The 2004 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2004 NCAA Division I-A football season. The 2004 Trojans football team won the 2004 BCS National Championship by winning the 2005 Orange Bowl, that year's BCS National Championship Game. The team also won the AP title for the second year in a row. It was the Trojans' first unanimous national championship since 1972, and the second time a team had gone wire-to-wire, with the Trojans holding the number 1 spot in the polls all season. The team was coached by Pete Carroll in his fourth year with the Trojans, and played its home games in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

Quarterback Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy as the most outstanding collegiate football player in the U.S. His teammate, running back Reggie Bush, finished fifth in Heisman voting, winning the following year. Both were named co-winners of the Pac-10 Offensive Player of the Year.PREVIEW: (1) USC vs. UCLA, Yahoo! Sports, December 4, 2004. The team captains were Shaun Cody, Matt Grootegoed and Matt Leinart.All-Time USC Record , 2006 USC Football Media Guide, USC Athletic Department, pg. 96.

Because of the controversy that ended the 2003 NCAA Division I-A football season with a split national title between LSU and USC, the motto for the Trojans' 2004 season became "Leave No Doubt."Malcolmson, Ben (January 11, 2005) Trojans leave no doubt with blowout , Daily Trojan. Ironically, the changes made to the BCS due to the 2003 season did not resolve issues with multiple undefeated teams, as Auburn and Utah finished undefeated, yet they did not get to play USC or any other team for the title.

On June 10, 2010, USC was forced to vacate its two final wins from the 2004 season (December 2004 against UCLA and the BCS championship game), as well as all wins from the 2005 season, following an NCAA investigation into violations by the Trojans' football and men's basketball programs, mainly revolving around the eligibility of Reggie Bush. Since the vacated games included the Trojans' Orange Bowl win, the Trojans were later stripped of the 2004 BCS title in June 2011. However, the Associated Press (AP) still recognizes USC as winners of the 2004 national championship.Report: USC to keep AP title. ESPN, June 11, 2010.

Schedule

Game summaries Virginia Tech

USC and Virginia Tech opened the 2004 college football season with the Black Coaches Association Football Classic at a sold out FedExField in Landover, Maryland.2004 Game Summaries , 2005 USC Football Media Guide, USC Athletic Department, pp. 65–71. Days before the game, the NCAA declared star Trojans wide receiver Mike Williams ineligible to play after a failed attempt to join the NFL early, creating concern over whether the defending 2003 National Champions were prepared to try for another title.PREVIEW: (1) USC vs. Virginia Tech, Yahoo! Sports, August 28, 2004. This was the first time the two teams had competed in football; and with the game held only three hours away from Virginia Tech, the crowd was dominated by Hokies fans.Russo, Ralph D. (August 29, 2004) RECAP: (1) USC 24, Virginia Tech 13, Associated Press. The game marked the emergence of running back Reggie Bush, who often lined up at wide receiver, catching five passes for 127 yards and scored three touchdowns in a tight game. Although Virginia Tech was not ranked going into the game, they ended the season ranked 9th, going 10–3 (7–1 in the ACC), becoming ACC Champions in their first year in the conference and were invited to the 2005 Nokia Sugar Bowl.2004 Virginia Tech Hokies Football Schedule , San Diego Hokies Alumni Chapter, Accessed June 13, 2007.

Colorado State

Colorado State visited USC in the first meeting between the two programs.PREVIEW: Colorado St. vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, September 11, 2004. The Trojans dominated the Rams en route to a 49–0 shut out, led by running back LenDale White who ran for 123 yards on 14 carries, scoring three touchdowns.Nadel, John (September 11, 2004) RECAP: (1) USC 49, Colorado St. 0, Associated Press. Matt Leinart went 20-of-31 for 231 yards in three quarters before being retired from the game, Dwayne Jarrett caught a touchdown on what was his 18th birthday, and the Trojans handed the Rams their worse loss in eight years and first shut out in 85 games.

BYU

The Trojans made their first visit to LaVell Edwards Stadium, on the campus of Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah. The game marked the return of USC Offensive Coordinator Norm Chow to the program where he spent 27 years as an assistant under former Coach LaVell Edwards.PREVIEW: (1) USC vs. BYU, Yahoo! Sports, September 18, 2004. Running backs Reggie Bush and LenDale White both broke 100 yards each en route to victory.Alden, Doug (September 19, 2004) RECAP: (1) USC 42, BYU 10, Associated Press.

Stanford

USC had what would be its closest game of the season against the unheralded Stanford Cardinal at Stanford Stadium in their Pacific-10 Conference opener.Alden, Doug (September 25, 2004) RECAP: (1) USC 31, Stanford 28, Associated Press. Both USC and Stanford had just previously beat BYU in convincing fashion; however, Stanford had the added benefit of a bye week to rest and reorganize between games.PREVIEW: (1) USC 31, Stanford 28, Yahoo! Sports, September 25, 2004. By halftime, USC found itself down 11 points after the Cardinal caught them by surprise with an 82-yard run final play while trying to run out the clock to end the half. After an energetic and emotional halftime in the locker room, the Trojan defense shut down the Cardinal while the offense put together the drives that gave the Trojans the lead and the victory.

