Good afternoon Trojan Fans!
Just like that, 3 games and over 50% of the scheduled season is in the books. Somehow, we’ve managed to emerge without a loss in these contests. Let’s be clear about one thing though, it certainly has not been smooth sailing.
Hampered by Covid issues, the Trojan’s week four tilt against Colorado was scratched. Just before that USC cruised through a win in Salt Lake City over the Utes. While we played a nice game, it’s hard to get too excited about beating a team who hadn’t played a game yet at the time and hold an overall record of 0-2.
In week 2, USC traveled to Tucson for a nail biting 34-30 victory. While some individual performances were noteworthy, 110 penalty yards assessed against SC didn’t help the cause. Pair those flaws with a 38% (5-13) third down conversion rate, and you’ve got a very clear picture of this teams’ identity. By the way, the Wildcats are 0-3.
Rewind the tape further and you’ll see the chaotic mess that was USC’s first win of the year over the Sun Devils. A tipped ball touchdown, an onside kick, and a laser from Kedon Slovis to Drake London sealed the win for SC, all of which played out in the final three minutes. This happens to be the Sun Devils only game thus far, so they sit at 0-1.
So, what to make of it all? A 3-0 team that’s beaten a combined 0-4 schedule. A team whose taken 218 penalty yards and displayed a less than 40% 3rd down conversion rate. I think it tells the same old story. USC at its core is built on talent but that talent is veiled by a lack of discipline, inadequate game management, and poor execution. A generous #20 playoff ranking has kept USC, and the PAC-12, on the outskirts of the national conversation albeit just barely. I hope that we’ll learn a lot more about this team as the 1-1 Washington State Cougars come into the Coliseum for a Sunday matinee, but I fear we’ll just see more of the same.
Here is to hoping USC plays in dominant fashion, and there are some real moments to celebrate. If we get more of the lackluster confused product, fans and critics nationwide will begin calling for change – a storyline that has been seen in most seasons under Clay Helton. While we are far from passing any kind of eye test, I am hopeful the Trojans won’t just find a way, but rather will set the tone from the opening kickoff and show that they are a team who deserves respect, and can win on any given day.
FIGHT ON
The Late Game 
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