In 1962 the USC Trojans football team closed out a perfect season by beating Notre Dame 25-0 at home on Dec. 1 to finish with a 10-0 record. The final Associated Press (AP) poll which determined the unofficial national championship was released on December 3. USC finished first followed by Wisconsin Mississippi Texas and Alabama. The NCAA Football Guide recognized the University of Southern California as the 1962 champion as No. 1 in both the AP poll and the UPI poll. In the Rose Bowl on New Years Day legendary coach John McKay led USC to a 42-37 victory over second-ranked Wisconsin. This is the 1962 National Championship Trophy that was awarded to USC from that most memorable season. The mostly wooden trophy which stands 32 high includes a full-size brass football resting on the very top. Its three-tiered base measures 13 wide by 13 deep and includes four gold-plated celebratory 10 figures at each corner. The front of the trophy includes a large 14 panel that boasts the names of all 54 team members that season from Hal Arnest all the way to Bob Zirbel. Other notable names on the trophy include halfback Willie F. Brown quarterback Peter Beathard fullback Ron Heller tight end Hal Bedsole and two-way tackle Marv Marinovich.

This trophy was formerly stored inside a large closet on the USC campus. During a visit to USC in the early '90s Newport Sports Museum owner John Hamilton was granted access to the closet by USC Athletic Director Mike Garrett. In his pursuit for items he might like to display at his newly opened museum Hamilton '64 graduate of USC selected this trophy because he said: "I knew practically everybody on that roster."

Includes Letter of Provenance from the Newport Sports Museum.