California

ESPN's College GameDay program visited the Los Angeles Coliseum for the first time in anticipation of a game between highly ranked and undefeated teams: 7th-ranked California had given USC its only loss in the 2003 season, resulting in the Trojans sharing the 2003 National Championship.PREVIEW: (7) California vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, October 9, 2004. It was the first time since 1968 that the teams met when both were ranked and it also was the highest-ranked Cal squad USC had faced since 1952, also the last time the two programs were ranked in the top ten.Russo, Ralph D. (October 9, 2004) RECAP: (1) USC 23, (7) California 17, Associated Press. The Cal Golden Bears, led by Coach Jeff Tedford, were already ranked their highest since 1991 and looking to earn one of the biggest victories in program history. The crowd was USC's largest crowd for a non-UCLA/Notre Dame rivalry game since the 1952 Cal game.

The game was tightly fought: Cal dominated the statistics, more than doubling USC's first downs (28–12) and total yards (424–205) while getting more plays (79–50) and possession time (37:11–22:49); Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers had a career performance, tying an NCAA single game record by completing his first 23 passes and guiding the Golden Bears to a first-and-goal at the Trojan 9-yard line with 1:47 to play. However, in the key final series, under heavy crowd noise, the USC defense caused an incomplete pass, a sack by defensive tackle Manuel Wright, and two more incomplete passes to cause a loss of possession and effectively end the game.

The game was highly touted by the media, with both teams earning praise for their performances.Michael Ventre, USC-Cal was matchup of nation's best, NBCSports.com, October 10, 2004. Beyond the 2004 season, the game marked a turning point in terms of crowd participation at the Coliseum, which thereafter garnered a reputation as a loud and difficult place to play for opposing teams.

The quality of play met expectations and had major ramifications for both programs that season: It would be the only game the Bears would lose in the regular season, costing them a shot at the national title and their first BCS bowl appearance, including what could've been their first appearance at the Rose Bowl since 1959; and it was the Trojans' toughest game of the season on their way to winning the national championship in the Orange Bowl.Forde, Pat (August 16, 2007) Southern passion propels SEC to top of conference ladder, ESPN.com.

Arizona State

The 15th-ranked Sun Devils, under Coach Dirk Koetter, were out to prove that they were a part of the national title picture and USC was out to prove it deserved its top-ranking after a series of close games to the Bay Area schools.PREVIEW: (15) Arizona St. vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, October 16, 2004. USC quickly put the game out of reach, scoring 42 points in the first half behind 4 touchdown passes Matt Leinart and school single game record-tying 3 scoring grabs by Dwayne Jarrett. ASU quarterback Andrew Walter was rendered ineffective by the USC defense which achieved eight sacks, the same total ASU allowed in its previous five games.Nadel, John (October 16, 2004) RECAP: (1) USC 45, (15) Arizona St. 7, Associated Press. The decisive victory helped USC dispel concerns over its ability to dominate opponents. It was the second time the Trojans played before consecutive sellout crowds in the Coliseum, the first was in 1947 when the UCLA and Notre Dame rivalry games sold out, and the first against non-rival opponents.

At halftime USC recognized the 1939 Trojans as National Champions based on their #1 ranking in the contemporary Dickinson System, with surviving members of the team in attendance.

Washington

The struggling Washington Huskies visited the Trojans for the 75th meeting in the series, with the Trojans dominating 38–0. The shutout was Washington's first since 1981, ending a national-best active streak of consecutive games without being shut out at 271.Nadel, John (October 23, 2004) RECAP: (1) USC 38, Washington 0, Associated Press. The victory put USC's winning streak at the Coliseum at 19, tying the school record set from 1931 to 1933.PREVIEW: Washington vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, October 23, 2004. The game marked the first career start for Husky quarterback Isaiah Stanback.

Washington State

USC became the first top-ranked team to visit Pullman, Washington, as the Trojans took on the Cougars at a sold-out Martin Stadium.PREVIEW: (1) USC vs. Washington St., Yahoo! Sports, October 30, 2004. The Trojans had lost in their previous visit to WSU, a 30–27 overtime game in 2002; since then the Trojans had gone 28–1.Wiley, John K. (October 30, 2004) RECAP: (1) USC 42, Washington St. 12, Associated Press. USC took the upper hand early on, taking a 14–0 lead before WSU's offense got on the field; by halftime, it was 35–0, as the Trojans had 289 yards and 16 first downs to the Cougars 54 and 4.

Oregon State

The Trojans prevailed over the Beavers in a tight game in heavy fog at Reser Stadium in Corvallis, Oregon. After trailing 13–0 in second quarter, USC scored the next 28 points with a pivotal 65-yard scoring return by Reggie Bush in the 4th quarter with the game close at 14–13.Peterson, Anne M. (November 7, 2004) RECAP: (1) USC 28, Oregon St. 20, Associated Press. Although the fog was thick enough at times to interfere with pass plays, USC tight end Dominique Byrd caught two touchdowns. It would be USC last win at Oregon State until 2013.

Arizona

USC clinched its third consecutive conference championship with a victory over the visiting Arizona Wildcats.PREVIEW: Arizona vs. (1) USC, Yahoo! Sports, November 13, 2004. LenDale White ran for 118 yards and three touchdowns while Matt Leinart passed for 280 yards and three more scores; the game guaranteed USC a spot in, at worst, the Rose BowlNadel, John (November 14, 2004) (1) USC 49, Arizona 9, Associated Press.

Notre Dame