USC is the elite Pac-12 football program, but who is second?
Each Monday, I appear on the weekly Trojan Conquest USC live show at The Voice of College Football with Mark Rogers and Trojans Wire editor Matt Zemek. This week, we dove into all-time Pac-12 football rankings.
The rankings, based on several metrics such as all-time winning percentage, bowl victories, conference championships, and national championships, were heavily skewed in our favor at USC, as one might expect.
After discussing USC’s dominance, we shifted our focus to the battle between Washington and UCLA for the second spot. It’s close!
Matt Zemek highlighted UCLA’s dominant teams under legendary Bruin coach Red Sanders. Sanders’ Bruin teams were some of the most successful in UCLA football history, winning three Pacific Coast Conference titles, a couple Rose Bowl games, and a national championship in 1954. His overall record of 66–19–1 (.773) and a winning record against the Trojans (6-3) give Sanders a lofty spot among all Bruin coaches across all sports, most likely second to the immortal John Wooden.
Another notable coach was Tommy Prothro, who led the Bruins from 1965 to 1970. During his tenure, the Bruins achieved a remarkable 41-18-3 record, including a miraculous comeback victory against the No. 1-ranked Michigan State Spartans in the 1966 Rose Bowl. This victory earned the Bruins the nickname “Gutty Little Bruins” due to their underdog status and smaller size compared to their opponents.
Terry Donahue’s long tenure as UCLA coach from 1976 to 1995 also contributed significantly to the Bruins’ success. Under Donahue’s leadership, the Bruins won seven consecutive bowl games and began an eight-game winning streak against the Trojans, which lasted throughout the 1990s. He retired with a winning record against the Men of Troy (10-9-1). Donahue’s tenure also intensified the Crosstown Rivalry, with both teams fiercely competing for the Victory Bell, making it one of the most competitive periods in the rivalry’s history. His 151 victories are by far the most for a Bruin football coach.
Throughout history, the Washington Huskies have enjoyed remarkable success under the leadership of legendary coaches such as Gil Dobie, Don James, and Chris Petersen. Coach Dobie achieved an incredible feat, remaining undefeated in his nine seasons with the Huskies, boasting a record of 58-0-3. The Huskies later surpassed this achievement by extending their unbeaten streak to an astonishing 64 games, scoring 1,930 points while allowing only 118 to their opponents.
Decades later, Don James, also known as the “Dawgfather,” led the Huskies to their only national championship in 1991 with one of the most formidable defenses in Pac-10 history. More recently, Chris Petersen and Kalen Deboer guided Washington into the College Football Playoffs in 2016 and 2023, respectively.
Here’s the link to the show below:
Visit our friends at Fighting Irish Wire, Buffaloes Wire, and Ducks Wire. Follow our newest sites, UW Huskies Wire and UCLA Wire.
Check out more NFL draft coverage with the USA TODAY Sports NFL Draft Hub.
