The USC Trojans football statistical leaders are individual statistical leaders of the USC Trojans football program in various categories, including passing, rushing, receiving, total offense, defensive stats, and kicking/special teams. Within those areas, the lists identify single-game, single-season, and career leaders. Through the 2023 season, the Trojans represented the University of Southern California in the NCAA Division I FBS Pac-12 Conference but joiedn the Big Ten Conference for 2024 and beyond.
Although USC began competing in intercollegiate football in 1888, the school's official record book considers the "modern era" to have begun in the 1920s. Records from before this decade are often incomplete and inconsistent, and they are generally not included in these lists.
These lists are dominated by more recent players for several reasons: Since the 1920s, seasons have increased from 10 to 11 and then 12 games in length. The NCAA didn't allow freshmen to play varsity football until 1972 (with the exception of the World War II years), allowing players to have four-year careers. The Trojans have played in 57 bowl games in school history, 39 of which have come since the 1970 season. Although the official NCAA record book does not include bowl games in statistical records until 2002, and most colleges also structure their record books this way, USC counts all bowl games in its records. Due to COVID-19 issues, the NCAA ruled that the 2020 season would not count against the athletic eligibility of any football player, giving everyone who played in that season the opportunity for five years of eligibility instead of the normal four.
These lists are updated through Week 5 of the 2026 season. Active players are listed in bold. Recent USC Football Media Guides do not include full top 10 lists for single-game records. However, the 2003 version of the media guide included long lists of top individual single-game performances, and box scores from more recent games are readily available, so the lists are easily derived.
Passing
Passing yards
+ Career1Matt Barkley12,3272009 2010 2011 2012 2Carson Palmer11,8181998 1999 2000 2001 2002 3Matt Leinart10,6932002 2003 2004 2005 4Cody Kessler10,339 2012 2013 2014 20155Rob Johnson8,4721991 1992 1993 1994 6Rodney Peete8,2251985 1986 1987 1988 7 Caleb Williams 8,170 2022 2023 8 Kedon Slovis7,576 2019 2020 2021 9 Sam Darnold 7,229 2016 2017 10 Jayden Maiava 6,656 2024 2025 2026
+ Single season 1 Caleb Williams 4,537 2022 2 Sam Darnold 4,143 2017 3 Carson Palmer3,9422002 4 Cody Kessler3,8262014 5 Matt Leinart3,8152005 6 Jayden Maiava3,7112025 7 Caleb Williams 3,633 2023 8 Rob Johnson3,6301993 9 Matt Leinart3,5562003 10 Cody Kessler3,536 2015
+ Single game1Kedon Slovis515 2019 UCLA2Matt Barkley493 2012 Arizona3Matt Barkley484 2012 Oregon4Caleb Williams4702022 UCLA5Matt Barkley468 2011 Arizona 6 Caleb Williams 462 2022 Tulane(Cotton Bowl)7Sam Darnold453 2016 Penn State (Rose Bowl)8Carson Palmer4482002 Oregon9Kedon Slovis432 2019 Arizona State10Carson Palmer4252002 Notre Dame
Passing touchdowns
+ Career1Matt Barkley1162009 2010 2011 2012 2Matt Leinart992003 2004 2005 3Cody Kessler88 2012 2013 2014 20154Carson Palmer721998 1999 2000 2001 2002 5 Caleb Williams 72 2022 2023 6 Rob Johnson581991 1992 1993 1994 7 Kedon Slovis58 2019 2020 2021 8 Sam Darnold 57 2016 2017 9 John David Booty552004 2005 2006 2007 10 Rodney Peete541985 1986 1987 1988
+ Single season1 Caleb Williams 42 20222Matt Barkley392011Cody Kessler3920144Matt Leinart3820035Matt Barkley3620126Mark Sanchez3420087Carson Palmer332002Matt Leinart332004 9 Sam Darnold 31 2016 10 Kedon Slovis30 2019 Caleb Williams 30 2023
+ Single game1Cody Kessler 7 2014 Colorado2Matt Barkley6 2011 ColoradoMatt Barkley6 2011 UCLAMatt Barkley6 2012 SyracuseMatt Barkley6 2012 ColoradoCody Kessler6 2014 Notre Dame Caleb Williams 62023 Colorado Miller Moss 6 2023 Louisville(Holiday Bowl)
Rushing
Rushing yards
+ Career1Charles White6,2451976 1977 1978 1979 2Marcus Allen4,8101978 1979 1980 1981 3Anthony Davis3,7241972 1973 1974 4Ricky Bell3,6891974 1975 1976 1977 5 Ronald Jones II 3,619 2015 2016 2017 6 O. J. Simpson3,4231967 1968 7 Mike Garrett3,2211963 1964 1965 8 Reggie Bush3,169 2003 2004 2005 9 LenDale White3,1592003 2004 2005 10 Fred Crutcher2,8151981 1982 1983 1984 1985
+ Single season1Marcus Allen2,4271981 2Charles White2,0501979 3Ricky Bell1,9571975 4O. J. Simpson1,8801968 5Charles White1,8591978 6Reggie Bush1,7402005 7Marcus Allen1,5631980 8 Ronald Jones II 1,550 2017 9 O. J. Simpson1,5431967 10 Javorius Allen1,4892014
