ESPN’s “best by jersey number” list crowns USC’s Sam Cunningham as the greatest No. 39 in college football history

ESPN’s college football writers have selected Sam Cunningham as the greatest player in the sport to wear No. 39. The choice highlights a USC running back who, beyond his statistical output, became part of a broader turning point in college football’s integration story, and who later carried that legacy into the pro ranks.

In ESPN’s jersey-number framework, Cunningham’s USC career is anchored by 1,579 rushing yards and 23 touchdowns, including 13 rushing scores in 1972. ESPN also tied the “Bam” nickname to his bruising running style, particularly around the goal line, and noted that the Trojans went 24-8-2 during the three seasons in which he earned the moniker.

ESPN’s list points to how Cunningham’s final USC season culminated in a national championship moment. It reports that in the Rose Bowl, he scored four touchdowns, closing out USC’s title year. ESPN also identified him as the 11th overall pick in the 1973 NFL Draft by the New England Patriots, connecting the college accomplishment to a high-profile transition to the pros.

One of ESPN’s key explanations for Cunningham’s impact extends past the scoreboard. ESPN reported that in 1970, an integrated USC team faced an all-white Alabama squad, and that Alabama was dominated 42-21 by Cunningham and USC. ESPN further linked the result to Bear Bryant’s decision to integrate Alabama the following year, framing the game as a catalyst in the sport’s changing landscape.

Cunningham’s post-playing recognition, as described by ESPN, also reinforces his standing in the broader historical record. ESPN reported that he was inducted into the College Football Hall of Fame in 2010, and that he later became a member of both the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame and the USC Athletics Hall of Fame. ESPN also reported that Cunningham passed away in 2021 at age 71.

For USC and college football fans, the selection is less about a jersey trivia exercise than about where legacy can be measured across eras. The “best by number” format invites direct comparisons, but the Cunningham pick also underscores how certain players become symbolic, whether for dominant production or for meaning that reached beyond the field.

What to watch next is how ESPN’s series continues to connect modern audiences to defining eras of the game. The No. 39 spotlight also serves as a reminder that jersey numbers can carry different weights depending on the school’s history, the coach’s era, and the wider social context in which a player left his mark.