# List of USC Trojans football seasons

This is a list of ongoing and completed seasons by the USC Trojans football team since its conception in 1888.

## Seasons

| Year | Coach | Overall | Conference | Standing | Bowl/playoffs | Coaches$^#$ | AP$^°$ |
| Henry H. Goddard & Frank Suffel (Independent) (1888) ||||||||
| 1888 | Goddard & Suffel | 2–0 | | | | | |
| Independent (1889–1896) ||||||||
| 1889 | No coach | 2–0 | | | | | |
| 1890 | No team | | | | | | |
| 1891 | No coach | 1–2 | | | | | |
| 1892 | No team | | | | | | |
| 1893 | No coach | 3–1 | | | | | |
| 1894 | No coach | 1–0 | | | | | |
| 1895 | No coach | 0–1–1 | | | | | |
| 1896 | No coach | 0–3 | | | | | |
| Lewis R. Freeman (Independent) (1897) ||||||||
| 1897 | Lewis R. Freeman | 5–1 | | | | | |
| Independent (1898–1900) ||||||||
| 1898 | No coach | 5–1–1 | | | | | |
| 1899 | No coach | 2–3–1 | | | | | |
| 1900 | No coach | 1–1–1 | | | | | |
| Clair Tappaan (Independent) (1901) ||||||||
| 1901 | Clair Tappaan | 0–1 | | | | | |
| 1902 | No coach | 2–3 | | | | | |
| John Walker (Independent) (1903) ||||||||
| 1903 | John Walker | 4–2 | | | | | |
| Harvey Holmes (Independent) (1904–1907) ||||||||
| 1904 | Harvey Holmes | 6–1 | | | | | |
| 1905 | Harvey Holmes | 6–3–1 | | | | | |
| 1906 | Harvey Holmes | 2–0–2 | | | | | |
| 1907 | Harvey Holmes | 5–1 | | | | | |
| Bill Traeger (Independent) (1908) ||||||||
| 1908 | Bill Traeger | 3–1–1 | | | | | |
| Dean Cromwell (Independent) (1909–1910) ||||||||
| 1909 | Dean Cromwell | 3–1–2 | | | | | |
| 1910 | Dean Cromwell | 7–0–1 | | | | | |
| 1911–13 | No team | | | | | | |
| Ralph Glaze (Independent) (1914–1915) ||||||||
| 1914 | Ralph Glaze | 4–3 | | | | | |
| 1915 | Ralph Glaze | 3–4 | | | | | |
| Dean Cromwell (Independent) (1916–1918) ||||||||
| 1916 | Dean Cromwell | 5–3 | | | | | |
| 1917 | Dean Cromwell | 4–2–1 | | | | | |
| 1918 | Dean Cromwell | 2–2–2 | | | | | |
| Gus Henderson (Independent) (1919–1921) ||||||||
| 1919 | Gus Henderson | 4–1 | | | | | |
| 1920 | Gus Henderson | 6–0 | | | | | |
| 1921 | Gus Henderson | 10–1 | | | | | |
| Gus Henderson (Pacific Coast Conference) (1922–1924) ||||||||
| 1922 | Gus Henderson | 10–1 | 3–1 | 4th | W Rose | | |
| 1923 | Gus Henderson | 6–2 | 2–2 | T–3rd | | | |
| 1924 | Gus Henderson | 9–2 | 2–1 | T–4th | W Christmas Festival | | |
| Howard Jones (Pacific Coast Conference) (1925–1940) ||||||||
