The game was a true national championship game, with Tulane ranked No. 1 and USC No. 2 in the preliminary ballot of the Erskine poll of 250 sportswriters.[1] It was decided that their matchup in the Rose Bowl would determine the result.[1] The Albert Russel Erskine Trophy was presented to victorious USC on the field following the game.[4] The Dickinson System's Knute Rockne Memorial Trophy also went to the winner of the game.[5][6]
Background
Tulane won all eleven games of the regular season, shutting their opponents out seven times while allowing just 35 total points on the season to win the Southern Conference for the third straight year. Captain for the team was Jerry Dalrymple, the only unanimous All-American in the country that year.
USC started their season with a loss to Saint Mary's in Los Angeles. However, they won the next nine games to prevail as champions of the Pacific Coast Conference for the fourth time in five seasons, having six shutouts (notably scoring 69 on Montana and 60 on Georgia).
Game summary
To protect his kidney injury, Tulane captain Jerry Dalrymple wore a special pad during the game. It was reported that USC captain Stan Williamson told the referee to allow Dalrymple as much time as he needed to adjust the pad during a timeout in the name of sportsmanship.
Scoring summary
Second quarter
USC – Ray Sparling, 5-yard run (Baker kick good) 9:34 7-0 USC
^"Trojans Get Erskine 1931 Grid Award". Los Angeles Times. January 2, 1932. Retrieved May 17, 2022. Southern California's 21–12 victory over Tulane brought the Trojans the Albert Russell Erskine football trophy and the national grid championship for 1931. Presentation of the trophy was made in front of the Trojan rooting section following the game by William R. Moorehouse, member of the Erskine award board. The Erskine award brought a Studebaker President eight sedan to Coach Howard Jones, an engraved cup to the University of Southern California and a scroll signifying the national championship to the Trojan team.
