USC Football Boasts Most Wins Over Ranked Opponents In CFB

USC football boasts the greatest number of wins over teams ranked in the AP Poll in college football history, dispatching 157 Top 25 teams since 1936.

Time to add to the long list of things USC football does better than anyone. The Trojans are the most successful team in the college football world when it comes to beating teams ranked in the AP Poll.

Reddit user ktffan broke down the history of both the AP and Coaches’ polls, charting the number of wins over ranked teams, the highest number of times each team has defeated their highest ranked opposition and their highest ranked win overall.

In the AP Poll, USC’s numbers include 157 wins over ranked teams total and 11 wins over the No. 3 team in the country. Unsurprisingly their best win is over a No. 1 team.

That total of 157 is the highest of any school in college football. Behind the Trojans, Alabama, Notre Dame and Oklahoma have 151 wins each.

The AP Poll has run continuously for 80 seasons since 1936. With 157 wins, USC has averaged just under two victories over ranked teams every year. The Trojans themselves have featured in the poll at least once every season for 75 of the 80 seasons.

When it comes to the most wins over the most highly ranked teams, USC’s 11 over No. 3 is impressive but the Trojans have also bested the No. 1 team seven times. That’s tied with Purdue and Oklahoma for third behind Alabama and Notre Dame with eight wins and Miami with nine.

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The men of Troy added to their tally against the No. 3 team in 2015 with an upset win over Utah at the Coliseum in October.

In the Coaches’ Poll, USC has amassed 139 wins over ranked teams with ten wins over the No. 3 team in the country. Oklahoma tops the Coaches’ Poll tallies with 149 wins followed by Ohio State with 141 and Alabama with 140.

The Trojans finished the 2015 unranked in both the AP and Coaches’ Poll but, if preseason Top 25 lists which have popped up this offseason are anything to go by, USC should be ranked to start the season.

And with the likes of Alabama, Stanford, Utah, Oregon, Washington, UCLA and Notre Dame on the schedule in 2016, there should be plenty of opportunities for the Trojans to add to their win total.