Head coach · USC · belt games 1969–1973

John McKay

581Days with the belt

2Reigns started

8–2–2Defending it

2–1Challenging for it

Coached USC (1968–1973) in seasons with a belt game. 15 belt games in all: 12 with the belt in hand, 3 trying to take it.

John McKay was on a sideline for 15 belt games between 1969 and 1973, at USC. He took the belt twice and held it for 581 days across two reigns, the 20th-most of any head coach in the belt’s history.

The first came on January 1, 1970, USC 10–3 over Michigan. The most lopsided was 42–17 over Ohio State in 1973.

His longest reign ran 299 days with USC, beginning January 1, 1973, and was defended six times along the way.

Across his career he coached eight successful defenses, and the belt changed hands under him twice, last when Notre Dame won 23–14 on October 27, 1973.

He also coached one game with the belt on the other sideline and came away without it. The closest was 27–16 to Ohio State on January 1, 1969.

Reigns

Started under this coach

USC · January 1, 1973 – October 27, 1973299 days · 6 def.USC · January 1, 1970 – October 10, 1970282 days · 4 def.

Every belt game

15 games, newest first

October 27, 1973 · USC at Notre Dame 14–23 as holderlost the belt October 20, 1973 · USC vs. Oregon 31–10 as holderdefended October 13, 1973 · USC vs. Washington State 46–35 as holderdefended October 6, 1973 · USC at Oregon State 21–7 as holderdefended September 29, 1973 · USC at Oklahoma 7–7 as holdertie, holder kept it September 22, 1973 · USC at Georgia Tech 23–6 as holderdefended September 15, 1973 · USC vs. Arkansas 17–0 as holderdefended January 1, 1973 · USC vs. Ohio State 42–17 as challengertook the belt October 10, 1970 · USC at Stanford 14–24 as holderlost the belt October 3, 1970 · USC vs. Oregon State 45–13 as holderdefended September 26, 1970 · USC at Iowa 48–0 as holderdefended September 19, 1970 · USC at Nebraska 21–21 as holdertie, holder kept it September 12, 1970 · USC at Alabama 42–21 as holderdefended January 1, 1970 · USC vs. Michigan 10–3 as challengertook the belt January 1, 1969 · USC vs. Ohio State 16–27 as challengerlost

Head coaches from the College Football Data API’s coaching records, matched by team and season. A reign counts for the coach in charge the season it began; a mid-season change isn’t split.