2005 USC best team ever? No way.

[JohnStOnge]

I don't get this thing where ESPN people are asking about whether or not this year's USC squad is the best ever. No way.

If you're talking dominance relative to its time in the modern era, take a look at 1995 Nebraska. Everbody talks about how good USC's offense is, but the 1995 Nebraska team averaged 53 points per game while through its 12 so far this season USC has averaged 50. But the 1995 Huskers played defense too, so they outscored their opponents by an average of 38 as compared to 2005 USC's 29.

Plus this year's USC has been seriously challenged twice...once by a Fresno State team that now has losses to Louisiana Tech, Nevada, and Tulsa. Nobody came closer than 14 to 1995 Nebraska and that game (Washington State) was never in doubt. During that season the Huskers beat final AP #2 Florida (12-1) by 38, #5 Colorado (10-2) by 23, #7 Kansas State (10-2) by 24), and #9 Kansas (10-2) by 38.

And if you're talking since 2000 the 2001 Miami team outscored its opponents by an average of 33 per game and had something 2005 USC obviously doesn't...a dominant defense. If you lined up 2001 Miami against 2005 USC you'd have to say 2001 Miami would be a clear favorite.

By the way, I think the 1993-1995 three year run with only one loss by Nebraska was also more impressive than USC's run of three years with one loss will be if the Trojans beat Texas. That's because the one Nebraska loss was by 1 point to the 12-1 Florida State team that had Charlie Ward at QB while USC's one loss was by 3 to an 8-6 Cal team. Overall, Nebraska outscored its opponents by an average of 27 points per game 1993-1995, while, so far for 2003-2005, USC has outscored its opponents by an average of 25 points per game.

[ngineer]

I don't get this thing where ESPN people are asking about whether or not this year's USC squad is the best ever. No way.

If you're talking dominance relative to its time in the modern era, take a look at 1995 Nebraska. Everbody talks about how good USC's offense is, but the 1995 Nebraska team averaged 53 points per game while through its 12 so far this season USC has averaged 50. But the 1995 Huskers played defense too, so they outscored their opponents by an average of 38 as compared to 2005 USC's 29.

Plus this year's USC has been seriously challenged twice...once by a Fresno State team that now has losses to Louisiana Tech, Nevada, and Tulsa. Nobody came closer than 14 to 1995 Nebraska and that game (Washington State) was never in doubt. During that season the Huskers beat final AP #2 Florida (12-1) by 38, #5 Colorado (10-2) by 23, #7 Kansas State (10-2) by 24), and #9 Kansas (10-2) by 38.

And if you're talking since 2000 the 2001 Miami team outscored its opponents by an average of 33 per game and had something 2005 USC obviously doesn't...a dominant defense. If you lined up 2001 Miami against 2005 USC you'd have to say 2001 Miami would be a clear favorite.

By the way, I think the 1993-1995 three year run with only one loss by Nebraska was also more impressive than USC's run of three years with one loss will be if the Trojans beat Texas. That's because the one Nebraska loss was by 1 point to the 12-1 Florida State team that had Charlie Ward at QB while USC's one loss was by 3 to an 8-6 Cal team. Overall, Nebraska outscored its opponents by an average of 27 points per game 1993-1995, while, so far for 2003-2005, USC has outscored its opponents by an average of 25 points per game.

Without doing any kind of in depth analysis of past 'great' teams, I would not place USC in the pantheon of all-time greats because they haven't dominated a number of teams, and you correctly point out that they don't have a very good defense. Yes, their offensive weapons are impressive, and I would concede they may have one of the best offensive teams ever, but not as an entire team.

[Third and Long]

Every team ESPN had USC facing Herbstreit and May said USC would beat. Every offense and deffense USC would face has already been figured out. It was not one of the most fair things ever.

[TheValleyRaider]

Forget it. This isn't even the best of the recent USC teams. I would quickly pick the 2004 version over this year's team. I still think they'll beat Texas, but if 2005 USC is so good, how good then would 2005 Texas have to be if they won?

[JohnStOnge]

Every team ESPN had USC facing Herbstreit and May said USC would beat. Every offense and deffense USC would face has already been figured out. It was not one of the most fair things ever.

I don't know. No way to ever know but I think it's possible that if you took that Nebraska 1995 option offense and stuck it in today's college football world it'd still run all over everybody. In my opinion the option has not been "figured out" as long as someone runs it well and has the players to run it.

The only question is how much players have advanced physically over the last 10 years. Over time players get better and better because of improvements in nutrition, training, etc. But I think the change rate has been slowing down. I think there was a lot more change between 1980 and 1990, for instance, than between 1990 and 2000.

[blackfordpu]

I don't get this thing where ESPN people are asking about whether or not this year's USC squad is the best ever. No way.

If you're talking dominance relative to its time in the modern era, take a look at 1995 Nebraska. Everbody talks about how good USC's offense is, but the 1995 Nebraska team averaged 53 points per game while through its 12 so far this season USC has averaged 50. But the 1995 Huskers played defense too, so they outscored their opponents by an average of 38 as compared to 2005 USC's 29.

Plus this year's USC has been seriously challenged twice...once by a Fresno State team that now has losses to Louisiana Tech, Nevada, and Tulsa. Nobody came closer than 14 to 1995 Nebraska and that game (Washington State) was never in doubt. During that season the Huskers beat final AP #2 Florida (12-1) by 38, #5 Colorado (10-2) by 23, #7 Kansas State (10-2) by 24), and #9 Kansas (10-2) by 38.

