USC claims perfect record vs. Texas despite 2006 Rose Bowl defeat

Remember the 2006 Rose Bowl? You know, the thrilling 41-38 Texas victory over USC that stands as one of the most memorable college football games ever?

The Trojans are saying it never happened, technically, and are now ready to say why.

Prior to Saturday's game against the Longhorns, much speculation has been made about why USC lists its all-time record against Texas as a perfect 4-0. Trojans sports information director Tim Tessalone, however, has finally shed some light on the situation, according to Kyle Bonagura of ESPN.

Tessalone is insisting that NCAA director of statistics Jim Wright instructed the team to exclude the loss.

"I have documentation in a letter sent in July 2010 to Wright noting all the changes he instructed us to make, including that losses had to be vacated," Tessalone said. "The letter also states that he had reviewed all our revisions and approved them."

According to Bonagura, citing Jeff Williams, the associate director of media coordination and statistics for the NCAA, the official Trojans record for the 2005 season is listed as 0-0. This comes despite an official announcement from the NCAA in 2010 that said USC's penalty for "agent and amateurism violations" would result in "vacation of regular and postseason wins."

So, technically, the Trojans remain perfect against the Longhorns. For now.

Saturday's game will be the first time the two programs have met since that infamous championship game, and they will play in front of a reported sellout crowd of 92,348 at Los Angeles Coliseum.