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How many national championships has USC won?
Key takeaways
- USC Trojans football has won 11 national championships: 1928, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004.
- Title seasons: 1928, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004.
- Across the Big Ten, Michigan (12), USC (11), Ohio State (9), Minnesota (7), Michigan State (6), Illinois (5), Nebraska (5), Penn State (2), Washington (2), Indiana (1), Iowa (1), Maryland (1), Rutgers (1), UCLA (1) have claimed national titles.
- All-time record in our game log (1915-2026): 820-346-41.
11 National titles
820-346-41 Record 1915-2026
27 of 49 Bowl / playoff wins
2004 (13-0) Best season
22
seasons since USC's last national championship 2004 national championship - Finished 13-0.
Every national title, year by year
| Year | Title | The season |
|---|---|---|
| 1928 | 1928 national championship (claimed) | Finished 9-0-1. |
| 1931 | 1931 national championship (claimed) | Finished 10-1. |
| 1932 | 1932 national championship (claimed) | Finished 10-0. |
| 1939 | 1939 national championship (claimed) | Finished 8-0-2. |
| 1962 | 1962 national championship | Finished 11-0. |
| 1967 | 1967 national championship | Finished 10-1. |
| 1972 | 1972 national championship | Finished 12-0. |
| 1974 | 1974 national championship | Finished 10-1-1. |
| 1978 | 1978 national championship | Finished 12-1. |
| 2003 | 2003 national championship | Finished 12-1. |
| 2004 | 2004 national championship | Finished 13-0. |
Claimed national championships, per the program's own record book.
USC postseason, 1915-2026
| Season | Record | Postseason |
|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 9-4 | Lost Valero Alamo Bowl |
| 2024 | 7-6 | Won SRS Distribution Las Vegas Bowl |
| 2023 | 8-5 | Won DIRECTV Holiday Bowl |
| 2022 | 11-3 | Lost Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic |
| 2019 | 8-5 | Lost SAN DIEGO COUNTY CREDIT UNION HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2017 | 11-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 2016 | 10-3 | Won ROSE BOWL GAME PRES. BY NORTHWESTERN MUTUAL |
| 2015 | 8-6 | Lost NATIONAL FUNDING HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2014 | 9-4 | Won NATIONAL UNIVERSITY HOLIDAY BOWL |
| 2013 | 10-4 | Won ROYAL PURPLE LAS VEGAS BOWL |
| 2012 | 7-6 | Lost HYUNDAI SUN BOWL |
| 2009 | 9-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 2008 | 12-1 | Won THE ROSE BOWL GAME PRESENTED BY CITI |
| 2007 | 11-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 2006 | 11-2 | Won ROSE BOWL AT PASADENA CA |
| 2005 | 12-1 | Lost The Rose Bowl Game presented by Citi |
| 2002 | 11-2 | Won ORANGE BOWL |
| 2001 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1998 | 8-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1995 | 9-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1994 | 8-3-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1993 | 8-5 | Won Bowl game |
| 1992 | 6-5-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1990 | 8-4-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1989 | 9-2-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1988 | 10-2 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1987 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1986 | 7-5 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1985 | 6-6 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1984 | 9-3 | Won Bowl game |
| 1981 | 9-3 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1979 | 11-0-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1977 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1976 | 11-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1975 | 8-4 | Won Bowl game |
| 1973 | 9-2-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1969 | 10-0-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1968 | 9-1-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1966 | 7-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1954 | 8-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1952 | 10-1 | Won Bowl game |
| 1947 | 7-2-1 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1945 | 7-4 | Lost Bowl game |
| 1944 | 8-0-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1943 | 8-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1938 | 9-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1929 | 10-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1924 | 9-2 | Won Bowl game |
| 1922 | 10-1 | Won Bowl game |
Source: CollegeFootballData game results via the CFB Data Hub.
National titles across the Big Ten
| Team | Titles | Last title |
|---|---|---|
 Michigan Wolverines | 12 | 2023 |
 USC Trojans this page | 11 | 2004 |
 Ohio State Buckeyes | 9 | 2024 |
 Minnesota Golden Gophers | 7 | 1960 |
 Michigan State Spartans | 6 | 1966 |
 Illinois Fighting Illini | 5 | 1951 |
 Nebraska Cornhuskers | 5 | 1997 |
 Penn State Nittany Lions | 2 | 1986 |
 Washington Huskies | 2 | 1991 |
 Indiana Hoosiers | 1 | 2025 |
 Iowa Hawkeyes | 1 | 1958 |
 Maryland Terrapins | 1 | 1953 |
 Rutgers Scarlet Knights | 1 | 1869 |
 UCLA Bruins | 1 | 1954 |
 Northwestern Wildcats | 0 | None yet |
 Oregon Ducks | 0 | None yet |
 Purdue Boilermakers | 0 | None yet |
 Wisconsin Badgers | 0 | None yet |
Current Big Ten members, claimed national championships.
Where USC sits in the Big Ten
Current Big Ten programs have claimed 64 national titles between them: 12 for Michigan, 11 for USC, nine for Ohio State, seven for Minnesota, six for Michigan State, five for Illinois, five for Nebraska, two for Penn State, two for Washington, one for Indiana, one for Iowa, one for Maryland, one for Rutgers and one for UCLA. The other four programs are still chasing a first. See how this season is shaping up on the Big Ten standings, or browse every season on the USC record by year page.
Editorial note
College football crowned national champions by polls and selectors before the BCS (1998) and the College Football Playoff (2014). The titles here are the ones each program claims in its own record book.
USC Trojans football has won 11 national championships: 1928, 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978, 2003, 2004.
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Frequently asked questions
How many national championships has USC won?
11. 1928 national championship (claimed), 1931 national championship (claimed), 1932 national championship (claimed), 1939 national championship (claimed), 1962 national championship, 1967 national championship, 1972 national championship, 1974 national championship, 1978 national championship, 2003 national championship, 2004 national championship.
When did USC win its first national championship?
In 1928. Finished 9-0-1.
When did USC last win a national championship?
In 2004. Finished 13-0.