And if you're talking since 2000 the 2001 Miami team outscored its opponents by an average of 33 per game and had something 2005 USC obviously doesn't...a dominant defense. If you lined up 2001 Miami against 2005 USC you'd have to say 2001 Miami would be a clear favorite.

By the way, I think the 1993-1995 three year run with only one loss by Nebraska was also more impressive than USC's run of three years with one loss will be if the Trojans beat Texas. That's because the one Nebraska loss was by 1 point to the 12-1 Florida State team that had Charlie Ward at QB while USC's one loss was by 3 to an 8-6 Cal team. Overall, Nebraska outscored its opponents by an average of 27 points per game 1993-1995, while, so far for 2003-2005, USC has outscored its opponents by an average of 25 points per game.

I agree there. The early 2000 Miami teams with Dorsey at the helm were very impressive. They blow USC away, no doubt!

[JMU Duke Dog]

I agree there. The early 2000 Miami teams with Dorsey at the helm were very impressive. They blow USC away, no doubt!

I AGREE! GO EARLY 2000 HURRICANES! :hyped:

[JohnStOnge]

I AGREE! GO EARLY 2000 HURRICANES! :hyped:

And yet Tressel's Buckeyes beat one of those teams. Of course I THINK that Ohio State team ended up having more players drafted by the NFL off it than the Miami team they were playing did. Not sure about that but I remember that later...maybe it was the next year...Ohio State set some kind of record for number of players drafted that topped what Miami had and all those players were Buckeyes during that game.

And...before anybody says it...the officials may have made a questionable call in overtime but they preceded that with a series of questionable calls in regulation that allowed Miami to GET to overtime. Ohio State earned and deserved that win. They physically whipped the Hurricanes and Miami was lucky that overtime even became a factor.

[igo4uni]

How about Tommy Frazier running the option for Nebraska in 1995??

http://www.abcsportsallamerica.com/images/frazier.gif

What a perfect QB for the option game that Nebraska ran.

I grew up in Western Iowa, not too far from Omaha. When I was younger (before I went to UNI and became a I-AA fan) I was a big Husker fan, as were many in Western Iowa. So I've always kind of rooted for Nebraska. I still have the videotape of the Nebraska game vs. Florida that year. Nebraska just steamrolled the gators. What a great team.

[igo4uni]

How about Tommy Frazier running the option for Nebraska in 1995??

http://www.abcsportsallamerica.com/images/frazier.gif

What a perfect QB for the option game that Nebraska ran.

I grew up in Western Iowa, not too far from Omaha. When I was younger (before I went to UNI and became a I-AA fan) I was a big Husker fan, as were many in Western Iowa. So I've always kind of rooted for Nebraska. I still have the videotape of the Nebraska game vs. Florida that year. Nebraska just steamrolled the gators. What a great team.

[jwfgeol]

In my opinion the option has not been "figured out" as long as someone runs it well and has the players to run it.

I would agree and I bet Colorado State would too. How about Navy and their 467 rushing yards in the bowl game.

[blur2005]

I'd take the 2004 Trojans team over the 2005 team, even if the 2005 offense is probably better. There's no question, however, that the 2004 defense was far superior to this year's defense, and thus the 2004 USC team was better than this year's team. Also, I think this year's team would be beaten by the '95 Cornhuskers and the 2000 Hurricanes. I'm not saying by how much, but those teams would win because they could play defense, while USC pretty much should've lost at Notre Dame, and their offense won that game, not the defense (see the Leinart to Jarrett completion...).

[Third and Long]

I'd take the 2004 Trojans team over the 2005 team, even if the 2005 offense is probably better. There's no question, however, that the 2004 defense was far superior to this year's defense, and thus the 2004 USC team was better than this year's team. Also, I think this year's team would be beaten by the '95 Cornhuskers and the 2000 Hurricanes. I'm not saying by how much, but those teams would win because they could play defense, while USC pretty much should've lost at Notre Dame, and their offense won that game, not the defense (see the Leinart to Jarrett completion...).
Don't forget the bush push.

[Go...gate]

1944-45 Army would be my pick for greatest ever. They were loaded with soe many great players.

[JohnStOnge]

1944-45 Army would be my pick for greatest ever. They were loaded with soe many great players.

Tell you what...I just looked it up and I sure don't know of a team that was more dominant at its time. In nine games they outscored their opponents 504 to 35. Their smallest margin of victory was 16 points. Their defense had four shutouts and they gave up only 7 points in each of their other five games.

[Third and Long]

What about the 2003 team? I don't think they would stand a chance with 2004 or this year, but just throwing it out. And also the 2003 LSU (who actually won the national championship)? Just wondering...

[JohnStOnge]

What about the 2003 team? I don't think they would stand a chance with 2004 or this year, but just throwing it out. And also the 2003 LSU (who actually won the national championship)? Just wondering...

The 2003 team lost to Cal. Also, there was an oft discussed story about how NFL scouts basically said LSU was a faster, more physical team than USC that year (the context was pre OU/K State, when three NFL scouts were asked who would be the tougher opponent for OU all three said LSU).

As for that LSU team...nah. They did lose to Florida and had some close wins. Too bad they didn't get it together like they did in the Peach Bowl all year during 2005 though.

[Cocky]

2003 Delaware team is the greatest team ever.

[Reed Rothchild]

2003 Delaware team is the greatest team ever.


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