2003 USC vs Auburn

Highlights of the season-opening 2003 USC-Auburn game, when the #8 Trojans traveled to Alabama to take on the #6 Tigers. USC proceeds to shut out Auburn 23-0 behind first-year starter Matt Leinart, who's very first collegiate pass goes for a touchdown to Mike Williams. USC would go on to win a share of the 2003 National Championship.
Video originally from www.mothcontrol.com/sc/

[@smunilla74]

The beginning of something great probably I never see it again in my lifetime. Thank you USC and Pete.

[@TrojanNationGA]

I hope you are still alive to see what Coach Riley can do. I believe it could be even better.

[@mas5867]

WTF! 2, 1/2 NCs. 2003, share with LSU. 2004, BCS rescinded the BCS NC. Carroll in bowls beat Kirk Ferentz Carr Stoops, maybe the most overrated coach ever Carr Paterno (near dead) Zook (#13 IL) Spazini Who the F are they?

[@Bey11ktb]

I remember watching this beat down

[@theducksfan21]

them west coast boys went up against the so called "big and bad" southern football boys and just manhandled them in every way, shape and form. Not one person can deny that. Not even SEC fans.

[@marktastic86]

No denying USC absolutely annihilated their opponent here. But keep in mind, it was just Auburn. They're historically known for blowing it when games like this come around. Hopefully Alabama and USC will get a chance to play in the 2016 opener that's being discussed.

[@fsufantampa]

reminds me of that trendy pick Oregon squad the past 5 yrs. every-time they a play a tough opponent. As for USC, hopefully for the west-coast they'll be back in the convo in the nxt few yrs. cause this UCLA pre-season ranking is comical & looks alot like those preposterously overrated early 00's Cal Teams.

[@allengreene9954]

+fsufantampa UCLA is never meant to be a national champion.

[@allengreene9954]

+fsufantampa Hell I hope Washington gets back on track because they were one of the best teams in the 80s and the 90s. Washington State also were no slouches either in the 90s and the early 2000s.

[@dukemoose1307]

Yes UCLA SUCKS!

[@RockSmithStudio]

As an Auburn fan, this is proof that USC probably would've owned us in 2004. I still think we deserved a shot over Oklahoma, but USC was in a league of their own that year.

[@unbeatenlake790]

I would love to see these teams play each other again

[@trojanEngineer]

This had to be our best defense in the Pete Carroll era.

[@AuburnPivot]

Thank you.

[@zacub]

It was a home and home series. Auburn traveled to L.A in 2002 and got beat 24-17.

[@ratchetjin]

Thank you

[@saulflores8050]

Just think that was So.Hershel Dennis making a lot of those runs. The backfield was stack because we had a freshman by the name of Reggie Bush who later would be the RB we all know today. That defense was amazing and you always had two to three defenders at the ball. We were able to run the ball at a given notice and opened up our passing game to some great WR’s. There have many great eras in USC football but for me this was truly an exciting one every Saturday. Fight On!

[@mrcpuhead]

Fight on!!!!!

[@RF-20]

The last 3 games USC played against the SEC they out scored the SEC 143-31. 2003 23-0 win over auburn. 2005 70-14 win over Arkansas. 2006 50-14 win over Arkansas who won the west that year. USC era isn't gone it'll be back. I'm an SEC fan saying this. Alabama came back. Notre Dame is coming back. Too much talent out there.

[@remc11rm]

Roger Fed I hope you're right, and thanks for the kind words. Go Trojans!

[@tommyquallsjr5045]

Alabama 52 USC 6

[@tcwheelis]

Ryan Logan usc sucks ass they need to fire there coach

[@mas5867]

LOL. As of 6/23, ND, in bowls, is 0-14 against top 15 teams since 1995. Some come back. Belonged to a conf 1 time in its history, then lost that conf title game (Clem vs ND). It's a farce that ND got to play for all those NC without being in a conf.

[@ThunderBroomSB]

Those highlights were brought to you in HD, Hershel Dennis. Its sad knowing what the kid's been through. Remember, Reggie Bush was HIS backup. He's still with SC. It would be awesome if he could just return to his old form.

[@crazydonat30]

totally agree fellow trojan fan.

[@skywarpe]

@HollyFluffy If you watch 03 Auburn vs 04 Auburn there's no comparison. With a new offensive coordinator in Al Borges, the offense finally clicked as they were supposed to. Ronnie Brown and Cadillac Williams were hitting on all cylinders and both were healthy (unlike 03). Jason Campbell finally had an offensive scheme that he understood and worked effectively in, passing to Ben Obomanu, Devin Aroumashadu, and Courtney Taylor, all of which played in the NFL (Taylor left finding out he has MS).

