The Monday After: USC’s flaws are exposed in another loss to Utah and the Trojans troubles are just beginning

We have noticed the long term of the USC Trojans, and it’s not encouraging.

The Trojans misplaced to Utah, as they are wont to do, on Saturday night time. Utah’s 34-32 victory over the Trojans in the Coliseum was once its fourth directly win in the collection and the 3rd directly since Lincoln Riley assumed keep an eye on of Troy. A Utah group that had struggled offensively all season lengthy abruptly discovered its offense Saturday night time.

The Utes hadn’t rushed for greater than 231 yards in a recreation all season, and that was once in opposition to Weber State. Saturday, they rushed for 247. Of path, bearing in mind the group has been with out its beginning QB, Cam Rising, all season lengthy, working the ball were its energy. That’s why it hadn’t thrown for greater than 193 yards in a recreation (once more, Weber State) earlier than throwing for 235 in opposition to the Trojans. Starting sturdy protection, Sione Vaki changed into an offensive powerhouse in opposition to the Trojans protection, catching 5 passes for 149 yards (no different Ute had greater than 70 yards receiving in any recreation earlier than Saturday night time) and rushed for 68 yards, too. Pig farmer Bryson Barnes outplayed Heisman winner Caleb Williams throw for throw, completing with 235 yards passing and 3 touchdowns whilst speeding for 57 and another rating.

It was once the roughly recreation that left me assured Utah can be just positive and proceed being Utah when it leaves for the Big 12 subsequent yr. But USC? USC’s in an international of hassle, and I’m no longer positive any one round the program realizes it but.

There’s been a way that once the 4 Pac-12 colleges leaving for the Big Ten input the convention, they’re going to shake issues up and deliver extra firepower to a league that lacks some. It’s a idea gaining fortify from extra folks as the Big Ten’s West Division continues having the worst season of its life.

Oregon, Washington and UCLA may liven issues up just a little, however USC? USC may have much more Utah video games in the Big Ten than you suppose.

Nobody will have to be shocked that the Trojans misplaced to the Utes on Saturday, as a result of that is what has came about to this group beneath Lincoln Riley. The identical factor came about when the Trojans went to South Bend. Any time USC faces a group in a position to punching it in the mouth, it wilts. There are six defenses in the Pac-12 permitting fewer than 350 yards in line with recreation, and the Trojans have struggled with the 3 they have performed, shedding to Utah and suffering to get through Arizona (43-41) and Arizona State (USC received 42-28, however it was once a one-score recreation maximum of the 2d part). Notre Dame, considered one of the best possible defenses in the nation, ruled USC.

There’s a lot of consideration paid to USC’s protection, however we do not pay just about as a lot consideration to USC’s offensive line and the way it struggles in opposition to bodily entrance sevens up to the protection struggles to forestall any one.

The Big Ten is not anything however the roughly groups Lincoln Riley’s USC struggles to beat. It’s a convention filled with Utahs and Notre Dames that can be very happy to drag the Trojans into the dust and pressure them to win wrestling suits they have proven no talent to win beneath Riley.

The Trojans will want to exchange who they are to are compatible into the Big Ten, no longer the opposite direction round, and, to this level, Lincoln Riley has proven no such need to exchange anything else. If you deliver up the protection, he will inform you there is not any downside with it or that it is shut. They’ll then move out and allowed 35 issues or extra to their subsequent opponent and proceed on as though not anything is flawed as a result of they scored 42.

USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch spent a season as Ohio State’s co-defensive coordinator in 2018. The Buckeyes allowed 403.4 yards and 25.5 issues in line with recreation that season. Outside the 25.8 issues allowed in line with recreation right through the 2002 COVID season, the ones are the worst defensive outputs through the Buckeyes in both class for no less than the closing decade and most likely longer.

If that seems like an inexpensive shot at Grinch, I’m sorry, but when his protection at Ohio State — considered one of two methods that experience ruled the Big Ten all over historical past — could not be successful in the league, what is his protection going to do with a roster that allowed 5.3 yards in line with play in opposition to Stanford?

We have noticed the long term of USC, and it’s 7-5.

Common Sense Plea of the Week

There had been a large number of debatable calls in college football this weekend, just like there are debatable calls each and every weekend. Whether it is unhealthy spots, hazy honest catch indicators, questionable concentrated on calls, or go interference flags being picked up, there are coaches and lovers left indignant with how their video games had been officiated each and every weekend.

And I do not blame them. Hell, I’m continuously proper there with them. Where I range from many, although, is I do not blame the officers, both. They have a troublesome activity, and annually, they are put in an much more not possible scenario.