| 1925 | Howard Jones | 11–2 | 3–2 | T–3rd | | | |
| 1926 | Howard Jones | 8–2 | 5–1 | 2nd | | | |
| 1927 | Howard Jones | 8–1–1 | 4–0–1 | T–1st | | | |
| 1928 | Howard Jones | 9–0–1 | 4–0–1 | T–1st | | | |
| 1929 | Howard Jones | 10–2 | 6–1 | 1st | W Rose | | |
| 1930 | Howard Jones | 8–2 | 5–1 | 2nd | | | |
| 1931 | Howard Jones | 10–1 | 7–0 | 1st | W Rose | | |
| 1932 | Howard Jones | 10–0 | 6–0 | 1st | W Rose | | |
| 1933 | Howard Jones | 10–1–1 | 4–1–1 | 3rd | | | |
| 1934 | Howard Jones | 4–6–1 | 1–4–1 | 7th | | | |
| 1935 | Howard Jones | 5–7 | 2–4 | 8th | | | |
| 1936 | Howard Jones | 4–2–3 | 3–2–2 | T–3rd | | | |
| 1937 | Howard Jones | 4–4–2 | 2–3–2 | 7th | | | |
| 1938 | Howard Jones | 9–2 | 6–1 | T–1st | W Rose | | 7 |
| 1939 | Howard Jones | 8–0–2 | 5–0–2 | 1st | W Rose | | 3 |
| 1940 | Howard Jones | 3–4–2 | 2–3–2 | 7th | | | |
| Sam Barry (Pacific Coast Conference) (1941) ||||||||
| 1941 | Sam Barry | 2–6–1 | 2–4–1 | 8th | | | |
| Jeff Cravath (Pacific Coast Conference) (1942–1950) ||||||||
| 1942 | Jeff Cravath | 5–5–1 | 4–2–1 | 4th | | | |
| 1943 | Jeff Cravath | 8–2 | 5–0 | 1st | W Rose | | |
| 1944 | Jeff Cravath | 8–0–2 | 3–0–2 | 1st | W Rose | | 7 |
| 1945 | Jeff Cravath | 7–4 | 5–1 | 1st | L Rose | | 11 |
| 1946 | Jeff Cravath | 6–4 | 5–2 | 3rd | | | |
| 1947 | Jeff Cravath | 7–2–1 | 6–0 | 1st | L Rose | | 8 |
| 1948 | Jeff Cravath | 6–3–1 | 4–2 | 3rd | | | |
| 1949 | Jeff Cravath | 5–3–1 | 4–2 | T–3rd | | | |
| 1950 | Jeff Cravath | 2–5–2 | 1–3–2 | 7th | | | |
| Jess Hill (Pacific Coast Conference) (1951–1956) ||||||||
| 1951 | Jess Hill | 7–3 | 4–2 | 4th | | | |
| 1952 | Jess Hill | 10–1 | 6–0 | 1st | W Rose | 4 | 5 |
| 1953 | Jess Hill | 6–3–1 | 4–2–1 | 3rd | | | |
| 1954 | Jess Hill | 8–4 | 6–1 | 2nd | L Rose | 11 | 17 |
| 1955 | Jess Hill | 6–4 | 3–3 | 6th | | 12 | 13 |
| 1956 | Jess Hill | 8–2 | 5–2 | T–2nd | | 15 | 18 |
| Don Clark (Pacific Coast Conference / AAWU) (1957–1959) ||||||||
| 1957 | Don Clark | 1–9 | 1–6 | 7th | | | |
| 1958 | Don Clark | 4–5–1 | 4–2–1 | 3rd | | | |
| 1959 | Don Clark | 8–2 | 3–1 | 1st | | 13 | 14 |
| John McKay (AAWU / Pacific-8 Conference) (1960–1975) ||||||||
| 1960 | John McKay | 4–6 | 3–1 | 2nd | | | |
| 1961 | John McKay | 4–5–1 | 2–1–1 | T–2nd | | | |
| 1962 | John McKay | 11–0 | 4–0 | 1st | W Rose | 1 | 1 |
| 1963 | John McKay | 7–3 | 3–1 | 2nd | | 16 | |
