The 2002 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2002 NCAA Division I-A football season . USC ended the regular season ranked #5 in both the AP Poll and the Coaches' Poll . Trojans quarterback Carson Palmer won the 2002 Heisman Trophy as the best college football player in America. During the bowl games , USC had a convincing 38–17 win over #3 Iowa in the Orange Bowl . USC became #4 in the final AP Poll and Coaches' Poll. Other notable players for the USC Trojans in 2002 include WR#2 Kareem Kelly , RB#21 Malaefou Mackenzie , QB#10 Matt Cassel , RB#4 Sultan McCullough , RB#34 Hershel Dennis (FR) RB#25 Justin Fargas , RB#39 Sunny Byrd, RB#34 Chad Pierson, S#43 Troy Polamalu , WR#44 Gregg Guenther , TE#86 Dominique Byrd , WR#83 Keary Colbert , WR#1 Mike Williams , WR#7 Sandy Fletcher, WR#82 Donald Hale, TE#88 Doyal Butler, and WR#87 Grant Mattos .
The team was named national champion by the Dunkel System , Matthews Grid Ratings , and Sagarin Ratings , all NCAA-designated major selectors,[1] : 115
USC was ranked highly (#12 by Scout, #13 by Rivals) for getting Darnell Bing , Manuel Wright , Winston Justice , Fred Matua , Tom Malone , Jason Mitchell , Hershel Dennis , Kyle Williams , Dominique Byrd , Dallas Sartz , Justin Wyatt , Chris McFoy , Mike Williams , LaJuan Ramsey , Oscar Lua and Brandon Hancock among others.
Date Time Opponent Rank Site TV Result Attendance September 2 5:00 p.m. Auburn * No. 20 ABC W 24–1763,269[2] September 14 12:30 p.m. at No. 18 Colorado * No. 17 ABC W 40–353,119[2] September 21 4:00 p.m. at No. 25 Kansas State * No. 11 TBS L 20–2749,276[2] September 28 3:30 p.m. No. 23 Oregon State No. 18 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA FSN W 22–056,417[2] October 5 4:00 p.m. at No. 17 Washington State No. 18 TBS L 27–30 OT 36,861[2] October 12 3:30 p.m. California No. 20 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA FSN W 30–2863,113[2] October 19 12:30 p.m. No. 22 Washington No. 19 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA ABC W 41–2152,961[2] October 26 12:30 p.m. at No. 14 Oregon No. 15 ABC W 44–3356,754[2] November 9 5:00 p.m. at Stanford No. 10 ABC W 49–1744,950[2] November 16 4:00 p.m. Arizona State No. 8 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA TBS W 34–1373,923[2] November 23 12:30 p.m. at No. 25 UCLA No. 7 ABC W 52–2191,084[2] November 30 5:00 p.m. No. 7 Notre Dame * No. 6 Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (rivalry ) ABC W 44–1391,432[2] January 2, 2003 5:00 p.m. vs. No. 3 Iowa * No. 5 ABC W 38–1775,971[2] *Non-conference game Rankings from AP Poll released prior to the game All times are in Pacific time
2002 USC Trojans football team roster Players Coaches Offense Defense Special teams Head coach Coordinators/assistant coaches Legend (C) Team captain(S) Suspended(I) IneligibleRoster
Auburn at No. 20 USC 1 2 3 4 Total Tigers 7 7 0 3 17 • No. 20 Trojans 7 7 3 7 24
Scoring summary 1 12:05 USC Kareem Kelly 15-yard pass from Carson Palmer (David Davis kick)USC 7-0 1 8:31 AUB Cadillac Williams 23-yard run (Damon Duval kick)Tied 7-7 2 12:04 USC Sultan McCullough 3-yard run (David Davis kick)USC 14-7 2 0:11 AUB Ronnie Brown 1-yard run (Damon Duval kick)Tied 14-14 3 7:05 USC David Davis 37-yard field goal USC 17-14 4 14:51 AUB Damon Duval 39-yard field goal Tied 17-17 4 1:26 USC Carson Palmer 1-yard run (David Davis kick) USC 24-17
