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Fansided

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

By Nathan Eberhardt

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Nov 5, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Justin Thomas (5) looks on before the start of the second half against North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 48-20. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 5, 2016; Chapel Hill, NC, USA; Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets quarterback Justin Thomas (5) looks on before the start of the second half against North Carolina Tar Heels at Kenan Memorial Stadium. The North Carolina Tar Heels defeated the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets 48-20. Mandatory Credit: James Guillory-USA TODAY Sports /

7. Dec. 31, 2012 | El Paso, TX | Georgia Tech 21 – USC 7

This one is triply delicious. Herewith:

  1. USC started 2012 as the preseason #1 and managed to lose to Stanford, Arizona, Oregon, UCLA, and Notre Dame en route to a 7-5 regular season record, the worst showing ever by a preseason #1 ranked team. To emphasize, this 2012 USC team was the biggest bust of all time.
  2. Georgia Tech came into this game at 6-7 after stumbling into the ACC Championship Game at 6-6 and then losing to Florida State. This was not like the 2009 or 2014 Georgia Tech teams that finished 11-3. This was a thoroughly mediocre outfit that managed to rush for 300 yards against a USC defense anchored by Hayes Pullard and Leonard Williams.
  3. The Trojans capped off their dream season with a brawl in the locker room after the game when a reported 10-15 players got embroiled in a full-on donnybrook over frustrations about coaching and about effort from senior players.

From first place to fisticuffs, this season was the gift that kept on giving.