One of the most key games that started to define a college football power during the 2000's. I gave credit to both Auburn and USC scheduling these early games with potential national championship implications on the line. Fans love these early season games.
Uhhhh I think 2002 did that. I am pretty sure USC played the Toughest schedule EVER in 2002, and they went 11-2. Here is a breakdown of that schedule. 9-4 Auburn (win) 9-5 At Colorado (win) 11-2 At Kansas State (loss) 8-5 Oregon State (win) 10-3 At Washington State (loss) 7-5 California (win) 7-6 Washington (win) 7-6 At Oregon (win) 2-9 At Stanford (win) 8-6 Arizona State (win) 8-5 At UCLA (win) 10-3 Notre Dame (win) 11-2 Iowa (win) One Losing Team 12 Winning Teams 4 Teams with 10 or more wins 9 Teams with 8 or more wins 6 Road Games vs teams with a combined record of 47-28 Combined record of opponents was 107-59 That is a .644 winning percentage..... USC lost 2 road games by a combined 10 points. USC might not have won a NC, but this is by far their best season in its history, because I doubt any college could do what USC did this season. What IS Funny is the only team that could even argue with 2002 USC is 1983 Auburn..... Real quick here is 1983 Auburns schedule (they went 11-1) 7-4 Southern Miss (win) 11-1 Texas (loss) 9-3 At Tennessee (win) 7-5 Florida State 6-5-1 At Kentucky (win) 3-8 At Georgia Tech (win) 3-8 Mississippi (win) 9-2-1 Florida (win) 8-4 Maryland (win) 10-1-1 At Georgia (win) 8-4 Alabama (win) 9-3 Michigan (win) While kind of close, not even close to 2002 USC.
@@Papawill13 As a amateur sports fan, I sort of predicted USC was emerging as a college football power under Pete Carroll at that time. Although Pete Carroll had a not so good resume from his two NFL teams with the NY Jets, and NE Patriots, he was still an ex professional football coach at that time taking over a struggling college football program. I was not at all surprised when USC was giving Auburn the business on their home field. I had a friend of mine that often told me that USC was soft because of the so called weak PAC 10 schedule. I countered and told him that east coast bias was hurting a great team out west like USC. The press did the same thing for many years when U of Washington was the consistent college football power on the west coast during the 1980's and early 1990's. Nice analysis you brought up. I wish NCAA did not revoke USC's 2004 BCS title. Fans know what they saw on the field.
God this game was so hot. As a Bama fan i took my friends to this game because my girlfriend lived 1 mile from the stadium. Alabama had a decent year in 2002 but lost their coach so i was dredding the season and to top that Auburn was a hopeful for a bcs champ in 2003. God this was a wonderful day! That city was electric Friday night and 24hrs later it was absolutely dead after that ass whippin!
USC at SEC(or Southern Conference) schools or games in state. Alabama - 2-0 (though to be technical, both games were played in Birmingham) Arkansas - 2-1 (again, though to be technical, two games played in Little Rock) Auburn - 1-0 Florida - 0-1 LSU - 1-0 Missouri - 1-0 (though they were in the Big 8 when USC beat them in Missouri) South Carolina - 0-1 (though they were Independent when they beat USC) Tennessee - 1-0 Tulane - 1-0 (though this was in 1946)
Jesse Garcia-saenz I mean he’s not wrong. They still haven’t stopped scheduling like they’re USC of old playing anyone and anywhere. They had Alabama on their 2020 schedule before it got cancelled. The difference is whereas the old USC team would’ve dominated these OOC matchups, they’re getting blown out instead under Helton’s terrible coaching. See 2016 Alabama, 2017 Ohio St, 2019 Texas, 2019 Iowa etc.
Ernest Tanare which is dumb man. It made USC what it is. I miss having the big tall quaterbacks that just can sling it down field too lol I miss the pro style offense.
This Game is the reason they probably thought we wasn’t worthy but we definitely were the Following season in 2004 to play USC in The National Championship! Instead USC Blows out Oklahoma 🤦🏾♂️ War Eagle🦅
2002 and 2003 did that. Losing 2 years in a row to a team that was less talented as the 2004 team did it. Although none of that should have mattered, only 2004 should have.
Auburn had no offense that entire year. They had a great defense, though. Certainly the best defense USC had faced that entire season. Not as good as Alabama in 2016, though.
