5 Best USC Football Moments of the Pete Carroll Era

Leinart’s Touchdown Catch

USC delivered on the promise of Pete Carroll’s second season in charge of the Trojans by winning 12 games and earning the No. 1 ranking in the nation by season’s end.

The BCS, however, passed over USC in favor of No. 2 LSU and No. 3 Oklahoma in the title game, leaving the Trojans to face No. 4 Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

In that game, Carroll’s squad showed the nation exactly what they thought about being left out by drubbing the Wolverines, 28-14.

No play epitomized that victory –or the fun-loving style of Carroll– more than the trick play which culminated in USC’s final touchdown of the year.

In the third quarter, Matt Leinart pitched the ball to running back Hershel Dennis, who tossed it to receiver Mike Williams on a reverse, who then lobbed it up for the Heisman-winning quarterback to catch and jog into the endzone with the ball held high about his head.

The AP rewarded USC with a National Title.