This is an automated archive made by the Lemmit Bot.
The original was posted on /r/cfb by /u/MyBloodIsGarnet on 2024-08-14 13:41:42+00:00.
The year was 1991. Southern Cal was ranked 16th in the preseason AP poll. The Trojans had been scheduled to play Kansas in Lawrence, KS to open the season but when they attempted to change the location of the game to Los Angeles, not only did Kansas decline, they called off the game entirely.
In looking for a replacement to come to LA, Southern Cal reached out to Memphis State (now known simply as Memphis). This game was likely agreed upon due in part as a mutual gesture of good will, as Memphis State’s head coach had previously been the OC at Southern Cal under head coach Larry Smith.
The Tigers were…not ranked in the preseason AP poll. In fact, they had never been ranked in the AP poll at any point in their history. Memphis State had won just six games in the two previous seasons combined, and had just two winning seasons since 1977.
Southern Cal had a hugely anticipated matchup in week two against Penn State. It was the second game of a home and home series in which Southern Cal won the first game in 1990 in Happy Valley 19-14. The 1991 game figured to be another clash of titans, as Penn State was ranked 7th in the preseason AP poll.
Unfortunately for Southern Cal, Memphis State came to play, and the Trojans found themselves under-prepared. They held a 10-3 lead at halftime but were shutout in the second half as the Tigers scored three unanswered touchdowns, winning the game 24-10. A key drive in the game came when the Tigers were pinned deep on their own 3-yard line after a Southern Cal punt. The Tigers proceeded to march 97 yards down the field in 18 plays to score their second touchdown of the second half, taking the lead 17-10. The following kick off from Memphis State all but sealed their victory, as the ball bounced away from Southern Cal’s return man and a Memphis State player was able to land on the free ball, setting the Tigers up on the 18-yard line. Three plays later they scored again, pushing their lead to 24-10.
Ironically enough however, Southern Cal did actually end up beating Penn State the very next week. Unfortunately for the Trojans, the Memphis State game was more indicative of how their season would go, as they lost their last six games of the season and finished 3-8 on the year. 1991 was the Trojans’ worst season since 1957 when they went 1-9.
Despite the historic win for Memphis State, the Tigers once again suffered losing season, which included losses to East Carolina and Tulsa. The mediocrity Memphis State showed the rest of the season was only salt in the wound for Southern Cal fans.