USC-Minnesota football series is improbably insignificant

[BleedGopher]

Per Matt:

USC and Minnesota are both championship-rich college football programs. That’s not hyperbole. Minnesota has six college football national championships, putting the Golden Gophers in 10th place on the all-time list. USC is tied for sixth with nine national titles. You can do the math and realize that these programs have combined for 15 national titles.

So: Where are the great, classic meetings between these two programs? It’s true that Minnesota’s 1930s and early-1940s juggernauts under coach Bernie Bierman did not play in the Rose Bowl. Bierman did not believe in playing an exhibition game, which is what he thought the Granddaddy was.

Yet, even if Minnesota did play in the Rose Bowl back then, the Gophers’ best teams and the Trojans’ best teams would not have lined up against each other. USC’s dominant teams under Howard Jones were produced in the early 1930s. Jones dominated at USC from his arrival in 1925 through the 1933 season. Then he hit a lull in 1934, and that’s precisely when Bierman’s best Minnesota teams emerged. Minnesota won five of its six national titles from 1934 through 1941, in years when USC football was not elite.

Much later, Minnesota won the national title in 1960 and USC won in 1962. One of the two teams made the Rose Bowl three straight years, from the 1960 through 1962 regular seasons, but they never met in the Granddaddy. That’s why we say this series is “improbably insignificant” heading into the Big Ten era.

USC leads the series 6-1. The last meeting came in 2011, with the Trojans winning, 19-17.

“The Trojans have won five in a row against Minnesota after losing 25-19 on the road in 1955 and tying the Golden Gophers 20-20 at home in 1965. Both teams were ranked when they met to open the 1968 season, with the Trojans winning 29-20 in the first of three games that season against the Big Ten, along with Northwestern and Ohio State.”

USC-Minnesota football series is improbably insignificant

Trojans-Gophers is ‘improbably insignificant’ because these programs have a combined 15 national titles. Can you believe that?

trojanswire.usatoday.com

Go Gophers!!

 

[IceBoxGopher]

That 2011 game showed just what a roller coaster Jerry Kill's first year was here. On the road, against a Blue Blood that finished the season 10-2 and No. 6 in the country, and the Gophers nearly pulled off that upset.

Then the very next week lost to New Mexico State at home.

Same case later in the season, too. Played a Michigan State team that finished 11-3 with an Outback Bowl win really close, losing 31-24, then lost 28-13 to a Northwestern squad that ended the year 6-7.

 

[Gophers1992]

That 2011 game showed just what a roller coaster Jerry Kill's first year was here. On the road, against a Blue Blood that finished the season 10-2 and No. 6 in the country, and the Gophers nearly pulled off that upset.

Then the very next week lost to New Mexico State at home.

Same case later in the season, too. Played a Michigan State team that finished 11-3 with an Outback Bowl win really close, losing 31-24, then lost 28-13 to a Northwestern squad that ended the year 6-7.

It's funny we played them pretty competitively in 2010 as well, though that was not a great USC team. Two of the worst gopher teams of the 21st century went toe to toe with USC.

 

[Stuff]

Really excited to see the first Minnesota‐USC big ten game. Curious to see how the Gophers match up with them.

 

[Rescooter]

It's funny we played them pretty competitively in 2010 as well, though that was not a great USC team. Two of the worst gopher teams of the 21st century went toe to toe with USC.

I was there and it seemed the dudes in our section watched none of the game. The distraction on the USC sideline was not insignificant.

For the record, I watched 100% of the game.

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Bait headlines are a dime a dozen and are insignificant.

A game where kids spend year preparing for the season and thousands of people watch, not insignificant.

 

[short ornery norwegian]

you could say the same thing about a lot of possible matchups.

History and tradition are wonderful. but the college football world is a very different place now as opposed to the 30's or even the 60's.

I was at the 1968 Gopher game against USC. a great memory. But it has almost no relevance in relation to the 2025 game between the two schools.

it's like going to a class reunion and expecting everyone to be exactly the same as they were in High School.

 

[GridironGus]

you could say the same thing about a lot of possible matchups.

History and tradition are wonderful. but the college football world is a very different place now as opposed to the 30's or even the 60's.

I was at the 1968 Gopher game against USC. a great memory. But it has almost no relevance in relation to the 2025 game between the two schools.

it's like going to a class reunion and expecting everyone to be exactly the same as they were in High School.

You were at the game in '68? What an Awesome memory that must be. Was that one of those years that USC had a great running back? ....

 

[PMWinSTP]

Nebby series wasn't either, until Gophs started to play them frequently again.

 

[fmlizard]

Really excited to see the first Minnesota‐USC big ten game. Curious to see how the Gophers match up with them.

Me too. My guess is that the Gophers will match up well when the time comes.

The Gopher pass defense has been a team strength in recent years.

Even the horrible 2010 team that lost to South Dakota the prior week gave them a good game at TCF.