+ Single game1Ricky Bell3471976 Washington State2Reggie Bush 294 2005 Fresno State3Marcus Allen2741981 Indiana4Charles White2611979 Notre Dame5Reggie Bush260 2005 UCLA6Ricky Bell2561975 Duke7C.R. Roberts2511956 Texas8Charles White2471980 Ohio State9Charles White2431979 WashingtonMarcus Allen2431981 California
Rushing touchdowns
+ Career1LenDale White522003 2004 2005 2Charles White491976 1977 1978 1979 3Marcus Allen451978 1979 1980 1981 4Anthony Davis441972 1973 1974 5 Ronald Jones II 39 2015 2016 2017 6 O. J. Simpson361967 1968 7 Ricky Bell281974 1975 1976 1977 8 Mike Garrett251963 1964 1965 Reggie Bush25 2003 2004 2005 Javorius Allen252012 2013 2014
+ Single season1LenDale White242005 2O. J. Simpson231968 3Marcus Allen221981 4Charles White191979 Ronald Jones II 19 2017 6 Anthony Davis171972 7 Reggie Bush16 2005 8 Chad Morton151999 LenDale White152004 10 Anthony Davis141973 Ricky Bell141976 Marcus Allen141980 Javorius Allen142013
+ Single game1Charles Dean41920 NevadaHoward Elliot41925 PomonaOrv Mohler41931 Washington StateAmbrose Schindler41937 OregonClark Holden41959 StanfordO. J. Simpson41968 MinnesotaAnthony Davis41972 Notre DameAnthony Davis41973 CaliforniaSam Cunningham41972 Ohio State(Rose Bowl)Ricky Bell41975 DukeRicky Bell41976 OregonCharles White41979 Notre DameCharles White41979 UCLAMarcus Allen41981 TennesseeRyan Knight41986 CaliforniaLenDale White4 2005 ArizonaRonald Jones II4 2016 Oregon
Receiving
Receptions
+ Career1Robert Woods2522010 2011 2012 2Marqise Lee2482011 2012 2013 3Tyler Vaughns222 2017 2018 2019 20204Dwayne Jarrett2162004 2005 2006 5JuJu Smith-Schuster213 2014 2015 2016 6Keary Colbert2072000 2001 2002 2003 7Kareem Kelly2041999 2000 2001 2002 8Johnnie Morton2011990 1991 1992 1993 9Steve Smith1902003 2004 2005 2006 10Nelson Agholor1782012 2013 2014 Amon-Ra St. Brown178 2018 2019 2020
+ Single season1Marqise Lee1182012 2Robert Woods1112011 3Nelson Agholor1042014 4Keyshawn Johnson1021995 5Michael Pittman Jr.1012019 6Mike Williams952003 7Dwayne Jarrett912005 8JuJu Smith-Schuster89 20159Johnnie Morton881993 Drake London88 2021
+ Single game1Robert Woods17 2011 Minnesota2Marqise Lee16 2012 ArizonaNelson Agholor16 2014 CaliforniaDrake London16 2021 Utah5Johnnie Morton151993 HoustonDrake London15 2021 Notre Dame7John Jackson141989 Notre DameRobert Woods14 2011 Arizona9Keyshawn Johnson131995 Arizona StateMike Williams132002 OregonMarqise Lee13 2011 UCLADeontay Burnett13 2016 Penn State(Rose Bowl)Michael Pittman Jr.132019 Arizona StateMichael Pittman Jr.132019 UCLADrake London13 2021 Washington State
Receiving yards
+ Career1Marqise Lee3,6552011 2012 2013 2Johnnie Morton3,2011990 1991 1992 1993 3Dwayne Jarrett3,1382004 2005 2006 4Kareem Kelly3,1041999 2000 2001 20025JuJu Smith-Schuster3,092 2014 2015 2016 6Steve Smith3,0192003 2004 2005 2006 7Keary Colbert2,9642000 2001 2002 2003 8Robert Woods2,9302010 2011 20129Tyler Vaughns2,801 2017 2018 2019 202010Keyshawn Johnson2,7961994 1995
+ Single season1Marqise Lee1,7212012 2Johnnie Morton1,5201993 3JuJu Smith-Schuster1,454 2015 4Keyshawn Johnson1,4341995 5Keyshawn Johnson1,3621994 6Mike Williams1,3142003 7Nelson Agholor1,3132014 8Robert Woods1,2922011 9Michael Pittman Jr.1,2752019 10Dwayne Jarrett1,2742005
+ Single game1Marqise Lee345 2012 Arizona2R. Jay Soward2601996 UCLA3Steve Smith258 2006 Oregon State4Robert Woods255 2011 Arizona5Michael Pittman Jr.232 2019 Utah6Johnnie Morton2291993 Washington State7Mike Williams2262002 Oregon8Robert Woods224 2010 StanfordMarqise Lee224 2011 UCLA10Keyshawn Johnson2221994 Texas Tech(Cotton Bowl)
Receiving touchdowns
+ Career1Dwayne Jarrett412004 2005 2006 2Robert Woods322010 2011 2012 3Mike Williams302002 2003 4Marqise Lee292011 2012 2013 5JuJu Smith-Schuster25 2014 2015 2016 6Johnnie Morton231990 1991 1992 1993 R. Jay Soward231996 1997 1998 1999 8Steve Smith222003 2004 2005 2006 9Ronald Johnson202007 2008 2009 2010 Nelson Agholor202012 2013 2014Tyler Vaughns20 2017 2018 2019 2020
+ Single season1Mike Williams162003 Dwayne Jarrett162005 3Robert Woods152011 4Johnnie Morton141993 Mike Williams142002 Marqise Lee142012 7 Dwayne Jarrett122006 Nelson Agholor122014 Brenden Rice 12 2023 Ja'Kobi Lane12 2024
+ Single game1Robert Woods 4 2012 ColoradoAmon-Ra St. Brown 4 2020 Washington State
Total offense Total offense is the sum of passing and rushing statistics. It does not include receiving or returns.
