2007 Stanford-USC football game

2007 Stanford-USC football game. The Stanford Cardinal football team, led by Jim Harbaugh, pulled off a major upset against the USC Trojans football, coached by Pete Carroll, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. This game was part of the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season and had significant implications for the Pac-10 Conference. The Stanford Cardinal's victory was considered one of the greatest upsets in college football history, with the USC Trojans being ranked second in the nation at the time, behind only the LSU Tigers football team.

● Game summary

The Stanford Cardinal football team, led by quarterback Tavita Pritchard, managed to defeat the heavily favored USC Trojans football team, 24-23, in a game that will be remembered for years to come. The USC Trojans were led by quarterback John David Booty, who had a strong performance, but ultimately fell short. The game was played in front of a crowd of 85,125 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, and was broadcast nationally on ABC. The Stanford Cardinal's victory was a significant upset, as the USC Trojans were considered one of the top teams in the nation, along with the Ohio State Buckeyes football and Oklahoma Sooners football teams.

● Background

The USC Trojans football team, under the leadership of Pete Carroll, had been one of the dominant teams in college football for several years, winning multiple BCS championships and producing talented players like Reggie Bush, Matt Leinart, and Carson Palmer. The Stanford Cardinal football team, on the other hand, had been struggling to find success, with the exception of a few notable seasons under coaches like Bill Walsh and Tyrone Willingham. The Pac-10 Conference was highly competitive, with teams like the California Golden Bears football, Oregon Ducks football, and UCLA Bruins football also vying for conference championships. The Stanford Cardinal's victory over the USC Trojans was a significant upset, and was compared to other notable upsets in college football history, such as the Appalachian State Mountaineers football team's victory over the Michigan Wolverines football team.

● Game details

The game was played on October 6, 2007, at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in Los Angeles, California. The USC Trojans were heavily favored to win, with many experts predicting a blowout victory. However, the Stanford Cardinal team, led by quarterback Tavita Pritchard, was able to keep the game close, with the score tied 17-17 at halftime. In the second half, the Stanford Cardinal team was able to take the lead, with a touchdown pass from Tavita Pritchard to wide receiver Richard Sherman. The USC Trojans were unable to score again, and the Stanford Cardinal team emerged victorious, 24-23. The game was a significant upset, and was widely covered by media outlets like ESPN, CBS Sports, and Fox Sports. The Stanford Cardinal's victory was also notable for the fact that it was the team's first victory over the USC Trojans since 2001, when the team was coached by Tyrone Willingham.

● Aftermath

The Stanford Cardinal's victory over the USC Trojans had significant implications for the Pac-10 Conference and the college football season as a whole. The USC Trojans' loss dropped them from second to seventh in the AP Poll, and opened up the possibility for other teams, like the LSU Tigers football and Ohio State Buckeyes football teams, to compete for the BCS championship. The Stanford Cardinal's victory also marked a turning point for the team, which went on to have a successful season under the leadership of Jim Harbaugh. The game was widely covered by media outlets, with many experts praising the Stanford Cardinal team's performance and predicting a bright future for the program. The Stanford Cardinal's victory was also notable for the fact that it was the team's first victory over a top-10 team since 1999, when the team defeated the Washington Huskies football team.

● Statistics

The game statistics were notable, with the Stanford Cardinal team gaining 379 total yards, compared to the USC Trojans' 325 yards. The Stanford Cardinal team was led by quarterback Tavita Pritchard, who completed 11 of 30 passes for 149 yards and one touchdown. The USC Trojans team was led by quarterback John David Booty, who completed 24 of 39 passes for 264 yards and one touchdown. The game was also notable for the fact that it was the Stanford Cardinal team's first victory over the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum since 1999, when the team was coached by Tyrone Willingham. The Stanford Cardinal team's victory was a significant upset, and was widely covered by media outlets like ESPN, CBS Sports, and Fox Sports. The game was also notable for the fact that it was the Stanford Cardinal team's first victory over a top-10 team on the road since 1986, when the team defeated the Washington Huskies football team.

Category:2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season