 

[Gophergrandpa]

Wonder where Indiana vs UCLA is on the significance scale?

 

[Plato]

I will look forward to seeing any game in which the Song Girls are present.

 

[Gophers7NatTitlesBadgers0]

Wonder where Indiana vs UCLA is on the significance scale?

Since they have never faced each other so far, I'd say that's as insignificant as it gets!

 

[PeoplesFront]

Per Matt:

USC and Minnesota are both championship-rich college football programs. That’s not hyperbole. Minnesota has six college football national championships…

Matt’s a dink for shorting us a natty. Just a real dink.

 

[GopherTheJugular]

Two of the worst gopher teams of the 21st century went toe to toe with USC.

I'd have to look at some of Brewster's teams when handing out the title of worst Gopher teams of the century. 1-11 the first year, right? And in year 4 the fans are chanting "Fire Brewster" during the home games. Nothing with Kill was that low, was it?

 

[Gophers1992]

I'd have to look at some of Brewster's teams when handing out the title of worst Gopher teams of the century. 1-11 the first year, right? And in year 4 the fans are chanting "Fire Brewster" during the home games. Nothing with Kill was that low, was it?

Two of the worst teams, not the two worst teams. Also 2010 was a Brewster team, at least it was when we played USC.

If we go purely off of record, 2010 and 2011 were both 3-9, which ties for 2nd worst record of the 21st century.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

That 2011 game showed just what a roller coaster Jerry Kill's first year was here. On the road, against a Blue Blood that finished the season 10-2 and No. 6 in the country, and the Gophers nearly pulled off that upset.

Then the very next week lost to New Mexico State at home.

Same case later in the season, too. Played a Michigan State team that finished 11-3 with an Outback Bowl win really close, losing 31-24, then lost 28-13 to a Northwestern squad that ended the year 6-7.

Was a great trip and glad I got to see a game at the Colesium

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

I will look forward to seeing any game in which the Song Girls are present.

I was livid when I lost my binoculars at halftime

 

[GopherTheJugular]

Two of the worst teams, not the two worst teams. Also 2010 was a Brewster team, at least it was when we played USC.

If we go purely off of record, 2010 and 2011 were both 3-9, which ties for 2nd worst record of the 21st century.

Ah, the "of" made the difference. Also good point on Brewster being the coach for the first USC game of the home and home. And I didn't realize we were 3-9 in Kill's first year. Amazing that we almost beat USC on the road and end up with that record.

 

[Gopher_In_NYC]

Per Matt:

USC and Minnesota are both championship-rich college football programs. That’s not hyperbole. Minnesota has six college football national championships, putting the Golden Gophers in 10th place on the all-time list. USC is tied for sixth with nine national titles. You can do the math and realize that these programs have combined for 15 national titles.

So: Where are the great, classic meetings between these two programs? It’s true that Minnesota’s 1930s and early-1940s juggernauts under coach Bernie Bierman did not play in the Rose Bowl. Bierman did not believe in playing an exhibition game, which is what he thought the Granddaddy was.

Yet, even if Minnesota did play in the Rose Bowl back then, the Gophers’ best teams and the Trojans’ best teams would not have lined up against each other. USC’s dominant teams under Howard Jones were produced in the early 1930s. Jones dominated at USC from his arrival in 1925 through the 1933 season. Then he hit a lull in 1934, and that’s precisely when Bierman’s best Minnesota teams emerged. Minnesota won five of its six national titles from 1934 through 1941, in years when USC football was not elite.

Much later, Minnesota won the national title in 1960 and USC won in 1962. One of the two teams made the Rose Bowl three straight years, from the 1960 through 1962 regular seasons, but they never met in the Granddaddy. That’s why we say this series is “improbably insignificant” heading into the Big Ten era.

USC leads the series 6-1. The last meeting came in 2011, with the Trojans winning, 19-17.

“The Trojans have won five in a row against Minnesota after losing 25-19 on the road in 1955 and tying the Golden Gophers 20-20 at home in 1965. Both teams were ranked when they met to open the 1968 season, with the Trojans winning 29-20 in the first of three games that season against the Big Ten, along with Northwestern and Ohio State.”

USC-Minnesota football series is improbably insignificant

Trojans-Gophers is ‘improbably insignificant’ because these programs have a combined 15 national titles. Can you believe that?

trojanswire.usatoday.com

Go Gophers!!

Saw the game when John Robinson came to town in 1980 with Charlie White (42 carries for 216) at TB and Marcus Allen at FB - student body left and right all day long. We only lost 24-7 (they were ranked #5) and the crowd was 55K+, the biggest in a long time at the Brick House . We were pummeled 48-14 the previous year in LA.

 

[Governor Sibley]

One air-mailed pass away from winning in 2011.

 

[IceBoxGopher]

Two of the worst teams, not the two worst teams. Also 2010 was a Brewster team, at least it was when we played USC.

