| Year: | 1998 |
| Team: | USC Trojans |
| Sport: | football |
| Conference: | Pacific-10 Conference |
| Short Conf: | Pac-10 |
| Record: | 8–5 |
| Conf Record: | 5–3 |
| Head Coach: | Paul Hackett |
| Hc Year: | 1st |
| Off Coach: | Hue Jackson |
| Oc Year: | 2nd |
| Def Coach: | Bill Young |
| Dc Year: | 1st |
| Captain: | Adam Abrams |
| Captain2: | Chris Claiborne |
| Captain3: | Billy Miller |
| Captain4: | Chad Morton |
| Bowl: | Sun Bowl |
| Bowl Result: | L 19–28 vs. TCU |
The 1998 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California (USC) in the 1998 NCAA Division I-A football season. In their first year under head coach Paul Hackett, the Trojans compiled an 8-5 record (5–3 against conference opponents), finished in a tie for third place in the Pacific-10 Conference (Pac-10), and outscored their opponents by a combined total of 346 to 241.[1]
This was Hackett's only winning season and bowl appearance with the team. It was also the Trojans' 75th anniversary playing at the Coliseum.
After three wins, including an opener against Purdue in the Pigskin Classic, USC was ranked as high as 18 in the AP Poll, but lost two of its next three and dropped out of the rankings permanently.
During halftime of the game against UCLA, 91-year-old USC "Super Fan" Giles Pellerin died while watching his 797th consecutive USC football game.[2]
Quarterback Carson Palmer led the team in passing, completing 130 of 235 passes for 1,755 yards with seven touchdowns and six interceptions. Chad Morton led the team in rushing with 199 carries for 985 yards and six touchdowns. R. Jay Soward led the team in receiving yards with 44 catches for 679 yards and six touchdowns; Billy Miller also had 49 catches for 623 yards and six touchdowns.[3]
| 1998 USC Trojans coaching staff | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Name | Position | Year at USC | Alma mater (year) | |
| Paul Hackett | Head coach | 1st | UC Davis (1969) | |
| Steve Greatwood | Offensive line | 1st | Oregon (1981) | |
| Hue Jackson | Offensive coordinator/running backs | 2nd | Pacific (1987) | |
| Ken O'Brien | Quarterbacks | 1st | UC Davis (1983) | |
| Ed Orgeron | Defensive line | 1st | Northwestern State (1984) | |
| Larry Petroff | Tight ends/recruiting coordinator | 1st | Ashland College (1973) | |
| Shawn Slocum | Linebackers | 1st | Texas A&M (1987) | |
| Dennis Thurman | Secondary | 6th | USC (1978) | |
| Mike Wilson | Wide receivers | 2nd | Washington State (1981) | |
| Bill Young | Defensive coordinator | 1st | Oklahoma State (1967) | |
See also: Pigskin Classic.
See also: 1998 Purdue Boilermakers football team.
See also: 1998 San Diego State Aztecs football team.
See also: 1998 Oregon State Beavers football team.
See also: 1998 Florida State Seminoles football team.
See also: 1998 Arizona State Sun Devils football team.
See also: 1998 California Golden Bears football team.
See also: 1998 Washington State Cougars football team.
See also: 1998 Oregon Ducks football team.
See also: 1998 Washington Huskies football team.
See also: Stanford–USC football rivalry.
See also: 1998 Stanford Cardinal football team.
See also: Victory Bell (UCLA–USC).
See also: 1998 UCLA Bruins football team.
See also: Notre Dame–USC football rivalry.
See also: 1998 Notre Dame Fighting Irish football team.
See also: 1998 Sun Bowl.
See also: 1998 TCU Horned Frogs football team.