American college football season
The1964 USC Trojans football team represented theUniversity of Southern California (USC) in the1964 NCAA University Division football season . In their fifth year under head coachJohn McKay , the Trojans compiled a 7–3 record (3–1 against conference opponents), finished in a tie withOregon State for theAthletic Association of Western Universities (AAWU or Pac-8) championship, and outscored their opponents 207 to 130. The Trojans ended their season with an upset victory over undefeated and top-ranked Notre Dame .
QuarterbackCraig Fertig was one of the team's two captains and led the team in passing, completing 109 of 209 passes for 1,671 yards with 11 touchdowns and 10 interceptions.Mike Garrett led the team in rushing with 217 carries for 948 yards and nine touchdowns. Rod Sherman led the team in receiving yardage with 24 catches for 446 yards and five touchdowns.[ 1]
Date Opponent Rank Site Result Attendance Source September 18 Colorado * W 21–039,173 [ 2] September 26 at No. 2Oklahoma * W 40–1461,700 [ 3] October 3 atMichigan State * No. 2 L 7–1770,102 [ 4] October 10 Texas A&M * Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 31–742,295 [ 5] [ 6] October 17 at No. 2Ohio State * L 0–1784,315 [ 7] October 24 California Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA W 26–2148,105 [ 8] October 31 Washington Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA L 13–1450,577 [ 9] November 7 atStanford W 15–1055,000 [ 10] November 21 atUCLA W 34–1362,108 [ 11] November 28 No. 1Notre Dame * Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum Los Angeles, CA (rivalry ) W 20–1783,840 [ 12] *Non-conference game HomecomingRankings fromAP Poll released prior to the game Source:[ 13]
Team 1 2 3 4 Total Notre Dame 3 14 0 0 17 •USC 0 0 7 13 20
Scoring summary 1 ND Ivan 25-yard field goal Notre Dame 3-0 2 ND Snow 21-yard pass from Huarte (Ivan kick) Notre Dame 10-0 2 ND Wolski 5-yard run (Ivan kick) Notre Dame 17-0 3 USC Garrett 1-yard run (Brownell kick) Notre Dame 17-7 4 4:45 USC Hill 23-yard pass from Fertig (kick failed) Notre Dame 17-13 4 1:35 USC Sherman 15-yard pass from Fertig (Brownell kick) USC 20-17
[ 14]
^ "1964 Southern California Trojans Stats" .SR/College Football . Sports Reference LLC. RetrievedJuly 21, 2015 .^ " 'G whiz' Garrett sparks Trojan victory" .Progress-Bulletin . September 19, 1964. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2026 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Trojans ambush Sooners with aerial bombs 40–14" .St. Petersburg Times . September 27, 1964. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2026 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Spartans stun USC" .The Kalamazoo Gazette . October 4, 1964. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2026 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Garrett-Led Trojans Wallops Aggies, 31-7" .Sunday Times-Herald .Vallejo, California . October 11, 1964. p. 26. RetrievedMarch 24, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Southern Cal roars back, crushes Texas Aggies, 31–7" .Fort Worth Star-Telegram . October 11, 1964. RetrievedMarch 23, 2025 – viaNewspapers.com .^ Al Heim (October 18, 1964)."Buckeyes Bid For No. 1 As Sanders Piledrives By Southern Cal, 17–0" .The Cincinnati Enquirer . p. 2H – viaNewspapers.com . ^ "Trojans rally behind Fertig" .The Register . October 25, 1964. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2026 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Trojan horses felled in 4th" .Independent Star-News . November 1, 1964. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2026 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Trojans beat Indians" .The Fresno Bee . November 8, 1964. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2026 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "USC buries UCLA eleven, 34–13" .The Idaho Statesman . November 22, 1964. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2026 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Trojans shatter Irish dream, 20–17" .Chicago Tribune . November 29, 1964. RetrievedJanuary 24, 2026 – viaNewspapers.com .^ "Schedule/Results (1964 USC)" .NCAA Statistics .National Collegiate Athletic Association . RetrievedMay 24, 2025 .^ "USC Shocks Notre Dame" .The Register-Guard . Eugene. November 28, 1964. RetrievedNovember 22, 2014 .
Venues Bowls and rivalries Culture and lore People Seasons National championship seasons in bold
Pacific Coast AAWU Pacific-8 Pacific-10 Pac-12 National championships inbold