Top-10 Winningest College Football Programs Ranked: USC Trojans Snubbed?

It's no question that the USC Trojans are one of the winningest college football programs of all time. In a recent ranking among most successful programs, some could argue the Trojans were ranked too low based on their history.

Nov 8, 2008; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Pete Carroll celebrates after game against the California Golden Bears at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated California 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

Over the years, college football has developed some of the most famous and talented athletes of all time. The sport holds multiple storied programs who boast a longline of success.

College Football HQ on SI recently ranked the 10 winningest teams all-time. Each program was ranked based on their performance over the last 1,000 games each team has played up until this season. Due to the fact some programs have more total games played than others do, the 1,000 game threshold allows analysts to see overall and consistent success.

Nov 8, 2008; Los Angeles, CA, USA; Southern California Trojans coach Pete Carroll celebrates after game against the California Golden Bears at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. USC defeated California 17-3. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

The USC Trojans were slotted at No. 7, just behind the Texas Longhorns and right in front of the Penn State Nittany Lions.

For a program that holds the most NFL Hall of Famers and most Heisman Trophy winners of all time, some could argue a No. 7 ranking might not suit the statistics behind their program.

Top-10 Winningest College Football Teams All-Time

Among the other nine programs, the list includes the following:

1. Ohio State Buckeyes
T-2. Michigan Wolverines
T-2. Alabama Crimson Tide
4. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
5. Oklahoma Sooners
6. Texas Longhorns
7. USC Trojans
8. Penn State Nittany Lions
9. Nebraska Cornhuskers
10. Tennessee Volunteers

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The Trojans boast a record of 882-374-54 and a .694 win percentage across a 1,000 game stretch. In terms of National Championships, USC has a total of 11 across 80 seasons. Their first came in 1928 and their most recent came in 2004.

USC also won a national title in 1931, 1932, 1939, 1962, 1967, 1972, 1974, 1978 and 2003.

Coach Howard Jones Initiated Longtime Success

Sep 7, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; The USC Trojans run out of the tunnel before the game against the Utah State Aggies at United Airlines Field at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images | Jonathan Hui-Imagn Images

Behind every talented team, there’s usually an elite head coach. When the Trojans won their first set of back-to-back national titles in 1931 and 1932, coach Howard Jones was at the helm.

Jones was known for developing the Trojans into a blue blood program, and is also responsible for winning four national championships during his tenure in Los Angeles.

Jones tragically passed away in 1941 while still coaching the Trojans. In his honor, the university named USC’s practice field after him, recognizing his success and his efforts in bringing the program national recognition.

John McKay Picked Up Where Trojans Left Off

Aug 21, 2012; Los Angeles, CA, USA; General view of the statue of former Southern California Trojans coach John McKay at the John McKay center on the campus of the University of Southern California. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee/Image of Sport-Imagn Images | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

USC would have success for the next 20 years, but no national titles until John McKay stepped in as head coach in 1960. McKay, who had no issue mirroring Jone's success, accumulated four national championships during his time with USC.

McKay coached USC Legends O.J. Simpson and Mike Garrett, two players who won the Heisman Trophy under McKay's leadership. McKay coached the Trojans for 15 seasons before moving onto the NFL for nine seasons, where he was the first head coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

The Trojans won another national title in 1978 under coach John Robinson before the Pete Carroll era. Carroll has been tabbed as one of the best coaches to ever run through South Central.

After All of Pete Carroll's Accomplishments with USC, Still No College Football HOF Induction?

Jan 04, 2005; Miami, FL, USA; Southern California Trojans head coach Pete Carroll hoist the trophy with quarterback Matt Leinart (left) after a victory against the Oklahoma Sooners in the 2005 Orange Bowl held at Pro Player Stadium. The Trojans won the BCS National Championship with the win. Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images | Matthew Emmons-Imagn Images

The Las Vegas Raiders coach led the Trojans from 2001-2009 and earned USC's second round of consecutive national titles in 2003 and 2004. Carroll also produced three Heisman Trophy winners in quarterback Carson Palmer in 2002, and back-to-back award winners with quarterback Matt Leinart in 2004 and running back Reggie Bush in 2005.

In his nine seasons with the Trojans, he accumulated a 97-19 record, eight consecutive Pac-10 titles, 53 NFL Draft Picks with 14 being in the first round and 33 consecutive weeks ranked No. 1 in AP Polls.

Coach Lincoln Riley devoted a portion of his press conference at Big Ten Media Days this year to honor Carroll, and show support for the former Trojans coach induction into the hall of fame.

"He's one year short on the requirement but hard to imagine a guy that's had an impact like coach Carroll had on college football." Riley said. "That's a little difficult for me and I think my colleagues to imagine a hall of fame that exists without his impact."

Even in the wake of recent struggles, USC's rich history of success ensures the program will always be considered a blue-blood football program.