@Mike Gee Dude, USC made their living playing in a weak conference and then playing one or two good teams at season's end. Notre Dame stunk almost the entire time Carroll was at USC. I agree coaching is everything. It's no coincidence that Saban took two different teams to national titles. It's also no coincidence that former Saban assistants are killing it as head coaches. While I respected USC during the Carroll era, they played in a weak conference. The SEC has dominated the Pac 12 in most matchups. Especially the 52-6 whipping by Alabama over USC. Alabama's era is over? They lost by 5 to LSU and lost by 3 to Auburn with their second string QB after Tua's injury. Bama will be elite so long as Saban, or a Saban assistant, are in charge.
You are wrong. From 2002-2008 this was the Most Conservative Offensive gameplan at USC. Funny thing the 2nd most conservative gameplan they used was in 2006 At Arkansas. Now obviously this Auburn D was Light years better than that Arkansas D. But it does not change the fact the as soon as they scored that TD right out the gate, they called NOTHING but safe typical plays, and USC never did that in these 7 years. End of Year 2003 USC Offense would have smoked this D. The secondary was just weak, and once Leinart got his legs under him, with Williams and Colbert, they would have dropped 34-40 points. USC was breaking in Sophomores at RB, TE and QB.
Auburn was picked to win the national championship that year but turns out USC did
One of the most key games that started to define a college football power during the 2000's. I gave credit to both Auburn and USC scheduling these early games with potential national championship implications on the line. Fans love these early season games.
Too me this game really made all the doubters STFU. Realize USC and Pete Carroll were for real.
Uhhhh I think 2002 did that. I am pretty sure USC played the Toughest schedule EVER in 2002, and they went 11-2. Here is a breakdown of that schedule.
9-4 Auburn (win)
9-5 At Colorado (win)
11-2 At Kansas State (loss)
8-5 Oregon State (win)
10-3 At Washington State (loss)
7-5 California (win)
7-6 Washington (win)
7-6 At Oregon (win)
2-9 At Stanford (win)
8-6 Arizona State (win)
8-5 At UCLA (win)
10-3 Notre Dame (win)
11-2 Iowa (win)
One Losing Team
12 Winning Teams
4 Teams with 10 or more wins
9 Teams with 8 or more wins
6 Road Games vs teams with a combined record of 47-28
Combined record of opponents was 107-59
That is a .644 winning percentage.....
USC lost 2 road games by a combined 10 points.
USC might not have won a NC, but this is by far their best season in its history, because I doubt any college could do what USC did this season.
What IS Funny is the only team that could even argue with 2002 USC is 1983 Auburn..... Real quick here is 1983 Auburns schedule (they went 11-1)
7-4 Southern Miss (win)
11-1 Texas (loss)
9-3 At Tennessee (win)
7-5 Florida State
6-5-1 At Kentucky (win)
3-8 At Georgia Tech (win)
3-8 Mississippi (win)
9-2-1 Florida (win)
8-4 Maryland (win)
10-1-1 At Georgia (win)
8-4 Alabama (win)
9-3 Michigan (win)
While kind of close, not even close to 2002 USC.
@@Papawill13 thanks for all this information it's great. This takes so much time to post something like this
@@giantsulli Thanks, though to be fair I love History, Football and Stats. So this is right down my alley.
@@Papawill13 As a amateur sports fan, I sort of predicted USC was emerging as a college football power under Pete Carroll at that time. Although Pete Carroll had a not so good resume from his two NFL teams with the NY Jets, and NE Patriots, he was still an ex professional football coach at that time taking over a struggling college football program. I was not at all surprised when USC was giving Auburn the business on their home field. I had a friend of mine that often told me that USC was soft because of the so called weak PAC 10 schedule. I countered and told him that east coast bias was hurting a great team out west like USC. The press did the same thing for many years when U of Washington was the consistent college football power on the west coast during the 1980's and early 1990's. Nice analysis you brought up. I wish NCAA did not revoke USC's 2004 BCS title. Fans know what they saw on the field.
God this game was so hot. As a Bama fan i took my friends to this game because my girlfriend lived 1 mile from the stadium. Alabama had a decent year in 2002 but lost their coach so i was dredding the season and to top that Auburn was a hopeful for a bcs champ in 2003. God this was a wonderful day! That city was electric Friday night and 24hrs later it was absolutely dead after that ass whippin!
Very rare that a Pac-10 team plays on CBS during the regular season, you don't see that very often.
USC at SEC(or Southern Conference) schools or games in state.
Alabama - 2-0 (though to be technical, both games were played in Birmingham)
Arkansas - 2-1 (again, though to be technical, two games played in Little Rock)
Auburn - 1-0
Florida - 0-1
LSU - 1-0
Missouri - 1-0 (though they were in the Big 8 when USC beat them in Missouri)
South Carolina - 0-1 (though they were Independent when they beat USC)
Tennessee - 1-0
Tulane - 1-0 (though this was in 1946)
@@Papawill13 interesting note that the home team has never won in this series. Bama is also 4-0 vs USC in LA. USC is 2-0 at Birmingham.