[@lilfab18]

yep I do. The season is not over by a long shot.

[@BethanieMarie]

there was at Least! 3 plays that were sooo lucky for usc for the ball to land in the hands of those players.

[@allengreene9954]

Even the most die hard SEC fans can at least admit that the Trojans were no joke under Pete Carroll.

[@michaelmore2luv]

trojans all day everyday

[@tycalvert9633]

Allen Greene I like Alabama not the SEC I think Bama proved the SEC much overrated

[@allengreene9954]

Ty Calvert Overrated??

[@tycalvert9633]

Allen Greene I somewhat take it back it's tied with the Big 10 but yes the sec is very overrated

[@allengreene9954]

Ty Calvert How so??

[@PatriotsPride12]

hell yeah thats a national championship game cadillac vs bush just wow

[@Mxyzptlk562]

And that is why I think it is time to have a national playoff. Then we can see who really is the best or is at least playing the best at the end of the year.

[@BobbyFromHomewood]

Auburn also didn't replace USC with the Citadel. Georgia Tech asked out of our 2004 game and we let them, and replaced them with LaMo. We still had Bowling Green on the schedule, but they backed out LATE and took the game with OU and we scheduled the Citadel to replace them, instead of trying to find someone better, although there weren't many options so late in the year(late spring of 2004).

[@226jesse]

@theducksfan21 Agreed, but I'll give Georgia and especially LSU their props for not being afraid to travel and play tough OOC opponents.

[@lsbright123]

when u whatch this game you knew USC was going to be somthing speical that they were here to stay as a powerhouse

[@kylemas2005]

Vandy is exactly the type of team to beat Utah. We get caught up alot out here on the left coast too. Vandy would totally be an honorable foe on the field. Hell Stanford vs Vanderbilt would be an excellent example of instutions of higher learning getting their athletes to compete for a great game and at a high respectable manner. ROCK ON PAC 10 VS SEC MATCHUPS FOR THE FUTURE. THESE TWO CONFERENCES DESERVE MORE OCC SCHEDULING!

[@auburntigerfan91]

I can't believe so many people base the 2004 Auburn team being left out because of this game. Auburn was a completely different team in 2004. Auburn's defense was a lot better in 04' than in 03' even with losing guys like Karlos Dansby and Reggie Torbor from the 03' defense.

[@Askewviewin]

I remember the pre-season hype on this game. The "experts" said USC would not be able to handle the southern heat. Are you kidding? The Auburn speed. Jokes! I have lived in L.A. My whole life and we get 100 degree days here too people! And, the heat seemed to matter, we only won by 20something! In Auburn!

[@user-nm2hb5lg6z]

Oh how I loved this when I watched it live ...Fight on...beat them southern boys 😆

[@shinlanten]

God damn Campbell was running for his life!! SC was basically living in the Auburn backfield.

[@HollyFluffy]

I'm a SEC fan myself but USC is in a world of it's own. They can't help that the teams in there conf aren't as great as the SEC but one thing they seem to do is play well in the big games. Another that game was the first game of the year so you can't say that Auburn was beat up from the schedule. And Auburn was playing at home. USC schedule good teams. Better teams than most of the SEC teams. 2004 VaTech, Auburn 2002 and 2003. OSU 2008 and 2009, Neb 2006 and 2007. I'm glad USC isn't in the SEC.

[@bradcherry6467]

Where's that "SEC" defense they always talk about?

[@evilknievel20]

How is USC so fucking bad ass? Damn.

[@altie29]

usc has most nfl hall of famers. nuff said. USC gets players to the next level

[@auburnsoldier]

man i would have loved to see the 04 auburn vs 04 usc

[@bradcherry101]

no body could have stopped that 1991 washington, freakin way stronger and faster and better players than any sec team now a days

[@w22er]

hell yeah man i want to see vandy, florida, ole miss on the westcoast an next season oregon vs ten thats going to be a good ass match up and your correct about the pac 10

[@JohnHoulgate]

Herschel Dennis - he was the guy Reggie Bush replaced when he got hurt. That ought to give anyone who follows the sport, just how much depth this USC team had.

[@OtterAquafina]

USC was awesome that year. If our Defense can play up to that level this year......man o man o man. It's going to be tough for USC to get to the National championship this year, but they have great talent this year. But it's way too hard to win all your regular season games, and the BCS blows some juicy juicy balls.

