UCLA Football: The Ten Greatest Wins Over Rival USC

5.   1982, 20-19:  This was where Karl Morgan sacked Scott Tinsley with no time left on the clock and USC going for the winning two-point conversion. It sent the Bruins to the Rose Bowl and started an early '80s dominance over the Trojans, winning four-out-of-five during the first half of the decade. 

I remember this game well, being in high school and a member of my school's marching band at the time. My friends were listening to the game on the radio in our band director's office, and I had a great time rubbing it in to my USC friends in the band!

4.   1992, 38-37:  It's the John Barnes—UCLA's version of Rudy—game. Having been a fourth-string quarterback all year, he threw for over 300 yards to lead the Bruins, who sealed the win when Nkosi Littleton knocks down the winning two-point conversion play with less than a minute left.

My friend, who was at the game, told me that he got an obnoxious USC fan ejected for rubbing a foam finger in his face that night.

3.   1993, 27-21:  Where Marvin Goodwin picked off Rob Johnson in the end zone with just over a minute left, sending the Bruins to the Rose Bowl at the Trojans' expense!

That's right, the Rose Bowl was on the line for both teams that day.

I got to attend that game at the very last minute, and I unfortunately found myself sitting among USC students and fans. 

They gave me a lot of grief during the second half, but were strangely quiet when UCLA picked off that pass. I remember seeing USC's Song Girls crying their eyes out, too. 

2.   2006, 13-9: In my book, the second greatest win ever over USC, as well as the biggest upset in the rivalry's history—the Trojans were a 23-point favorite! 

Everyone recalls Eric McNeil's interception, but that did not win the game for the Bruins.

Aaron Perez's punt, which boomed 20 yards over Desmond Reed's head after then-coach Karl Dorrell told him to kick it out of bounds, was what really won it.

Instead of the 35 yard line, Perez put Troy on their own 12.

That's a huge difference—and it happened right in front of me!

And now, my pick for the greatest victory over USC in UCLA Bruin Football history...

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