| 1964 | John McKay | 7–3 | 3–1 | T–1st | | 10 | 10 |
| 1965 | John McKay | 7–2–1 | 4–1 | 2nd | | 9 | 10 |
| 1966 | John McKay | 7–4 | 4–1 | 1st | L Rose | 18 | |
| 1967 | John McKay | 10–1 | 6–1 | 1st | W Rose | 1 | 1 |
| 1968 | John McKay | 9–1–1 | 6–0 | 1st | L Rose | 2 | 4 |
| 1969 | John McKay | 10–0–1 | 6–0 | 1st | W Rose | 4 | 3 |
| 1970 | John McKay | 6–4–1 | 3–4 | T–6th | | | |
| 1971 | John McKay | 6–4–1 | 3–2–1 | 2nd | | | 20 |
| 1972 | John McKay | 12–0 | 7–0 | 1st | W Rose | 1 | 1 |
| 1973 | John McKay | 9–2–1 | 7–0 | 1st | L Rose | 2 | 4 |
| 1974 | John McKay | 10–1–1 | 6–0–1 | 1st | W Rose | 1 | 2 |
| 1975 | John McKay | 8–4 | 3–4 | 5th | W Liberty | 19 | 17 |
| John Robinson (Pacific-8 / Pacific-10 Conference) (1976–1982) ||||||||
| 1976 | John Robinson | 11–1 | 7–0 | 1st | W Rose | 2 | 2 |
| 1977 | John Robinson | 8–4 | 5–2 | T–2nd | W Bluebonnet | 12 | 13 |
| 1978 | John Robinson | 12–1 | 6–1 | 1st | W Rose | 1 | 2 |
| 1979 | John Robinson | 11–0–1 | 6–0–1 | 1st | W Rose | 2 | 2 |
| 1980 | John Robinson | 8–2–1 | 4–2–1 | 3rd | | 12 | 11 |
| 1981 | John Robinson | 9–3 | 5–2 | T–2nd | L Fiesta | 13 | 14 |
| 1982 | John Robinson | 8–3 | 5–2 | T–3rd | | | 15 |
| Ted Tollner (Pacific-10 Conference) (1983–1986) ||||||||
| 1983 | Ted Tollner | 4–6–1 | 4–3 | 4th | | | |
| 1984 | Ted Tollner | 9–3 | 7–1 | 1st | W Rose | 9 | 10 |
| 1985 | Ted Tollner | 6–6 | 5–3 | T–4th | L Aloha | | |
| 1986 | Ted Tollner | 7–5 | 5–3 | T–4th | L Citrus | | |
| Larry Smith (Pacific-10 Conference) (1987–1992) ||||||||
| 1987 | Larry Smith | 8–4 | 7–1 | T–1st | L Rose | 17 | 18 |
| 1988 | Larry Smith | 10–2 | 8–0 | 1st | L Rose | 9 | 7 |
| 1989 | Larry Smith | 9–2–1 | 6–0 | 1st | W Rose | 9 | 8 |
| 1990 | Larry Smith | 8–4–1 | 5–2–1 | 2nd | L John Hancock | 22 | 20 |
| 1991 | Larry Smith | 3–8 | 2–6 | 8th | | | |
| 1992 | Larry Smith | 6–5–1 | 5–3 | T–3rd | L Freedom | | |
| John Robinson (Pacific-10 Conference) (1993–1997) ||||||||
| 1993 | John Robinson | 8–5 | 6–2 | T–1st | W Freedom | 25 | |
| 1994 | John Robinson | 8–3–1 | 6–2 | T–2nd | W Cotton | 15 | 13 |
| 1995 | John Robinson | 9–2–1 | 6–1–1 | T–1st | W Rose | 11 | 12 |
| 1996 | John Robinson | 6–6 | 3–5 | T–5th | | | |
| 1997 | John Robinson | 6–5 | 4–4 | T–5th | | | |
| Paul Hackett (Pacific-10 Conference) (1998–2000) ||||||||
| 1998 | Paul Hackett | 8–5 | 5–3 | T–3rd | L Sun | | |
