# 1988 USC Trojans football team

The 1988 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1988 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their second year under head coach Larry Smith, the Trojans compiled a 10–2 record (8–0 against conference opponents), won the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10) championship, and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 370 to 184.
The Trojans won their first 10 games of the season, running the conference table and beating third-ranked Oklahoma at home. They were ranked second in the nation before their match with number-one ranked Notre Dame. After losing to the Fighting Irish in their final regular-season game, they faced Michigan in the Rose Bowl, losing 22–14.
Quarterback Rodney Peete led the team in passing, completing 223 of 359 passes for 2,812 yards with 18 touchdowns and 12 interceptions. Aaron Emanuel led the team in rushing with 108 carries for 545 yards and eight touchdowns. Erik Affholter led the team in receiving yards with 68 catches for 952 yards and eight touchdowns.

## Schedule

| Date | Time | Opponent | Rank | Site | TV | Result | Attendance |
| September 1 | 4:30 p.m. | at Boston College* | No. 8 | Alumni StadiumChestnut Hill, MA | ESPN | W 34–7 | 32,000 |
| September 10 | 12:30 p.m. | at Stanford | No. 6 | Stanford StadiumStanford, CA (rivalry) | ABC | W 24–20 | 59,000 |
| September 24 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 3 Oklahoma* | No. 4 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | ABC | W 23–7 | 86,124 |
| October 1 | 6:30 p.m. | at Arizona | No. 3 | Arizona StadiumTucson, AZ | | W 38–15 | 52,314 |
| October 8 | 1:30 p.m. | No. 18 Oregon | No. 3 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | | W 42–14 | 63,452 |
| October 15 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 16 Washington | No. 3 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | ABC | W 28–27 | 62,974 |
| October 29 | 1:00 p.m. | at Oregon State | No. 3 | Parker StadiumCorvallis, OR | | W 41–20 | 31,117 |
| November 5 | 3:30 p.m. | California | No. 2 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA | Prime | W 35–3 | 73,937 |
| November 12 | 12:30 p.m. | at Arizona State | No. 2 | Sun Devil StadiumTempe, AZ | ABC | W 50–0 | 72,023 |
| November 19 | 12:30 p.m. | at No. 6 UCLA | No. 2 | Rose BowlPasadena, CA (Victory Bell) | ABC | W 31–22 | 100,741 |
| November 26 | 12:30 p.m. | No. 1 Notre Dame* | No. 2 | Los Angeles Memorial ColiseumLos Angeles, CA (Jeweled Shillelagh) | ABC | L 10–27 | 93,829 |
| January 2, 1989 | 2:00 p.m. | vs. No. 11 Michigan* | No. 5 | Rose BowlPasadena, CA (Rose Bowl) | ABC | L 14–22 | 101,688 |
| *Non-conference gameHomecomingRankings from AP Poll released prior to the game ||||||||

## Rankings

Ranking movements Legend: ██ Increase in ranking ██ Decrease in ranking ( ) = First-place votes :
| | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | Final |
| AP | 6 (3) | 8 (1) | 6 (1) | 5 (1) | 5 (1) | 3 (2) | 3 (2) | 3 (3) | 3 (5) | 3 (5) | 2 (11) | 2 (15) | 2 (18) | 2 (22) | 5 | 5 | 7 |
| Coaches | 8 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 4 | 3 (1) | 3 | 3 | 3 (2) | 3 | 2 (16) | 2 (14) | 2 (13) | 2 (16) | 6 | 5 | 9 |

## Game summaries
### Oklahoma

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| Oklahoma | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 7 |
| USC | 7 | 13 | 0 | 3 | 23 |
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
* Date: September 24, 1988
* Game attendance: 86,124
* TV announcers (ABC): Keith Jackson and Bob Griese
Game information :
First quarter
USC – Aaron Emanuel 5-yard run (Quin Rodriguez kick). USC 7–0.
Second quarter
USC – Quin Rodriguez 33-yard field goal. USC 10–0.
USC – Aaron Emanuel 6-yard run (Quin Rodriguez kick). USC 17–0.
USC – Quin Rodriguez 23-yard field goal. USC 20–0.
Third quarter
OU – Leon Perry 2-yard run (R.D. Lashar kick). USC 20–7. Drive: 4 plays, 80 yards.
Fourth quarter
USC – Quin Rodriguez 25-yard field goal. USC 23–7.
Top passers
OU – Jamelle Holieway – 4/9, 96 yards, INT
USC – Rodney Peete – 16/34, 198 yards, INT
Top rushers
OU – Anthony Stafford – 9 rushes, 28 yards
USC – Aaron Emanuel – 10 rushes, 46 yards, 2 TD
Top receivers
OU – Eric Bross – 4 receptions, 84 yards
USC – Erik Affholter – 8 receptions, 94 yards :

### At UCLA

| Quarter | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| USC | 7 | 14 | 7 | 3 | 31 |
| UCLA | 3 | 13 | 0 | 6 | 22 |
at Rose Bowl • Pasadena, California
* Date: November 19
* Game attendance: 100,741
* Gainesville Sun. 1988 Nov 20.
Game information :
UCLA - Velasco 46 yard FG
USC - Emanuel 4 yard run (Rodriguez kick)
USC - Affholter 29 yard pass from Peete (Rodriguez kick)
UCLA - Velasco 27 yard FG
UCLA - Velasco 25 yard FG
USC - Peete 1 yard run (Rodriguez kick)
UCLA - R. Moore 10 yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick)
USC - Emanuel 3 yard run (Rodriguez kick)
USC - Rodriguez 21 yard FG
UCLA - McCracken 26 yard pass from Aikman (Velasco kick)
USC
Peete 16/28, 189 Yds, TD
Emanuel 27 Rush, 113 Yds, 2 TD
Affholter 3 Rec, 60 Yds, TD
UCLA
Aikman 32/48, 317 Yds, 2 TD, INT
B. Brown 12 Rush, 59 Yds
M. Farr 9 Rec, 75 Yds :
The Measles Game

### Notre Dame

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • No. 1 Fighting Irish | 14 | 6 | 0 | 7 | 27 |
| No. 2 Trojans | 0 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 10 |
Notre Dame and USC entered the game undefeated and ranked number one and two respectively for the first time ever in their storied series. It was also the 24th time No. 1 faced No. 2 in college football history. The Trojans were having a great season under head coach Larry Smith and standout quarterback Rodney Peete. The Irish came into the game as underdogs, but spectacular play of defensive end Frank Stams and cornerback Stan Smagala aided the Irish offense, led by Tony Rice, to an Irish victory. The sellout crowd of 93,829 was the largest in this rivalry since 1955.

### Vs. Michigan (Rose Bowl)

| | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | Total |
| • Michigan | 3 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 22 |
| USC | 0 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 14 |

## Team players drafted into the NFL

The following players were claimed in the 1989 NFL draft.
| Player | Position | Round | Pick | NFL club |
| Erik Affholter | Wide receiver | 4 | 110 | Washington Redskins |
| Rodney Peete | Quarterback | 6 | 141 | Detroit Lions |
| Chris Hale | Defensive back | 7 | 193 | Buffalo Bills |
| Paul Green | Tight end | 8 | 208 | Denver Broncos |
| Derrell Marshall | Tackle | 12 | 332 | Buffalo Bills |

## Awards and honors

* Rodney Peete, Second in Heisman Trophy voting
* Rodney Peete, Johnny Unitas Golden Arm Award