2004 National Champion: And the One That Was Stripped

MULTIPLEDISPUTEDVACATED

USC goes 13-0 and sweeps every selector, but the BCS strips the title in 2011 over the Reggie Bush ineligibility case while the AP lets its championship stand and undefeated Auburn presses its own claim.

Orange Bowl

USC55

Oklahoma19

January 4, 2005 · Pro Player Stadium · Miami Gardens, FL

Full game details USC vs Oklahoma all-time series

The case for each side

USC

11-0VACATED

Recognized byAPConsensusBCSConsensusFWAARecognizedNFFRecognizedUSA/ESPNConsensus· claimed by the program

13-0 under Pete Carroll, beat Oklahoma 55-19 in the Orange Bowl BCS title game and was No. 1 with AP, FWAA, NFF, and the coaches. In June 2011, after NCAA sanctions in the Reggie Bush case, the BCS vacated USC's 2004 championship (and the FWAA separately vacated its Grantland Rice Trophy, awarding it to no one); the AP declined to revote and still recognizes USC as its 2004 champion. The championship stays in the record here, marked vacated rather than erased.

USC’s 2004 schedule

Auburn

13-0

Claimed by the program: no recognized selector picked them

13-0 under Tommy Tuberville, won the SEC and the Sugar Bowl but was shut out of the BCS title game by the formula; finished No. 2 in both polls. After the BCS vacatur Auburn's athletic department publicly asserted a 2004 championship claim. Winsipedia keeps it as a school claim; no selector ever named Auburn champion.

Auburn’s 2004 schedule