The 2020 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 2020 NCAA Division I FBS football season. They played their home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum and competed as members of the South Division of the Pac-12 Conference. They were led by fifth-year head coach Clay Helton.
On August 11, the Pac-12 Conference initially canceled all fall sports competitions due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[2] On September 24, the conference announced that a six-game conference-only season would begin on November 6, with the conference's championship game to be played on December 18. Teams not selected for the championship game would be seeded to play a seventh game.[3]
USC compiled a 5–0 regular season record, and qualified for the Pac-12 Championship Game, which they lost to Oregon. The following day, USC announced that it would not play in any bowl game,[4] ending the season with an overall 5–1 record.
The Trojans lost nine players to transfer.
The Trojans added 5 players via transfer.
USC returns 37 starters in 2020 including 15 on offense, 19 on defense, and 3 on special teams.
Key departures include Michael Pittman Jr. (WR – 13 games), Austin Jackson (OT – 13 games), Drew Richmond (OT – 12 games), Christian Rector (DE – 10 games), John Houston Jr. (ILB – 13 games)
Other departures include Jack Sears (QB – 1 game in 2018), Dominic Davis (WR – 9 games), and Jacob Daniel (OG – 6 games).
The official list of participants for the 2020 NFL Combine included USC football players Michael Pittman (WR) and Austin Jackson (OT).
In the 2020 Pac-12 preseason media poll.
True Freshman
Double Position : *
redshirt year used / redshirt year eligible / * Former Walk-on
– 85 scholarships permitted, 82 currently allotted to players
– 81 recruited players on scholarship (on former walk-ons)
– Transfer portal out : Palaie Gaoteote IV (ILB, -), Abdul-Malik McClain (OLB, Jackson State), Chase McGrath (K, -)
– COVID-19 Opt out to NFL : Jay Tufele (DL)
Scholarship Distribution 2020
USC had games scheduled against Alabama, New Mexico, and Notre Dame, but canceled these games on July 10 because the Pac-12 Conference decided to play a conference-only schedule because of the COVID-19 pandemic.[6]
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
at Arizona Stadium, Tucson, Arizona
at Rice-Eccles Stadium, Salt Lake City, Utah
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, California
at Rose Bowl, Pasadena, California
at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, Los Angeles, CA
Pac-12 opponents
Key: POS: Position, SOLO: Solo Tackles, AST: Assisted Tackles, TOT: Total Tackles, TFL: Tackles-for-loss, SACK: Quarterback Sacks, INT: Interceptions, BU: Passes Broken Up, PD: Passes Defended, QBH: Quarterback Hits, FR: Fumbles Recovered, FF: Forced Fumbles, BLK: Kicks or Punts Blocked, SAF: Safeties, TD : Touchdown
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