Total offense yards
+ Career1Matt Barkley12,214 2009 2010 2011 2012 2Carson Palmer11,621 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 3Matt Leinart10,623 2003 2004 2005 4Cody Kessler9,914 2012 2013 2014 2015 5 Caleb Williams 8,688 2022 2023 6 Rodney Peete8,640 1985 1986 1987 1988 7 Rob Johnson7,896 1991 1992 1993 1994 8 Sam Darnold 7,561 2016 2017 9 Kedon Slovis7,4262019 2020 2021 10 Jayden Maiava6,8542024 2025 2026
+ Single season 1 Caleb Williams 4,919 2022 2 Sam Darnold 4,225 2017 3 Jayden Maiava3,8682025 4 Matt Leinart3,851 2005 5 Carson Palmer3,820 2002 6 Caleb Williams 3,769 2023 7 Cody Kessler3,674 2014 8 Matt Barkley3,542 2011 9 Matt Leinart3,494 2003 10 Kedon Slovis3,445 2019
+ Single game1Caleb Williams5032022 UCLA2Kedon Slovis502 2019 UCLA3Matt Barkley497 2012 Arizona4Matt Barkley478 2012 Oregon5Sam Darnold473 2016 Penn State(Rose Bowl) 6 Caleb Williams 472 2022 Tulane(Cotton Bowl)7Matt Barkley470 2011 Arizona8Caleb Williams438 2022 Utah9Kedon Slovis435 2019 Arizona State10Carson Palmer4342002 Oregon
Touchdowns responsible for "Touchdowns responsible for" is the NCAA's official term for combined passing and rushing touchdowns.
+ Career1Matt Barkley122 2009 2010 2011 2012 2Matt Leinart108 2003 2004 2005 3Cody Kessler95 2012 2013 2014 2015 4 Caleb Williams 93 2022 2023 5 Carson Palmer81 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 6 Rodney Peete66 1985 1986 1987 1988 7 Sam Darnold 64 2016 2017 8 Rob Johnson62 1991 1992 1993 1994 Jayden Maiava62 2024 2025 2026 10 Kedon Slovis58 2019 2020 2021
+ Single season 1 Caleb Williams 52 2022 2 Matt Barkley 41 2011 Cody Kessler 41 2014 Caleb Williams 41 2023 5 Matt Leinart38 2003 6 Carson Palmer37 2002 Mark Sanchez37 2008 8 Matt Leinart36 2004 Matt Barkley36 2012 10 Matt Leinart34 2005
+ Single game1Cody Kessler7 2014 Colorado 2Anthony Davis6 1972Notre DameMatt Barkley6 2011Colorado Matt Barkley6 2011 UCLAMatt Barkley6 2012 SyracuseMatt Barkley6 2012 ColoradoCody Kessler6 2014 Notre Dame Caleb Williams 6 2023 Colorado Miller Moss 6 2023 Louisville(Holiday Bowl)
Defense Note: The USC Football Media Guide does not generally give a full top 10 in defensive statistics.
Interceptions
+ Career1Artimus Parker201971 1972 1973 2Danny Reece181973 1974 1975 3Dennis Smith161977 1978 1979 1980 4Bobby Robertson141939 1940 1941 5Manuel Laraneta131924 1925 1926 Jim Hardy131942 1943 1944 Mike Battle131966 1967 1968 Bruce Dyer131970 1971 Ronnie Lott131977 1978 1979 1980 Mark Carrier131987 1988 1989
+ Single season1Jim Psaltis91952
+ Single game1Adrian Young41967 Notre Dame
Tackles
+ Career1Keith Davis4811983 1984 1985 1986 1987
+ Single season1Rex Moore2061986
+ Single game1Sam Anno231986 Illinois
Sacks
+ Career1Marcus Cotton38.01984 1985 1986 19872Lawrence Jackson30.52003 2004 2005 2006 3Nick Perry21.52009 2010 20114Porter Gustin212015 2016 2017 2018Tuli Tuipulotu212020 2021 2022
+ Single season1Tim Ryan20.01989 2Tuli Tuipulotu13.520223Morgan Breslin132012