Go Joe Bruin
Fansided

USC Football’s 8 Greatest Non-UCLA Losses since 2000

By Nathan Eberhardt

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Oct 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; California Golden Bears running back Tre Watson (5) runs against USC Trojans defensive end Christian Rector (89) in the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 27, 2016; Los Angeles, CA, USA; California Golden Bears running back Tre Watson (5) runs against USC Trojans defensive end Christian Rector (89) in the second quarter at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Richard Mackson-USA TODAY Sports /

8. Sept. 27, 2003 | Berkeley, CA | Cal 34 – USC 31 (3OT)

The Trojans came into this game with a lot of momentum, ranked third in the nation and led by first-year starter Matt Leinart. This game doesn’t get the press that the 2004 tilt does, when both teams were ranked in the top 10 – but that one wouldn’t be eligible for this list since USC won.

No, in 2003, #3 USC faced Aaron Rodgers and an unranked Cal, fell behind 21-7, and had to kick a field goal with 16 seconds remaining to force overtime. After USC missed their field goal attempt in the third overtime, Cal hero Tyler Fredrickson stepped up and booted home the winner.

I remember this game because I had invited a couple of friends who were Cal fans to join me at the Rose Bowl for UCLA’s game against San Diego State that afternoon. We, along with everyone else in Lot K, were watching this game on a portable TV as we tailgated, but we had to turn it off to head in for kickoff as they headed into overtime up in Berkeley. While I’m sure I’d experienced it before, this was the first time I remember that a live USC score was posted in the Rose Bowl during a UCLA game, and when the final was posted on the video boards, the place erupted louder than it would any time later that evening.