No. 17 USC at No. 18 Colorado 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 17 Trojans 14 6 0 20 40 No. 18 Buffaloes 0 0 3 0 3
Scoring summary 1 9:56 USC Malaefou MacKenzie 32-yard pass from Carson Palmer (David Davis kick)USC 7-0 1 2:46 USC Malaefou MacKenzie 14-yard run (David Davis kick) USC 14-0 2 2:08 USC Sultan McCullough 62-yard run (kick failed)USC 20-0 3 2:51 COL Patrick Brougham 42-yard field goal USC 20-3 4 10:24 USC Carson Palmer 1-yard run (David Davis kick) USC 27-3 4 8:47 USC Mike Ross recovered blocked punt in end zone (kick failed) USC 33-3 4 2:47 USC Darryl Poston 4-yard run (David Davis kick) USC 40-3
at No. 25 Kansas State edit No. 11 USC at No. 25 Kansas State 1 2 3 4 Total No. 11 Trojans 0 6 0 14 20 • No. 25 Wildcats 0 12 7 8 27
Scoring summary 2 5:43 KSU Jared Brite 35-yard field goal KSU 3–0 2 3:46 KSU Ell Roberson 1-yard fun (Brite kick)KSU 10–0 2 0:32 USC Mike Patterson 3-yard fumble return (kick blocked) KSU 10–6 2 0:32 KSU Terence Newman 98-yard PAT returnKSU 12–6 3 3:55 KSU Darren Sproles 10-yard fun (Brite kick)KSU 19–6 4 14:55 KSU James Terry 10-yard pass from Ell Roberson (Roberson run) KSU 27–6 4 10:21 USC Keary Colbert 9-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) KSU 27–13 4 6:31 USC Sultan McCullough 25-yard run (Killeen kick) KSU 27–20
[3]
Statistics USC KSU First downs 16 19 Total yards 276 347 Rushing yards 90 188 Passing yards 186 159 Turnovers 1 5 Time of possession 29:37 30:23
No. 23 Oregon State at No. 18 USC 1 2 3 4 Total No. 23 Beavers 0 0 0 0 0 • No. 18 Trojans 0 13 6 3 22
Scoring summary 2 14:50 USC Ryan Killeen 43-yard field goalUSC 3-0 2 13:04 USC Ryan Killeen 42-yard field goal USC 6-0 2 0:10 USC Mike Williams 11-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick)USC 13-0 3 4:45 USC Mike Williams 16-yard pass from Carson Palmer (pass failed) USC 19-0 4 10:34 USC Ryan Killeen 32-yard field goal USC 22-0
at No. 17 Washington State edit No. 18 USC at No. 17 Washington State 1 2 3 4 OT Total No. 18 Trojans 7 0 7 13 0 27 • No. 17 Cougars 10 0 7 10 3 30
California at No. 20 USC 1 2 3 4 Total Golden Bears 14 7 0 7 28 • No. 20 Trojans 3 14 7 6 30
Scoring summary 1 10:06 CAL Joe Igber 3-yard run (Mark Jensen kick) CAL 7-0 1 6:04 USC Ryan Killeen 34-yard field goalCAL 7-3 1 2:24 CAL Terrell Williams 1-yard run (Mark Jensen kick) CAL 14-3 2 11:42 CAL Jonathan Makonnen 15-yard pass from Kyle Boller (Mark Jensen kick) CAL 21-3 2 5:29 USC Kareem Kelly 6-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick)CAL 21-10 2 1:06 USC Mike Williams 21-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick)CAL 21-17 3 8:38 USC Sultan McCullough 2-yard run (Ryan Killeen kick)USC 24-21 4 9:59 USC Ryan Killeen 32-yard field goal USC 27-21 4 1:41 USC Ryan Killeen 18-yard field goal USC 30-21 4 0:35 CAL Tom Swoboda 5-yard pass from Kyle Boller (Mark Jensen kick) USC 30-28
#22/17 Washington at #19/20 USC 1 2 3 4 Total No. 22 Huskies 7 0 0 14 21 • No. 19 Trojans 7 10 17 7 41
