Coach Bryant's teams had dominated College football from 1959 to late 1960, but the last three seasons had seen the Tide lose 13 games, and folks in Tuscaloosa were wondering if the Bear magic had lost its luster. Some are even calling for the great coaches dismissal. Bryant needed to regain his reputation and the respect of the boosters, and this contest, the backend of a home-and-home with USC in 1971, is widely regarded as the beginning of the revival of Bryant’s career. A year prior 'Bama Southern Cal arrived and embarrassed the Tide, leading Bryant and the Alabama board to rethink their stance on playing black players, a gridiron racial milestone moment in the Deep South. The '71 game also brought a fairly new concept and offensive scheme into living rooms nationwide.

Bryant had secretly implemented a new offensive scheme called the Wishbone, a triple-option attack that relied on speed and deception. USC was completely caught off guard by the new offense, and Alabama took an early 17-10 lead.

In the second half, both defenses stiffened, and neither team was able to score. Alabama held on to win the game 17-10, stunning the college football world. The victory was a major upset and a turning point for Alabama football. The Wishbone offense would become a staple of Alabama's offense for the next several years, and the Crimson Tide would go on to win five national championships in the 1970s.

The 1971 Alabama-USC game is remembered as one of the greatest upsets in college football history. It showcased Bear Bryant's brilliance and the Alabama Crimson Tide's resilience.