[@HollyFluffy]

@skywarpe Remember that Auburn returned the same team from 2003 to 2004 added a new offensive coach. USC added Bush, White, Jarrett, Smith, and many other NFL talent that didn't play in the 2003 game against yall. That was the reason they didn't want to see the match up again for the NC game.

[@medfly92]

We shall return to greatness

[@TheUSCforlife]

In this year's recruiting Kiffin did manage to land us the #1 quarterback, the #1 & 3 running backs in the country as well as the #2 DT . Even with the loss of scholarships the top athletes still want to come here. Banjo's? From the movie Deliverance. Thought you might have got that reference.

[@ClipCoug]

Last time a fan said that they were going to take it to USC in the Orange Bowl, USC took a 38-10 halftime lead and won 55-19 victory. USC doesn't lose too many BCS games (only 1 period) or any game against a top 10 opponent.

[@mas5867]

Stoops. Gimme a break. 1 NC in 18 years and how many embarrassing losses.

[@babyjordyn6102]

if usc played in the SEC, they will still be the top favorites to win it with lsu,auburn,and tennesee.

[@modblogger1]

USC has NOT lost to an sec team in over a decade. USC has a lifetime winning record over sec teams.

[@youtahyoutes1753]

Correction, the sec didn't tie the PAC until 2012 when lsu beat Washington.

[@Mxyzptlk562]

It is amazing how SEC fans who say that USC can't possibly hang with the an SEC team conveniently forget this game and the two games against Arkansas.

[@altie29]

that only goes up to 2009 though i forgot to mention

[@babyjordyn6102]

its there. I had to split the series into 2 comments.

[@TheCiskoKidd]

@Jman6279 - Damn bro. thats what im talkin about!.. Tell it like it is .

[@lucjay9]

they were 8-5, then went undefeated the next year.

[@skywarpe]

I definately mean "only unshared NC THIS DECADE". USC is loaded with NCs. Sorry bout the typo.

[@fantasypolice]

Hershel Dennis!

[@theshowtimekid]

it SHOULD be a home and home series like SC- Auburn...

[@towerymt05]

USC has won their last 7 games against the SEC. That is called superiority!

[@texasfan58]

usc owns every conference

[@twenyohthree]

the real usc og days!

[@youtahyoutes1753]

No. I meant that the PAC doesn't schedule FCS often as the sec. Oregon last year had to add a FCS opponent cuz georgia backed out in 2011. Since 2007 PAC has played 32 FCS schools while sec 67. Thats MORE than double the FCS the PAC schedules. Look it up cuz somehow I can't post the link on here. Since 2007 PAC has played 81 teams from the 6 Power Conferences. The sec? 85. WOW! Even with 2 fewer teams in the PAC they still scheduled the same amount as the sec vs the 6 power conferences.

[@fantasypolice]

It's crazy how USC used to blow teams out in big games. Teams used to just get intimidated and fold.

[@cchsrk16]

for real i mean i'm an Aurburn fan and to tell you the truth we this year

[@kylemas2005]

Its true, Alabama was the first SEC school to schedule big time OCC games in the 60's under Bear Bryant. The Tide would play Notre Dame, Texas, UCLA, etc. when schools like Auburn and Florida wouldn't even consider playing a big name team unless in their own conference or a bowl game. Big ups to Bama for laying the foundation of great National OCC game scheduling. Now if only we could get Saban to play us in Los Angeles.....FIGHT ON TROJANS.

[@mas5867]

It took me just 3 clicks to prove your comment suspect. 1959, Aub vs #4 GT, Oct 17.

[@simba6483]

This USC team will have beat Alabama easy

[@tycalvert9633]

simba6483 that's funny Reggie Bush on his best day would've only had descent numbers against Bama

[@SportZFan4L1fe]

USC Didn't need Reggie Bush when they Whooped #6 Auburn 23-0 in their own stadium. Also, USC Never played FCS Teams on their way To 34 straight Wins like alabama plays FCS teams. I recall Saban NOT picking up the phone when USC was kicking Tail. He only accepted to play USC after sanctions, Pete Carroll was in the NFL, and against Clay Helton as a fIrst year head coach in 2016 at a Neutral site. Saban his whole time at LSU was SCARED to Face Pete and his USC Squad.

[@gregorylumban-gaol3889]

ISJST Hell, nobody in the SEC wanted to face a pre-sanctions Pete Carroll USC team.

[@fernandohernandez1722]

Never forget this same Auburn team went undefeated the following year with virtually the same players being left out of the NC title game when USC put it on Oklahoma. That made this win that much more impressive.

[@WeagleWeagle4220]

Haha, i noticed that yesterday.