If we go purely off of record, 2010 and 2011 were both 3-9, which ties for 2nd worst record of the 21st century.

For me 2010 was worse than 2007. I try to give the benefit of the doubt in a coach's first year considering all the changes. That 2010 season was Brewster's fourth year, and his team was outgunned in a shootout to South Dakota and outmuscled in a game Vs. Northern Illinois. They also narrowly beat a Middle Tennessee team that finished 6-7.

 

[Gophers1992]

For me 2010 was worse than 2007. I try to give the benefit of the doubt in a coach's first year considering all the changes. That 2010 season was Brewster's fourth year, and his team was outgunned in a shootout to South Dakota and outmuscled in a game Vs. Northern Illinois. They also narrowly beat a Middle Tennessee team that finished 6-7.

Agree completely. 2007 we could write off as a new head coach, young team, freshman QB, etc.
2010 was year 4 of Brew after making bowl games each of the prior 2 years and we hoped building some momentum for the program, but yeah I'll never forget our team looking helpless against South Dakota.

 

[Gophers1992]

Ah, the "of" made the difference. Also good point on Brewster being the coach for the first USC game of the home and home. And I didn't realize we were 3-9 in Kill's first year. Amazing that we almost beat USC on the road and end up with that record.

Kill's first year was a weird one. The USC game was a blast even though we lost, then we turn around and lose to New Mexico State at home, and two weeks later get outclassed by NDSU at home. 2011 is remembered much more fondly than 2010 because it was year 1 of Kill and the team seemed to improve a lot as the year went on. Beating Iowa also helped soften the blow of some bad losses that year.

 

[metrolax]

First years of a coaching tenure are always gonna be questionable. I do think that some of the bad records that coaches experience in those first years are somewhat self-inflicted as they completely change systems, personnel, etc (or in Brewster's case, he just thought he "knew it all").

 

[A_Slab_of_Bacon]

Kill's first year was a weird one. The USC game was a blast even though we lost, then we turn around and lose to New Mexico State at home, and two weeks later get outclassed by NDSU at home. 2011 is remembered much more fondly than 2010 because it was year 1 of Kill and the team seemed to improve a lot as the year went on. Beating Iowa also helped soften the blow of some bad losses that year.

Jerry wasn't wrong that at the start it would be "one week you kick someone's ass and the next some will kick your ass".

 

[PMWinSTP]

First years of a coaching tenure are always gonna be questionable. I do think that some of the bad records that coaches experience in those first years are somewhat self-inflicted as they completely change systems, personnel, etc (or in Brewster's case, he just thought he "knew it all").

Fleck falls in here.

 

[Ewert86PC]

Future headline time.

"The Golden Gophers-Trojans series war declared irrelevant and then ___________ happened."

Have at it Elmos.

 

[Nomellini]

You were at the game in '68? What an Awesome memory that must be. Was that one of those years that USC had a great running back? ....

OJ Simpson was a senior and ran for 240 yards that day.

 

[Nomellini]

Per Matt:

USC and Minnesota are both championship-rich college football programs. That’s not hyperbole. Minnesota has six college football national championships, putting the Golden Gophers in 10th place on the all-time list. USC is tied for sixth with nine national titles. You can do the math and realize that these programs have combined for 15 national titles.

So: Where are the great, classic meetings between these two programs? It’s true that Minnesota’s 1930s and early-1940s juggernauts under coach Bernie Bierman did not play in the Rose Bowl. Bierman did not believe in playing an exhibition game, which is what he thought the Granddaddy was.

Yet, even if Minnesota did play in the Rose Bowl back then, the Gophers’ best teams and the Trojans’ best teams would not have lined up against each other. USC’s dominant teams under Howard Jones were produced in the early 1930s. Jones dominated at USC from his arrival in 1925 through the 1933 season. Then he hit a lull in 1934, and that’s precisely when Bierman’s best Minnesota teams emerged. Minnesota won five of its six national titles from 1934 through 1941, in years when USC football was not elite.

Much later, Minnesota won the national title in 1960 and USC won in 1962. One of the two teams made the Rose Bowl three straight years, from the 1960 through 1962 regular seasons, but they never met in the Granddaddy. That’s why we say this series is “improbably insignificant” heading into the Big Ten era.

USC leads the series 6-1. The last meeting came in 2011, with the Trojans winning, 19-17.

“The Trojans have won five in a row against Minnesota after losing 25-19 on the road in 1955 and tying the Golden Gophers 20-20 at home in 1965. Both teams were ranked when they met to open the 1968 season, with the Trojans winning 29-20 in the first of three games that season against the Big Ten, along with Northwestern and Ohio State.”

USC-Minnesota football series is improbably insignificant

Trojans-Gophers is ‘improbably insignificant’ because these programs have a combined 15 national titles. Can you believe that?

trojanswire.usatoday.com

Go Gophers!!

The Gophers needed a late October blizzard to slow down Jon Arnett and beat USC in 1955.