@@Papawill13 bro USC beat Arkansas in a home at home. They beat Auburn in a home at home. Why didn’t you list the USC victories?
The Cadillac blew a gasket.
Dude thank you for this! USC all the way. The beginning of the matt LIONHEART dynasty
And big mike at wr he was a beast
Mike Williams should of stayed in School
He stays in school and no doubt USC is the greatest team of all time 2004
You are the greatest for this upload! Thank you so much!
Lincoln Riley bring back a D-Line like this.
We will face anyone any conference, we don’t run or hide behind Division 2 schools ✌🏾
Bruh it's 2021 now USC is not this USC anymore
Jesse Garcia-saenz I mean he’s not wrong. They still haven’t stopped scheduling like they’re USC of old playing anyone and anywhere. They had Alabama on their 2020 schedule before it got cancelled. The difference is whereas the old USC team would’ve dominated these OOC matchups, they’re getting blown out instead under Helton’s terrible coaching. See 2016 Alabama, 2017 Ohio St, 2019 Texas, 2019 Iowa etc.
@@Talkinsports91 it doesn’t matter we still don’t hide behind Division 2 schools
Usc needs to go back to the west coast offense
Ernest Tanare I completely agree. Not this shotgun, bubble screen, spread offense. They need to go back to the ground in pound, west coast offense.
Michael Thomas Yup. This offense will destroy any sec team
Sadly the west coast offense is extinct in college football
Ernest Tanare which is dumb man. It made USC what it is. I miss having the big tall quaterbacks that just can sling it down field too lol I miss the pro style offense.
Ernest Tanare that was a pro offense or more I formation or 1 back 3 wide.
Auburn may have played Southern Cal Trojans in two seasons but they'll NEVER backed out of game again.
This Game is the reason they probably thought we wasn’t worthy but we definitely were the Following season in 2004 to play USC in The National Championship! Instead USC Blows out Oklahoma 🤦🏾♂️ War Eagle🦅
Auburn would have got beat still they would have kept it a little closer than Oklahoma but that doesn’t really matter auburn still loses
2002 and 2003 did that. Losing 2 years in a row to a team that was less talented as the 2004 team did it. Although none of that should have mattered, only 2004 should have.
This is what they are afraid of…
Fight On ⚔️✌🏾
Had a chance to go to this game but didn't. Ye of so little faith.
This game was so satisfying to watch. As a Bama fan, I enjoy seeing Auburn get their mouths shut. USC was ferocious.
Kinda of like seeing bana go 4-9 that year
Auburn had no offense that entire year. They had a great defense, though. Certainly the best defense USC had faced that entire season. Not as good as Alabama in 2016, though.
@Mike Gee Dude, USC made their living playing in a weak conference and then playing one or two good teams at season's end. Notre Dame stunk almost the entire time Carroll was at USC.
I agree coaching is everything. It's no coincidence that Saban took two different teams to national titles. It's also no coincidence that former Saban assistants are killing it as head coaches.
While I respected USC during the Carroll era, they played in a weak conference. The SEC has dominated the Pac 12 in most matchups. Especially the 52-6 whipping by Alabama over USC.
Alabama's era is over? They lost by 5 to LSU and lost by 3 to Auburn with their second string QB after Tua's injury. Bama will be elite so long as Saban, or a Saban assistant, are in charge.
@Mike Gee Oh, and the Pac 12 bowl tie ins during that era were terrible. Playing Big Ten teams in the Rose Bowl every year is quite boring.
You are wrong. From 2002-2008 this was the Most Conservative Offensive gameplan at USC. Funny thing the 2nd most conservative gameplan they used was in 2006 At Arkansas. Now obviously this Auburn D was Light years better than that Arkansas D. But it does not change the fact the as soon as they scored that TD right out the gate, they called NOTHING but safe typical plays, and USC never did that in these 7 years. End of Year 2003 USC Offense would have smoked this D. The secondary was just weak, and once Leinart got his legs under him, with Williams and Colbert, they would have dropped 34-40 points. USC was breaking in Sophomores at RB, TE and QB.
It was Matt Leinarts first game ever. If Auburn played USC at the end of the year It would have been a blowout of Auburn.
@@NickB1121 the Pac 12 was never considered week until very recently. Your blurring the lines
I hate auburn I loved this it but my unlce who was a auburn fan was like we supposed to be at home but you can here USC fight over ares lol
USC exposed Auburn. Another wanabe.