What Is 1989 USC Trojans football team

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Last updated: April 15, 2026

Quick Answer: The 1989 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season, finishing with a 8-4 record under head coach Larry Smith and losing to Texas in the Sun Bowl 36-13.

Key Facts

The 1989 USC Trojans finished the season with an 8-4 overall record
Head coach Larry Smith led the team during his fifth season at USC
The team played its home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
USC lost to Texas 36-13 in the 1989 Sun Bowl on December 31
The Trojans were ranked as high as No. 13 in the AP Poll during the season

Overview

The 1989 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California in the 1989 NCAA Division I-A football season. Led by head coach Larry Smith in his fifth year, the team competed in the Pacific-10 Conference and played its home games at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, a historic venue with a capacity of over 90,000.

The Trojans posted a solid 8-4 overall record, including a 5-3 mark in conference play. Despite a strong start and a peak ranking of No. 13 in the AP Poll, the season ended with a decisive loss in the Sun Bowl. The team showcased a balanced offense but struggled defensively in key matchups.

Record: The 1989 USC Trojans finished with an 8-4 overall record, demonstrating consistency but falling short of national title contention.
Head coach: Larry Smith led the team for the fifth consecutive season, maintaining a steady presence despite increasing pressure for a breakthrough.
Stadium: The Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with a seating capacity of 93,607, hosted all home games and provided a major recruiting advantage.
Bowl game: USC faced the Texas Longhorns in the Sun Bowl on December 31, 1989, losing 36-13 in El Paso, Texas.
Ranking: The team reached as high as No. 13 in the Associated Press (AP) Poll during the regular season before the bowl defeat.

Season Performance

The 1989 campaign featured a mix of strong performances and missed opportunities. The Trojans opened the season with four wins in their first five games, including a notable 27-14 victory over No. 13 Washington. However, losses to Stanford and Arizona derailed their conference title hopes.

Offense: The team averaged 25.8 points per game, led by quarterback Todd Marinovich, who threw for 2,027 yards and 14 touchdowns.
Defense: USC allowed 21.3 points per game, struggling against mobile quarterbacks and failing to force enough turnovers.
Key player: Running back Ricky Ervins rushed for 1,016 yards, becoming the first USC back to surpass 1,000 yards since 1985.
Notable win: A 27-14 victory over No. 13 Washington on October 7 boosted USC’s national profile and ranking.
Turning point: A 28-27 loss to Stanford on October 21, decided by a last-minute field goal, proved pivotal in the Pac-10 race.
Bowl outcome: The Sun Bowl loss to Texas exposed defensive weaknesses, as the Longhorns gained 478 total yards.

Comparison at a Glance

Comparing the 1989 season to adjacent years highlights both progress and stagnation under Larry Smith. The table below outlines key metrics across three seasons.

Season	Overall Record	Conference Record	Bowl Result	Final AP Rank
1987	7-5	5-3	Lost Aloha Bowl	Unranked
1988	8-3-1	5-2-1	Won Citrus Bowl	No. 9
1989	8-4	5-3	Lost Sun Bowl	Unranked
1990	8-4	6-2	Lost Freedom Bowl	Unranked
1991	3-8	2-6	No Bowl	Unranked

The 1989 season mirrored 1988 in win total but lacked the strong finish that earned a top-10 ranking. The Sun Bowl loss dropped USC out of the final AP Poll, and the team failed to build momentum heading into the 1990s. Despite individual talent, the program entered a decline after this season.

Why It Matters

The 1989 USC Trojans represent a transitional period in the program’s history, marking the end of Larry Smith’s tenure and foreshadowing a decade of underperformance. While not a championship team, it featured future NFL players and showcased evolving offensive strategies.

Recruiting legacy: The class included Todd Marinovich, a highly touted quarterback whose career was later marred by off-field issues.
Program trajectory: After 1989, USC failed to finish in the AP Top 10 again until 2002, signaling a prolonged slump.
Coaching impact: Larry Smith resigned after the 1990 season, ending a six-year run that included two major bowl wins but no national titles.
Player development: Ricky Ervins went on to play in the NFL, drafted by the Washington Redskins in 1991.
Stadium tradition: The Coliseum remained a fortress, with average home attendance exceeding 75,000 despite inconsistent results.
Cultural context: The 1989 team played during a shift in college football, with increasing media coverage and the rise of televised prime-time games.

Though overshadowed by more successful eras, the 1989 season remains a snapshot of a proud program navigating change. Its blend of promise and underachievement reflects the challenges of maintaining elite status in college football.