The Trojans finished the season ranked No. 4 in the finalUnited PressCoaches Poll and No. 5 in the finalAP poll. They faced five ranked opponents during the 1952 season and won four of those games: a 10–0 victory over No. 4California on October 25; a 33–0 victory over No. 17Washington on November 15; a 14–12 victory over No. 3UCLA on November 22; a 9–0 loss toNotre Dame on November 29; and a 7–0 victory overWisconsin in the1953 Rose Bowl. USC's victory in the Rose Bowl was the first for thePacific Coast Conference after seven consecutive losses to the representatives of theBig Ten Conference.
Jim Sears led the team in passing with 51 of 105 passes completed for 739 yards, eight touchdowns and eight interceptions. Leon Sellers led the team in rushing with 103 carries for 386 yards and two touchdowns. Leon Clarke was the leading receiver with 25 catches for 372 yards and three touchdowns.[2]
Marvin Goux, 5'10", 181 pounds, linebacker (defense), #20, Santa Barbara, California (All-PCC UP-3
Harold Han, 5'9", 189 pounds, fullback and safety, #46, Honolulu, Hawaii
Bill Hattig, 5'9", 164 pounds, left end (offense and defense), #86, Los Angeles
Addison Hawthorne, 5'10", 194 pounds, fullback and safety, #23, Los Angeles
Bob Hooks, 6'3", 206 pounds, right end (defense), #58, Los Angeles (AP All-Coast Defensive Team)
Des Koch, 6'1", 207 pounds, tailback (offense), #43,Shelton, Washington (nation's leading punter with 43.4 yard average)
Ron Miller, 6'4", 204 pounds, left end (offense), #88, Los Angeles
Tom Nickoloff, 6'3", 218 pounds, right end (offense), #80, Los Angeles
Dick Nunis, 6'0", 182 pounds, right halfback (defense), #26, Los Angeles
Dick Petty, 6'0", 190 pounds, center (offense) and end (defense), #54, Los Angeles
Bob Peviani, 6'1", 212 pounds, left guard (defense), #66, Los Angeles (John Dye Memorial Award as the "outstanding lineman")
Jim Psaltis, 6'1", 186 pounds, left halfback, safety (defense), #37, Oakland, California (AP All-Coast Defensive team; led nation with nine interceptions)
Ed Pucci, 6'0", 209 pounds, left guard (offense), #64,Canton, Ohio
Bill Riddle, 6'0", 190 pounds, quarterback (offense), linebacker (defense), #52,El Centro, California
Jim Sears, 5'9", 165 pounds, halfback (offense) and safety (defense), #32 (wonW. J. Voit Memorial Trophy; nation's leading punt returner with 15.9 yard average; led the Trojans in total yardage and passes completed; first-team All-American selection by AP, INS, NEA, andLook magazine)
Leon Sellers, 6'0", 194 pounds, fullback (offense), #44,Upland, California
Don Stillwell, 6'0", 183 pounds, left end (offense), #84, San Francisco
Sam "The Toe" Tsagalakis
George Timberlake, 6'0", 207 pounds, linebacker (defense), #56, Long Beach, California (AP All-Coast Defensive Team)
Bob Van Doren, 6'3-1/2", 203 pounds, right tackle (defense) and defensive captain, #75, San Diego (UP All-PCC first team; UP All-American third team)
