USC was founded in 1880, making it California's oldest private research university.† It's also one of the most selective, matriculating only 2,700 students of the more than 34,000 who applied in 2006. But the reason most people have heard of USC " at least lately " is their incomparable athletics program. USC men's teams have combined for 86 NCAA championships -- the best in the nation. In addition, USC has 347 Individual NCAA Championships " the best in the nation. The men's 296 Individual Championships are not only the best in the nation, but a whopping 50 ahead of the second place Michigan.And that brings us to FOOTBALL.The USC Football team has been voted National Champions 11 times. A December 1998 SPORT magazine ranking listed USC as the No. 4 all-time college football program of the 20th century. Since 1959, the Trojans have won the conference championship 17 times and tied for the title on 6 other occasions. USC has the nation's fourth best bowl winning percentage (.643) and its 30 Rose Bowl appearances is an all-time best. USC players have been named first team All-American 129 times, with 44 consensus selections and 22 unanimous choices.USC is also known for its Heisman Trophy winners. USC and Notre Dame are tied for the most Heisman winners at 7. But three of the last four Heisman winners have been Trojans, Matt Leinart, and Carson Palmer. (O.J. Simpson won the coveted prize in 1968) Known just as well as for their infamous rivalries as they are for their game, USC has notorious matches with cross-town rival UCLA, as well as Notre Dame. The Notre Dame rivalry is considered the greatest intersectional rivalry of all college athletics. This year, the Trojans scheduled Notre Dame, Arkansas and Nebraska in the nonconference and beat them all. Right now, USC is on an express train to Glendale, Arizona to face Ohio State.

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