Throwback Thursday: 41-point underdog Stanford upsets USC

As Stanford and USC prepare to meet this Saturday night, we look back at one of the greatest games in this rivalry.

A battle between two ranked teams will kick off this Saturday night when No. 15 USC takes on No. 13 Stanford. This is one of the oldest rivalries in the Pac-12 and has brought fans many memorable moments. One of the most shocking outcomes of the series took place back in 2007.

Back then, Stanford was a struggling program. In 2006, the Cardinal bottomed out with a 1-11 record that cost head coach Walt Harris his job. Fortunately, the program went with Jim Harbaugh as his successor, and fans all know what happened next. However, the Harbaugh era did not get off to the hottest of starts. The Cardinal started the 2007 season 1-3 and had just lost to Arizona 41-3 entering their Week 6 matchup against USC.

The Trojans were still enjoying success under Pete Carroll just under two seasons removed from their last National Championship Game appearance. USC was ranked No. 2 in the country and loaded with future first round NFL Draft picks, including linebackers Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers along with safety Taylor Mays and defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis.

Heading into the game against Stanford at 4-0, the Trojans were favored by 41 points.

USC jumped out to a 9-0 lead by the end of the first half, but an Austin Yancy interception return for a touchdown put Stanford right back in the game. However, quarterback John David Booty would answer right back with a 63-yard touchdown pass to Fred Davis. The Trojans led 16-7 going into the fourth quarter of what had been a low-scoring affair, but the game became an instant classic in the last 15 minutes.

The teams traded touchdowns at the start of the quarter. Only a 26-yard field goal by Derek Belch with just over five minutes to go kept Stanford within striking distance. With USC clinging to a 23-17 lead, the Cardinal had one last drive to try to pull off the upset.

With the ball on the Trojan’s 29-yard line, quarterback Tavita Pritchard completed a pass on fourth-and-20 to Richard Sherman to keep the chains moving. With seconds to go, Pritchard found Mark Bradford for the game-winning touchdown to give Stanford a 24-23 win.

At the time, this victory was the biggest point spread upset in college football history. This feat was surpassed in 2017 by Howard University against UNLV as they were favored by 45 points.

Despite their huge upset, Stanford finished 4-8 in Harbaugh’s first season but won 12 games, including the Orange Bowl, three years later. USC would regroup after the loss to finish 10-2 as co-champions of the Pac-10 and won The Rose Bowl against Illinois.

With both teams meeting this week after battling in the conference championship game last season, more great memories may be made this Saturday night.