RoT Madness, Final Four: Voting for the Ultimate USC Football Legend

The RoT Madness match ups are more fierce than ever with USC football legends Ronnie Lott, Matt Leinart, Marcus Allen and Junior Seau squaring off in the Final Four. Vote now.

The home stretch of RoT Madness, the tournament to find the Ultimate Trojan, has begun.

The Final Four couldn’t offer more intriguing match ups, with Heisman winners, Hall of Famers and some of the greatest Trojans to ever live battling for a place in the final.

It’s time to vote…

No. 1 Ronnie Lott vs. No. 1 Matt Leinart

Two of the most successful players in USC lore — and arguably the greatest offensive and defensive stars in Troy ever — face off in an intriguing Final Four match ups.

Ronnie Lott was a unanimous All-American, national title winner and captain. In 1980 he tied for the NCAA lead in interceptions and remains fourth on USC’s all-time picks list.

A standout at cornerback and safety, Lott is a member of the College Football Hall of Fame and was named the Pac-12’s Defensive Player of the Century.

MORE: 25 Most Dominant Trojan Defenders

The incredible thing about Lott’s USC success? His best days were ahead of him. He played in four Super Bowls, is an NFL Hall of Famer as well and rightly draws acclaim as one of the greatest defenders to ever play the game.

Matt Leinart’s NFL accomplishments don’t rise to Lott’s level, but no Trojan can claim more success at the college level.

The quarterback is one of just four three-time All-Americans produced by USC. He won the Heisman as a junior and finished among the finalists as a senior. He set Pac-10 season records for touchdowns in a season and passes without an interception.

CHECK OUT: USC’s 10 Best Quarterbacks of All-Time

Leinart is also responsible for some of the most memorable plays in modern Trojan history. He caught a touchdown pass in the Rose Bowl. He torched Oklahoma in the national title game. He audibled on the legendary fourth-and-nine pass to Dwayne Jarrett, then finished off Notre Dame with a goal line sneak (and a little help from Reggie Bush).

So who takes the cake between the greatest safety and quarterback in USC history?

Final Four Matchup: Ronnie Lott vs. Matt Leinart

No. 1 Marcus Allen vs. No. 1 Junior Seau

In this Final Four battle, an unstoppable force at running back meets and immovable object at linebacker.

Marcus Allen was the last and –if RoT Madness voting has the say– the greatest of the Running Back U era of USC football.

The 1980 Heisman winner was a unanimous All-American and the first player in college football history to break the 2,000 yard mark. Twice he led the NCAA in all-purpose running while perching himself second on USC’s career rushing chart behind only the prolific Charles White.

MORE: Ranking USC’s Greatest Running Backs Ever

The ability which forged Allen’s College Football Hall of Fame career served him well in the pros as well. He went on to win Super Bowl MVP honors and was inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.

Who could give Allen his biggest test of the tournament? Fellow Pro Football Hall of Famer, the late great Junior Seau.

Seau is best known for his illustrious NFL career, but the linebacker accomplished great heights at USC as well.

His final season as a Trojan in 1989 was a revelation. Seau was an All-American and Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, making his living behind the line of scrimmage with 27 tackles for loss on the year. He also disrupted opposing passing offenses with 12 deflections on the year.

Which USC legend deserves to advance to the final?

Final Four Matchup: Marcus Allen vs. Junior Seau

Final Four voting will continue through Sunday, April 7 at noon Pacific after which results will be posted on ReignOfTroy.com. Cast your votes then let us know what swayed your decision.

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