[@Mxyzptlk562]

There is only one intelligent response: It is time for an NCAA Football Tournament. Doesn't matter if it is an 8 or 16 team tournament. They need to have one to finally have an honest and earned national champion at the FBS level.

[@youtahyoutes1753]

The PAC's best wins over the sec include UNRANKED UCLA over #3 alabama, UNRANKED UCLA over #18 tennessee, #8 USC over #6 auburn. USC, UCLA, Oregon, Cal have all beaten sec teams in bcs era compared to the sec's lsu, georgia, tennessee, auburn. We all know florida and SCAR will never travel outside their state.

[@dabomb218]

They were ranked number 4 in the country and number 1 or 2 in the SEC at the time...Plus in 2005 we busted 70 on Arkansas, more than any team since 1918. And in 2006 we beat down the number 3 SEC team 50-14 with ease.

[@zacub]

Auburn is very good year after year.

[@theawsomekicker]

bring it on lsu is ready my friend and so is Florida and Georgia.

[@altie29]

they should schedule games with usc because they would be great games and if bama is soo good then it wouldnt even matter if they had usc on their schedule

[@ClipCoug]

Sorry, the 06 Arky team, not the 04 one.

[@BobbyFromHomewood]

I'm saying that the '04 team was a totally different team than the '03 team. If you're too dense to understand that a coaching change can make a big difference with a team, then that's not my problem. Auburn's OL coach was sharing OC duties in '03 with a guy who was teaching Driver's Ed in high school in '02.

[@repeat26]

sure

[@babyjordyn6102]

Pretty even to me.

[@w22er]

yeah im pretty sure both teams will be ranked next season so...... but yeah autzen stadium is pretty wild and loud neyland is also hostile. ............

[@sosathegrunge2]

Herchel Dennis was sooo goood!!!!

[@kylemas2005]

Sorry for the grammatical errors typing in a rush! Anywho I like Auburn because they actually made it the norm for SEC schools to schedule big time OC games. They were doing way before Florida or Georgia has the guts. Also Tennessee was good at scheduling west coast teams as well. Lastly I will say that the best conf is the SEC, the best division is the Big 12 south, and the team of the decade is of course the USC TROJANS!!!! FIGHT ON MEN OF TROY!!!!

[@dynobutters]

cfbdatawarehouse I believe you're not counting TAM and Missouri (which I mistakenly counted twice) because they just joined the SEC, which is fine. However, USC's record against Tulane and Georgia Tech when they were in the SEC is 2-2, so adjusted once again is 19-12-1.

[@skywarpe]

At no point in time have i said that USC HASN'T been a beast. USC has pulled top recruiting teams, produced NFL talent, AND ended in top 10 spots yearly. But there is a HUGE stigma about just how good they ARE from year to year. The ONLY chance to settle a Pac10/SEC dispute is the NC game. And sadly, when you make it, we don't and vise versa. Our best chance was 2004, and they chose Okl ONLY because they wanted two Heisman QB's fighting. Revenue. But i will NEVER say USC's bad. I'm not blind.

[@skywarpe]

I can see that being USC's argument. But in 2004, it was Tuberville that said "We'll play you anytime anywhere". He even offered to fly his team to LA and play at USC's stadium. Carrol's response... :::Silence:::. And if you want to play the number game. USC beat a 6-6 UCLA team by 5, and a 4-7 Stanford team by a whopping 3 pts. You weren't even close to being invincible. Auburn played higher ranked opponents and wouldn't have been blown out by any facet of the imagination. USC lucked out.

[@altie29]

people go to usc cause they know that thats probably the best bet to get to the next level

[@altie29]

that is a very sweet car i wish i owned one to be honest

[@altie29]

haha you crack me up. it may have been vacated but it still happened you cannot deny that. And actually the 2000's are pretty important considering that is the time period we are in

[@EverleighAndLori]

I'm not saying there aren't good teams outside the SEC, but it is the hardest division to play in and have the most BCS championships. SEC schools make the most money, have the most fan support, and have an unmatched record against teams outside of the SEC. USC has also never played the top SEC team when they have played an SEC team. They always pick the weakest team that year.

[@UFGATORS9606060708]

neutral site games are for recruiting in other states, LSU playing Oregon in Texas = more Texas recruits for both teams

[@ClipCoug]

Last I checked, Florida State wasn't a lowly ACC team the years they were beating USC (1997 and 98)

[@youtahyoutes1753]

Let me explain this to you again. The sec in the beginning of the bcs use to schedule H&A with the PAC. After getting theIr top teams smacked around a couple of times i.e. #3 alabama-2000, #6 auburn-2003, #3 lsu-2004, sec west champs arkansas-2006, #15 tennessee-2007, etc the sec AD's decided to end the scheduling of PAC teams because it wasn't good for the sec's image. Therefore, the sec decided to schedule Sunbelt and FCS in order to protect their High rankings from OOC losses to the PAC.