| 1999 | Paul Hackett | 6–6 | 3–5 | T–6th | | | |
| 2000 | Paul Hackett | 5–7 | 2–6 | T–8th | | | |
| Pete Carroll (Pacific-10 Conference) (2001–2009) ||||||||
| 2001 | Pete Carroll | 6–6 | 5–3 | 5th | L Las Vegas | | |
| 2002 | Pete Carroll | 11–2 | 7–1 | T–1st | W Orange$^†$ | 4 | 4 |
| 2003 | Pete Carroll | 12–1 | 7–1 | 1st | W Rose$^†$ | 2 | 1 |
| 2004 | Pete Carroll | 13–0 (11-0) | 8–0 (7-0) | 1st | W Orange$^†$ | 1 | 1 |
| 2005 | Pete Carroll | 12–1 (0-0) | 8–0 (0-0) | 1st | L Rose$^†$ | 2 | 2 |
| 2006 | Pete Carroll | 11–2 | 7–2 | T–1st | W Rose$^†$ | 4 | 4 |
| 2007 | Pete Carroll | 11–2 | 7–2 | T–1st | W Rose$^†$ | 2 | 3 |
| 2008 | Pete Carroll | 12–1 | 8–1 | 1st | W Rose$^†$ | 2 | 3 |
| 2009 | Pete Carroll | 9–4 | 5–4 | T–5th | W Emerald | 20 | 22 |
| Lane Kiffin (Pacific-10 / Pac-12 Conference) (2010–2013) ||||||||
| 2010 | Lane Kiffin | 8–5 | 5–4 | T–3rd | Ineligible | | |
| 2011 | Lane Kiffin | 10–2 | 7–2 | 1st (South) | Ineligible | | 6 |
| 2012 | Lane Kiffin | 7–6 | 5–4 | T–2nd (South) | L Sun | | |
| 2013 | Lane Kiffin | 10–4 | 6–3 | T–2nd (South) | W Las Vegas | 19 | 19 |
| Steve Sarkisian (Pac-12 Conference) (2014–2015) ||||||||
| 2014 | Steve Sarkisian | 9–4 | 6–3 | T–2nd (South) | W Holiday | 21 | 20 |
| 2015 | Steve Sarkisian | 8–6 | 6–3 | T–1st (South) | L Holiday | | |
| Clay Helton (Pac-12 Conference) (2015–2021) ||||||||
| 2016 | Clay Helton | 10–3 | 7–2 | 2nd (South) | W Rose$^†$ | 5 | 3 |
| 2017 | Clay Helton | 11–3 | 8–1 | 1st (South) | L Cotton$^†$ | 10 | 12 |
| 2018 | Clay Helton | 5–7 | 4–5 | 3rd (South) | | | |
| 2019 | Clay Helton | 8–5 | 7–2 | 2nd (South) | L Holiday | | |
| 2020 | Clay Helton | 5–1 | 5–0 | 1st (South) | | 21 | 21 |
| 2021 | Clay Helton | 4–8 | 3–6 | T–4th (South) | | | |
| Lincoln Riley (Pac-12 Conference) (2022–2023) ||||||||
| 2022 | Lincoln Riley | 11–3 | 8–1 | 2nd | L Cotton$^†$ | 13 | 12 |
| 2023 | Lincoln Riley | 8–5 | 5–4 | T–4th | W Holiday | | |
| Lincoln Riley (Big Ten Conference) (2024–present) ||||||||
| 2024 | Lincoln Riley | 7-6 | 4-5 | T-9th | W Las Vegas | | |
| Total: | Total: | 879–373–54 | | | | | |
| National championship  Conference title  Conference division title or championship game berth ||||||||
| $^†$Indicates Bowl Coalition, Bowl Alliance, BCS, or CFP / New Years' Six bowl. $^#$Rankings from final Coaches Poll. ||||||||