12 for 12:
In spite of Christmas this year, we are going forth with a 12 for 12 series. For each day counting down until Christmas, we will provide you with out list for the best college football games of the last 12 years, ranging from 2006-2018. We continue our list with #11, enjoy our list and leave your feedback in the comments below!
Date: October, 6th, 2007
Location: Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum
Background Information:
35 game home winning streak. 24 game home winning streak in Pac 10 play. USC hadn’t lost a home game in over 5 seasons. Both were school and a conference record. Coming off a 11-2 season back in 2006 capped off with a Rose Bowl win against Michigan, USC looked to be in prime position to once again dominate the Pac 10. They had defeated #14 Nebraska on the road and trounced Washington State, 47-14. Stanford was a 41 point underdog coming into this game in the Coliseum (Which was the biggest point spread at the time ever until that was broken in 2017). Stanford, however was on the completely other side of the spectrum. They were at the very bottom of the Pac 10 a year ago, finishing 1-11 which included a 42-0 loss to USC in ’06. A week prior to the game, Stanford’s Starting QB, T.C. Ostrander had suffered a seizure just a week before the game, so it would be Tavita Pritchard getting the start. Pritchard had never started a collegiate game and only threw 3 passes in his career prior to it.
Breaking down the Colossal Upset:
QB John David Booty would have USC out to an early 9-0 lead and would take that into halftime. On the first offensive drive for the Trojans, Booty would throw an interception, taken back for a touchdown by Austin Yancy. USC and Stanford would go back and forth trading blows and from how the game flow and how easy USC’s offense looked going down the field, you would think USC won this game. Booty threw for 4 interceptions and kept Stanford alive and with less than a minute to go, Stanford had a chance down 6, 23-17 to take the lead and potentially win the game. 4th and 20 from USC’s 29 yard line, Pritchard would take the snap, drop back, fire over the middle of the field and find, WR Richard Sherman? Prior to moving over to defense his senior year, Sherman was a reliable receiver for the Cardinal and made one of the biggest catches in school history right at the sticks to move the chains. But that was only the first big 4th down play of the drive. On 4th and goal from the 5 yard line, Pritchard would throw a fade to the far left corner of the end zone where Mark Bradford came down with a sensational catch, and hitting the end zone with both feet to put the Cardinal even at 23. K Derek Belch’s PAT was good and most of the 85,00+ in attendance were stunned. JDB would get one more crack at it with 32 seconds left to go. He was sacked on first down and the next 2 passes hit the grass. On 4th and 16, the final interception would take place as Safety Bo McNally picked off David Booty for the final time and eventually sealed the deal. Pritchard had a below average game (11-30, 149 yards 1 TD, 1 INT), but so did the entire offense. In a game where USC outgained the Cardinal by over 220+ yards, Stanford found a way to get the win with timely turnovers and key stops in the end. In a season that was overshadowed by the Appalachian State upset over Michigan, this one was technically a bigger upset from the point spread standpoint.
Key Players from Stanford: WR Richard Sherman (3 catches, 45 yards).
Key Players from USC: S Taylor Mays (one interception). QB John David Booty 24-40, 364 Yards, 2 TD’s, 4 INT’s. HB Joe McKnight 2 carries, 0 yards. Other key players on USC: LB Clay Matthews, DE Everson Griffin, LB Rey Maualuga, LB Brian Cushing.
How both teams seasons would go:
USC:
That game deflated the Trojans chances of making the national championship. 3 weeks after Stanford, USC lost to #5 Oregon on the road that would take them out for sure. USC still had a really successful season, finishing 10-2 during the regular season and dominated Illinois in the Rose Bowl, 49-17.
Stanford:
Stanford did improve throughout the year as they nearly beat TCU and won 2 more conference games (Arizona and Cal). This was Stanford’s first year under Jim Harbaugh as he laid the foundation for the future that Cardinal fans didn’t know, but would change the program. Harbaugh would get Stanford to 10+ wins for the first time in 18 years. Jim would then give the reigns up to David Shaw as Shaw has Stanford in the Top 25 every year and a serious contender for the conference title every season.
12 Best Games in the past 12 Years:
Image Credit: https://www.ocregister.com/2017/09/07/stanford-shocks-usc-the-2007-upset-and-its-impact/
