From TributeToTroy

The “Thundering Herd,” under Hall of Fame coach Howard Jones, galloped to the Trojans’ first national championship in 1928. A swarming defense, led by tackle Jesse Hibbs and end Garrett Arbelbide, gave up only 59 points all season, while an offensive backfield of Harry Edelson, Russ Saunders, Don Williams and Marshall Duffield rolled over, under, and through their opponents.

USC finished the season with nine wins and no losses, with the only blemish being a 0-0 tie with Cal as the Golden Bears continued to be a nemesis for Troy in the 1920s.

The Trojans beat Glenn “Pop” Warner’s Stanford Indians, 10-0, forcing five fumbles in the process. Warner had never lost to Jones and he considered his 1928 team to be his best. But USC used a special strategy called the “quick mix” to disrupt Stanford’s offense and help offset the Indians’ 10-pound-per-man weight advantage. The strategy worked in what was a landmark game for the Trojans, who established themselves as the preeminent football power on the West Coast. Warner never beat Jones again.

The 1928 season also saw USC beat Notre Dame and Knute Rockne for the first time, 27-14. Williams passed for 111 yards and two touchdowns and rushed for 93 more as the Trojans clinched the national title.