34 years later, Fresno State vs USC – The Collegian

Fresno State is set to open its inaugural Pac-12 season on Sept. 4, in a nonconference game against a familiar opponent in the University of Southern California (USC). As the date gets closer, memories of one of the biggest upsets in Fresno State’s history begin to resurface.

The Bulldogs will travel to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to face the Trojans 34 years after Fresno State defeated USC 24-7 in the Freedom Bowl on Dec. 29, 1992, at Anaheim Stadium.

The historic 1992 meeting remains the only victory the Bulldogs have against the Trojans, with both teams facing off six times and USC holding a 5-1 lead. One of USC’s five victories was later vacated.

But before the Bulldogs walked onto the field that night, there was little belief outside their own locker room that they would walk out with the win.

USC was ranked No. 23 among football programs, viewed as the bigger program with better funding, better recruits and a strong reputation, with multiple players who were expected to play at the next level, including first-round wide receiver Curtis Conway, who was selected No. 7 overall by the Chicago Bears.

The Bulldogs, however, were coming off an impressive season of their own, where they were named WAC co-champions alongside BYU and the University of Hawaii, Manoa after all three teams ended the season with a 6-2 record in conference play.

Fresno State had also established itself as one of the most explosive offenses in college football that season, averaging 40.5 points per game, the best scoring offense in the country, while averaging 482.9 yards per game, the second most nationally.

Quarterback Trent Dilfer passed for 21 touchdowns that year, while fullback Lorenzo Neal and tailbacks Ron Rivers and Anthony Daigle combined for 33 rushing touchdowns. Meanwhile, receiver Malcolm Seabron caught 41 passes, averaging 23.8 yards per reception and scored nine touchdowns.

Despite all of that, Fresno State entered the game as an eight-point underdog. However, for the Bulldogs, the expectations outside the locker room did not change the way they viewed the matchup.

The lack of respect from outside the program only added to the team’s motivation.

“Leading up to the game, we saw newspaper articles and things like that talking about USC beating us by 45 or 50 points,” former Fresno State running back Ron Rivers said. “That gave us plenty of bulletin-board material.”

The scene was set as the Bulldogs and Trojans took the field, drawing 50,745 fans to Anaheim Stadium.

Rain fell steadily throughout the first half, slowing down the Bulldogs, and for the first time all season, Fresno State was held scoreless in the opening quarter.

USC eventually opened the scoreboard early in the second quarter, scoring a 1-yard touchdown run.

Fresno State responded soon after with fullback Lorenzo Neal scoring on a 1-yard touchdown run of his own, tying the game at 7-7.

“They punched us in the mouth and we punched them right back,” Rivers said. “We just had to keep our foot on the gas.”

What many analysts and fans initially saw as an uneven matchup was suddenly tied with minutes remaining before halftime.

“After the first series, we came off the field and looked at each other like, ‘We’ve got this,’” Rivers said.

Rivers remembers walking toward the offensive line after the scoring play and seeing the same confidence radiate from them.

“I remember walking over and before I could even say anything they were already like, ‘Let’s get to work, Riv,’” Rivers said.

While the explosive Bulldog offense started to finally warm up, Fresno State’s defense was doing its part, too.

“After that first series, you could tell our defense was locked in,” Rivers said.

The Bulldogs’ defense had entered the game with a reputation that did not match its performance that night. Coach Sweeney had described the 1992 defense as the weakest of his six seasons at Fresno State.

That night against USC, you would’ve never noticed.

USC heavily relied on its passing attack all season long, but on the final play of the first half, Curtis Conway, one of USC’s top receivers, injured his right knee while attempting to catch a pass and did not return for the rest of the game.

After halftime, Fresno State wasted no time and took the lead in the third quarter when Derek Mahoney connected on a 43-yard field goal, putting them up 10-7.

Going into the fourth and final quarter, with 3:25 remaining, Daigle scored on a 2-yard touchdown run to extend the Bulldogs’ lead to 17-7.

USC was looking to stay alive, but instead Rivers delivered the final blow. With 1:11 remaining, Rivers took the ball five yards into the end zone.

The Trojans had no response for the Bulldogs after that, and before anyone knew it, the final whistle blew. The game clock read 0:00 with the scoreboard reading 24-7.

Fresno State had stunned No. 23 USC.

For a program that wanted to prove it could compete with college football’s biggest names, the victory was more than just a win. It was a statement.

Fresno State managed to dominate the stat line.

The Bulldogs held the ball for 37 minutes, 32 seconds, more than 15 minutes longer than USC. They ran 84 plays compared with USC’s 50 and finished with 405 total yards, 222 more than the Trojans.

Rivers carried the ball 19 times throughout the game for a team-high 104 yards. Neal added 75 yards on 19 carries while tailback Anthony Daigle finished with 54 yards.

Defensively, the Bulldogs managed to intercept USC quarterback Rob Johnson three times, held USC to 95 passing yards and only allowed them to convert one of nine third-down attempts. They held the Trojans to 183 total yards, their fewest in a game since 1990.

The following day, the Los Angeles Times ran the headline, “Fresno Teaches USC Humility 101.”

At the time, Fresno State Athletics called the game the biggest football game in program history.

However, despite everything the Bulldogs had accomplished, Rivers said the players never once thought about their place in Fresno State history.

“We knew it was a big win and a great way to send the seniors out, but we didn’t think about history,” Rivers said. “Our goal was just to be the best team in California. We wanted to beat San Diego State, USC and UCLA. Growing up in Southern California, that’s how you measured yourself.”

Now, 34 years later, Fresno State is preparing to face USC again.

The setting will be different, different coaches, different players, but with the same goal as back then: be the best team in California.

The Bulldogs will travel to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum to face the Trojans 34 years after the events at Anaheim Stadium. Kickoff is scheduled for 6 p.m.