USC Program History

Trojans · Big Ten · FBS seasons since 1985

All-time: 343-165-5.673
Seasons: 421985–2026
AP top 25: 22final polls
AP top 10: 11final polls
Best rating: +16.211th in 2016

Season by season

Year	Coach	Conference	Record	Conf	Pct	AP	Rating	Adj Off	Adj Def
2026so far	Lincoln Riley	Big Ten	6-1	3-1	.857	16	+15.614	37.38	21.731
2025	Lincoln Riley	Big Ten	9-4	7-2	.692	20	+15.615	36.010	20.426
2024	Lincoln Riley	Big Ten	7-6	4-5	.538		+12.321	34.117	21.927
2023	Lincoln Riley	Pac-12	8-5	5-4	.615		+12.019	40.54	28.580
2022	Lincoln Riley	Pac-12	11-3	8-2	.786	12	+9.623	38.06	28.478
2021	Clay Helton / Donte Williams	Pac-12	4-8	3-6	.333		+3.252	31.535	28.372
2020	Clay Helton	Pac-12	5-1	5-1	.833	21	+10.824	34.223	23.321
2019	Clay Helton	Pac-12	8-5	7-2	.615		+9.623	36.215	26.655
2018	Clay Helton	Pac-12	5-7	4-5	.417		+5.541	29.951	24.436
2017	Clay Helton	Pac-12	11-3	9-1	.786	12	+14.315	35.218	21.022
2016	Clay Helton	Pac-12	10-3	7-2	.769	3	+16.211	37.315	21.213
2015	Clay Helton	Pac-12	5-4		.556		—	—	—
2014	Steve Sarkisian	Pac-12	9-4		.692	20	—	—	—
2013	Lane Kiffin / Ed Orgeron / Clay Helton	Pac-12	10-4		.714	19	—	—	—
2012	Lane Kiffin	Pac-12	7-6		.538		—	—	—
2011	Lane Kiffin	Pac-12	10-2		.833	6	—	—	—
2010	Lane Kiffin	Pac-10	8-5		.615		—	—	—
2009	Pete Carroll	Pac-10	9-4		.692	22	—	—	—
2008	Pete Carroll	Pac-10	12-1		.923	3	—	—	—
2007	Pete Carroll	Pac-10	11-2		.846	3	—	—	—
2006	Pete Carroll	Pac-10	11-2		.846	4	—	—	—
2005	Pete Carroll	Pac-10	12-1		.923	2	—	—	—
2004	Pete Carroll	Pac-10	13-0		1.000	1	—	—	—
2003	Pete Carroll	Pac-10	12-1		.923	1	—	—	—
2002	Pete Carroll	Pac-10	11-2		.846	4	—	—	—
2001	Pete Carroll	Pac-10	6-6		.500		—	—	—
2000	Paul Hackett	Pac-10	5-7		.417		—	—	—
1999	Paul Hackett	Pac-10	6-6		.500		—	—	—
1998	Paul Hackett	Pac-10	8-5		.615		—	—	—
1997	John Robinson	Pac-10	6-5		.545		—	—	—
1996	John Robinson	Pac-10	6-6		.500		—	—	—
1995	John Robinson	Pac-10	9-2-1		.792	12	—	—	—
1994	John Robinson	Pac-10	8-3-1		.708	13	—	—	—
1993	John Robinson	Pac-10	8-5		.615		—	—	—
1992	Larry Smith	Pac-10	6-5-1		.542		—	—	—
1991	Larry Smith	Pac-10	3-8		.273		—	—	—
1990	Larry Smith	Pac-10	8-4-1		.654	20	—	—	—
1989	Larry Smith	Pac-10	9-2-1		.792	8	—	—	—
1988	Larry Smith	Pac-10	10-2		.833	7	—	—	—
1987	Larry Smith	Pac-10	8-4		.667	18	—	—	—
1986	Ted Tollner	Pac-10	7-5		.583		—	—	—
1985	Ted Tollner	Pac-10	6-6		.500		—	—	—

Ratings and conference records start with the 2016 season. How the ratings work.

Head coaches

Coach	Years	Seasons	Record	Pct
Lincoln Riley	2022–2026	5	41-19	.683
Donte Williams	2021	1	3-7	.300
Clay Helton	2015–2021	7	45-24	.652
Steve Sarkisian	2014	1	9-4	.692
Clay Helton	2013	1	1-0	1.000
Ed Orgeron	2013	1	6-2	.750
Lane Kiffin	2010–2013	4	28-15	.651
Pete Carroll	2001–2009	9	97-19	.836
Paul Hackett	1998–2000	3	19-18	.514
John Robinson	1993–1997	5	37-21-2	.633
Larry Smith	1987–1992	6	44-25-3	.632
Ted Tollner	1985–1986	2	13-11	.542