[@fiesta061000]

LSU beat Oregon at DAL in 2011..Alabama beat USC at DAL in 2016..🏈😆non-conference games at neutral sites..

[@kylemas2005]

I don't know how I could be more clear in the FACT that our AD can't get any SEC to schedule us anymore! Dude, look it up please!

[@auburntigerfan91]

I wish someone could post a video of the 2002 USC-Auburn game. That game was a lot better and more exciting than this one was. It's weird that Auburn actually played USC better out at the Coliseum than they did at home.

[@frozenstrawbs]

epic. this is one of the top teams of all time.

[@kylemas2005]

Hey the Pac 10 plays USC hard just like Vandy plays Tennesee hard, South Carolina plays Georgia, Kentucky plays Florida and so on. However whenever SC is allowed to play a great National OC game we dominate! Only wish the SEC's AD's would grow some balls and schedule USC more. Our AD and head coach have repeatedly called for more SEC action but hell with their schedule I wouldn't want to play us either haha!

[@kylemas2005]

SEC is the top conference, but with that said USC could go toe to toe with anybody in that conference, therefore we have to see more OCC games between my program and your conference. Not to mention the Pac 10 is one of the few conferences that have proven they can hold their own against the king SEC. West Coast East Coast bowl is on the horizon as well. We need more PAC 10 vs SEC OCC games in the future I think we can all agree on that.

[@Junglemonkey1457]

ya ... that sucks.

[@SuperMathewson]

God I miss these teams

[@thepac12andbig10suck]

The "Facade" that a conference is stronger? If your conference in this era has 1. Won 7 in a row with 4 teams 2. Has a winning regular season AND bowl record against every power conference (big east an exception) head up 3. Has beaten every single power conference (haven't met ACC yet) in the BCS title including Notre Dame, 4, The first in NCAA history to have all 12 win a bowl game in a 5 year span 5. Undefeated in title games against non conf teams ...Then there is no "FACADE" at all.

[@kylemas2005]

No, but Auburn went on to go undefeated in 04 with the majority of the same players that we crushed in 03. That is something to be proud of. Thats the thing though about SEC fans, they love to hate us but never give any credit to what our team has accomplish. They always say "come on down to the SEC, boy!" And when our AD tries to schedule one we get flat turned down. Its been happening since Arkansas and won't change till the SEC's ADs stop fearing us. FIGHT ON TROJANS!

[@TheUSCforlife]

Well said. Fight On!!!

[@ClipCoug]

It's also easier for the SEC to win title when they are also the most penalized conference in the nation. There is usually a team in the SEC who is on probation every sports season, every year.

[@babyjordyn6102]

Listed below is every SEC versus Pac-10 head-to-head matchup going back to the year 2000. 2000 Alabama 24, UCLA 35 {PAC10} 2001 UCLA 20, Alabama 17 {PAC10} 2002 Auburn 17, USC 24 {PAC10} Mississippi State 13, Oregon 36 {PAC10} 2003 USC 23, Auburn 0 {PAC10} LSU 59, Arizona 13 {SEC} Oregon 42, Mississippi State 34 {PAC10} 2004 Oregon State 21, LSU 22 {SEC} 2005 Arkansas 17, USC 70 {PAC10} LSU 35, Arizona State 31 {SEC}

[@filcox]

Um tube2a, they were talking temp heat and humidity.

[@thepac12andbig10suck]

The numbers don't lie, ur right. Like they don't lie that the SEC conference play is one of, if not the hardest in the nation. Just think, we haven't talked about the conference SOS. Look up how many ranked conf games USC/Oregon/Stanford etc has played in the past ten years compared to SEC teams like Bama, LSU, UGA etc. Then if the SEC is that bad of a conference because they play fcs and mid major teams, they wouldn't be the first conf to have all 12 teams to have a bowl win in a 5 year span.

[@MVillani1985]

Agreed, we need something like a 12 team playoff, that way a Utah (who may be the best team in the country) could win the national championship. Maybe use the Cotton, Sugar, Gator, and Citrus bowls for the games after you've determined the wildcard after the mid-major champ wins (probably in some neutral ground stadium), then use the Orange and Fiesta for the next tier, and then make the Rose Bowl the national championship game location always.

[@fiesta061000]

We have a four team playoff now..lol..🏈🏟😆