Scoring summary 1 2:47 USC Mike Williams 43-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick)USC 7-0 1 0:04 WASH Paul Arnold 5-yard pass from Cody Pickett (John Anderson kick) Tied 7-7 2 10:53 USC Keary Colbert 61-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick)USC 14-7 2 6:58 USC Ryan Killeen 30-yard field goal USC 17-7 3 9:34 USC Mike Williams 14-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) USC 24-7 3 6:56 USC Mike Williams 11-yard pass from Carson Palmer (Ryan Killeen kick) USC 31-7 3 4:56 USC Ryan Killeen 33-yard field goal USC 34-7 4 13:30 WASH Kevin Ware 2-yard pass from Cody Pickett (John Anderson kick) USC 34-14 4 10:22 WASH Reggie Williams 27-yard pass from Cody Pickett (John Anderson kick)USC 34-21 4 3:23 USC Justin Fargas 13-yard run (Ryan Killeen kick)USC 41-21
No. 15 USC at No. 14 Oregon 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 15 Trojans 14 0 20 10 44 No. 14 Ducks 13 6 0 14 33
No. 10 USC at Stanford 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 10 Trojans 14 7 14 14 49 Cardinal 7 3 0 7 17
Arizona State at No. 8 USC 1 2 3 4 Total Sun Devils 3 7 3 0 13 • No. 8 Trojans 10 10 0 14 34
[4]
No. 7 USC at No. 25 UCLA 1 2 3 4 Total • No. 7 Trojans 21 7 14 10 52 No. 25 Bruins 0 7 0 14 21
Date: November 23Location: Rose Bowl , Pasadena Game start: 3:30 p.m. EST Elapsed time: 3:26Game attendance: 91,084Television network: ABC Scoring summary 1 14:53 USC Kelly 34-yard passing touchdown from Palmer (Killeen kick)USC 7–0 10:30 USC Colbert 51-yard passing touchdown from Palmer (Kileen kick)USC 14–0 6:04 USC Fargas 1-yard run (Killeen kick)USC 21–0 2 11:40 UCLA White 7-yard run (Fikse kick) USC 21–7 4:20 USC MacKenzie 2-yard passing touchdown from Palmer (Killeen kick)USC 28–7 3 13:45 USC Colbert34-yard run (Killeen kick) USC 35–7 2:05 USC Guenther Jr. 3-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 42–7 4 14:55 USC Killeen 27-yard field goal USC 45–7 9:30 USC Dennis 38-yard run (Killeen kick) USC 52–7 2:47 UCLA White Jr. 10-yard passing touchdown from Moore (Fikse kick) USC 52–14 0:59 UCLA Lewis 14-yard passing touchdown from Sciarra (Fikse kick) USC 52–21
[5]
1 2 3 4 Total No. 7 Fighting Irish 6 7 0 0 13 • No. 6 Trojans 0 17 13 14 44
Date: November 30Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum , Los AngelesGame start: 8:00 p.m. EST Elapsed time: 3:26Game attendance: 91,432Game weather: Cloudy; 60 °F (16 °C); wind variableReferee: Chuck McFerrinTelevision network: ABC Scoring summary 1 4:10 ND Setta 34-yard field goal ND 3–0 3:46 ND Setta 32-yard field goal ND 6–0 2 10:49 USC Williams 6-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick)USC 7–6 3:34 USC Killeen 22-yard field goal USC 10–6 1:07 ND Pierre-Antoine recovered blocked punt in end zone (Setta kick) ND 13–10 :05 USC Williams 19-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 17–13 3 12:01 USC MacKenzie 15-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick)USC 24–13 6:36 USC Killeen 27-yard field goal USC 27–13 2:15 USC Killeen 29-yard field goal USC 30–13 4 11:58 USC McCullough 11-yard run (Killeen kick)USC 37–13 7:23 USC MacKenzie 10-yard pass from Palmer (Killeen kick) USC 44–13
[6] [7]
edit #3/5 Iowa Hawkeyes at #5/4 USC Trojans 1 2 3 4 Total No. 3 Hawkeyes 10 0 0 7 17 • No. 5 Trojans 7 3 14 14 38
