash of turnovers cost the 'Cats victory. By the end of the game, NU had lost six fumbles and went on to lose, 12 to 7.

USC came in a seven-point favorite, but it also had trouble holding onto the ball, fumbling five times-- with three turnovers.


USC at Dyche Stadium-- Saturday, September 28, 1968


The next home-and-home kicked off in 1968. Northwestern had been in a slump for much of the mid-sixties. Unfortunately, 1968 would prove to be the worst season under head coach Alex Agase, a 1-10 dud. USC, on the other hand, was on its way to its third straight Rose Bowl.

Despite the lopsided talent on the field (USC was the defending national champ and featured running back OJ Simpson), NU kept the game close before falling 24 to 7.

As expected, Simpson put on a show, scoring all three of USC's touchdowns and moving to the #3 spot in USC's record book for rushing yards.

NU's lone touchdown came in a goal-line stand, when Wildcat halfback Chico Kurzawski slammed into USC's defense at the one-yard line. NU tried an onside kick following the score, which failed.

Simpson carries the ball vs. NU at Dyche Stadium
[AP Photo]


NU at USC-- Saturday, September 27, 1969
Did we say three straight Rose Bowls for USC? Well, make it four: the Trojans returned to Pasadena to cap the 1969 season, which also saw them beat Michigan to regain the national crown. For Northwestern, 1969 was another subpar season to round out the sixties (the 'Cats would have much better fortunes in 1970 and '71...).

So, this was another lopsided affair, and this time the scoreboard showed it. USC pummeled the Wildcats, 48-6, at the Coliseum.

USC took only 15 seconds to score: on the first play from scrimmage, Trojan runningback Clarence Davis ran nearly untouched 73 yards for a touchdown.


NU vs. USC-- Rose Bowl, Monday, January 1, 1996
This was the big one.

Despite its #3 national ranking, Northwestern found itself an underdog in the Rose Bowl to Keyshawn Johnson and USC.  A sellout crowd of 100,102 packed the Rose Bowl for one of the most anticipated games in college football history.  Estimates on the number of Northwestern fans in the stands ranged from 50,000 to 65,000; either way, the game brought together the largest number of Wildcat fans that has ever been assembled.  When they entered the hallowed stadium and saw “NORTHWESTERN” painted in purple and white on the Rose Bowl grass, many fans became very emotional.  Among those NU fans were 30 members of the 1948 Wildcat team-- who had won the ’49 Rose Bowl-- and former coach Bob Voigts, who led NU in its first game against USC.

 . . . The Trojans kicked off the scoring when quarterback Brad Otton passed for a pair of first downs and drove into NU territory.  Otton then completed a 31-yard pass to Keyshawn Johnson and put USC in the Wildcats’ red zone. 

Ironically, USC was trying to tire out NU by using a no-huddle with Otton firing from shotgun, strategies Northwestern would use masterfully in a few years under its next coach.  Eventually LaVale Woods drove into the end zone, and USC led 7-0.  The ‘Cats responded later in the first quarter, when Schnur began connecting with Bates.  The duo completed three passes, setting up a short Autry run for the touchdown.  In the second quarter Southern California went on a tear, scoring on a 21-yard pass play and kicking a 30-yard field goal.  On third down Brian Musso raced to midfield and was tripped up.  As Musso’s knee touched down, the ball came loose.  The refs did not blow a whistle, and USC picked up the ball and streaked in for a touchdown and a 17-point lead.  One play, one questionable call, resulted in a 14-point swing against NU.  The ‘Cats managed to recover some of the ground lost in the last seconds of the half.  Tim Scharf and Ismaeli forced and recovered a USC fumble, setting up a Brian Gowins field goal to make the score 24-10.

. . . . Early in the third quarter the ‘Cats drove and set up Gowins’ second field goal.  On the ensuing kickoff Gowins executed a completely unexpected onsides kick, recovered by Josh Barnes at the NU 48.  The possession ended in a Darnell Autry touchdown, and NU was on the rebound, down only 24-19.  But Otton and Johnson paired again for an explosion play, a 56-yard touchdown pass that put USC up by 12.  The Wildcats were unfazed.  Schnur, on first down, rifled a pass to Bates 46 yards.  After a few rushing plays, Schnur lurched into the end zone for a touchdown.  The Wildcat defense, now completely fired up, stoned Otton, and USC punted.  Early in the fourth quarter, down 31-26, Autry powered his way to another touchdown, and Northwestern took a 32-31 lead.  The Wildcat fans in the stands and across the country went crazy. 

Northwestern’s fourth quarter lead in the Rose Bowl lasted three minutes and 52 seconds.  A long Trojan drive resulted in a field goal, and USC scored again with three minutes left in the game to take a 41-32 lead.  With 41 seconds left, NU’s last gasp went silent when a 49-yard field goal try slammed into the left upright.  Johnson and USC Coach John Robinson were graceless in victory, but they couldn’t take away from what Northwestern had accomplished in going so far, and coming so close.










*Against division I schools, NU is 0-5 against USC, 0-4 against Arizona State, and 0-4 against Washington. In the win column, NU is 5-0 against FCS South Dakota, 3-0 against UNLV, and 3-0 against Navy.