Scoring summary 1 14:43 IOWA C.J. Jones 100-yard kickoff return IOWA 7-0 1 12:46 USC Justin Fargas 4-yard runTIED 7-7 1 6:26 IOWA Nate Kaeding 35-yard field goalIOWA 10-7 2 1:12 USC Ryan Killeen 35-yard field goal TIED 10-10 3 10:14 USC Mike Williams 18-yard pass from Carson Palmer USC 17-10 3 4:58 USC Justin Fargas 50-yard run USC 24-10 4 14:25 USC Sultan McCullough 5-yard run USC 31-10 4 2:36 USC Sunny Byrd 6-yard run USC 38-10 4 0:34 IOWA Maurice Brown 18-yard pass from Brad Banks USC 38-17
USC played third ranked Iowa in the Orange Bowl . The matchup featured the top two finalists for that season's Heisman Trophy; Trophy winner Carson Palmer and runner up Brad Banks .[9] Iowa State . Iowa opened the play up with a bang and set an Orange Bowl record when C.J. Jones returned the opening kickoff of the game 100 yards for a touchdown. USC responded with a touchdown run on from running back Justin Fargas . Iowa regained the lead with a field goal from Nate Kaeding . USC would kick a field goal in the second quarter to even the score 10-10 at the half. USC came out in the second half and separated themselves from Iowa scoring twice in the third quarter to take a 24-10 lead. The first score was a pass from Palmer to Mike Williams and the second was another run from Fargas. USC ended the third quarter with the ball and scored quickly in the fourth quarter giving them a 31-10 lead. The lead grew when Iowa continued to be unable to do anything with the ball and USC took advantage on a rushing touchdown from fan favorite Sunny Byrd to make the score 38-10. Iowa would score off a touchdown pass from Banks however it was too late. USC would end up winning 38-17.
The Trojans dominated time of possession in the game, having control of the ball for 38:06 seconds. This allowed for the Trojans defense to rest while keeping the Iowa defense out on the field and making them tired. USC's defense did not give up a touchdown to Iowa until the fourth quarter of the game and forced Banks to throw his first interception since October 19.[10]
Statistics IOWA USC First downs 18 30 Total yards 323 550 Rushing yards 119 247 Passing yards 204 303 Turnovers 2 0 Time of possession 21:54 38:06
2002 team players in the NFL edit ^ 2018 NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision Records (PDF) . Indianapolis: National Collegiate Athletic Association. August 2018. Retrieved October 4, 2018 .^ a b c d e f g h i j k l m "Cumulative Season Statistics" . University of Southern California Department of Athletics. Retrieved November 7, 2014 .^ Plaschke, Bill (September 22, 2002). "Palmer's Legacy Hangs in Balance" . Los Angeles Times . Retrieved September 8, 2019 .^ "Trojans Focus Is Unrivaled" . The Los Angeles Times . Retrieved December 10, 2002 .^ [1] . Retrieved 2017-Feb-14.^ "Palmer's Offense Boosts U.S.C. over Notre Dame" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 10, 2002 .^ "Southern Cal's Palmer Captures the Heisman" . The New York Times . Retrieved December 10, 2002 .^ "BCS GAME RESULTS - OrangeBowl.org The Official Site of The FedEx Orange Bowl Championship" . www.orangebowl.org . Archived from the original on June 2, 2009. Retrieved January 11, 2022 .^ "2002 Heisman Trophy Voting" .^ "Iowa vs. USC - Game Recap - January 2, 2003 - ESPN" .