The recreation is tricky sufficient to officiate as a result of we are asking officers to look forward to 1000 various things as 22 younger males between 185 and 350 kilos run round at the velocity of sunshine throughout them. Of path they’re going to omit issues and proceed to omit extra as we modify the laws each and every season.

No answer fixes the entirety, however there is a answer that might beef up it. How about as an alternative of constructing extra laws, we create fewer? What if we make the recreation more straightforward to officiate? What if, as an alternative of going again to evaluation the entirety routinely, we let the calls made on the box stand and permit coaches the probability to problem one or two calls in line with recreation?

What if we forestall ejecting gamers for concentrated on after they obviously were not making an attempt to harm any one and just were given stuck in an not possible scenario taking part in a violent recreation?

Every yr, we put in new laws to give a boost to participant protection and assist officers “get it right,” but gamers nonetheless get harm annually, and officers nonetheless get it flawed.

We’re placing some distance an excessive amount of on their plate. If we lighten their load and settle for that, regardless of how arduous we attempt or natural our intentions, calls can be overlooked the identical method throws and tackles are, we’re going to all revel in this recreation much more.

Deja Vu of the Week

While Ohio State’s 20-12 win over Penn State Saturday appeared so much other than maximum of the earlier conferences between the two, there was once surely a well-known sense of dread among Penn State lovers looking at the recreation.

Once once more the Nittany Lions were given off to a perfect get started to the season, simplest to lose to Ohio State. However, whilst a lot of folks will clown Penn State trainer James Franklin for another loss to a top-10 group, and for his feedback after the recreation about looking at two nationwide championship caliber groups and defenses, it does not exchange the reality he is proper.

I grew up looking at Big Ten soccer. Believe me once I inform you I’ve noticed a large number of unhealthy offensive soccer, each in the Big Ten, and round the nation. I’ve additionally noticed defenses dominate video games from get started to end, and that was once what came about between Ohio State and Penn State.

There are occasions when unhealthy offensive execution seems like excellent protection, and unhealthy protection makes one thing seem like excellent offense. Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, we noticed two defenses crush two offenses and make existence depressing for everyone concerned. That’s no longer to say there wasn’t deficient offensive execution on all sides, however the defenses have way more to do with it than they do in maximum different video games.

I don’t believe Penn State will beat Michigan (I don’t believe Ohio State will, both), however this newest loss does not exchange my opinion of the Nittany Lions total. They’re nonetheless considered one of the 10 best possible groups in the nation. All that came about on Saturday was once they misplaced to another considered one of the 10 best possible groups in the nation.

Big Man Touchdown of the Week

There’s throwing a landing to an offensive lineman, and then there is throwing a landing to an offensive lineman when your group is down 3 in the ultimate minute of the recreation. I assume there is some reduction in figuring out that, if it hadn’t labored, you must nonetheless kick the box purpose to tie the recreation, however I love Luke Fickell and Wisconsin’s braveness to do one thing no person noticed coming in a place like this.

Look at the comfortable palms of Nolan Rucci!

Random Factoid of the Week

Oregon quarterback Bo Nix made the 54th get started of his faculty occupation in Oregon’s 38-24 win over Washington State, marking the maximum ever begins through a faculty QB. That’s a outstanding stat, however there is an perspective to it I discovered in particular a laugh.

Bo Nix’s first get started got here as a member of the Auburn Tigers in opposition to the Oregon Ducks to get started the 2019 season. Oregon’s QB that day was once Justin Herbert. On Sunday, Herbert made the fifty fifth get started of his NFL occupation.

While I’ll by no means appearance again on the 2020 COVID season as a great time for any one, no less than it led to quirky factoids like this, so some excellent got here out of it.

Reminder to Keep Your Head on a Swivel of the Week

Wake up, No. 8.

Interception of the Week

Just your conventional, one-armed, no-look, pin the ball in opposition to your frame as you will have your different arm draped round the again of the receiver interception from Boston College’s Amari Jackson. It’s becoming that there is not any nice digital camera perspective of Jackson’s interception. We get just as excellent a view of it as he did.

The Eagles, who started the season 1-3, beat Georgia Tech 38-23 and have now received 3 directly. With video games left in opposition to UConn, Syracuse, Virginia Tech and Pitt, a bowl recreation abruptly seems to be inside succeed in.

The thumb has it: Arkansas fired offensive coordinator Dan Enos following a dull 7-3 house loss to Mississippi State. Honestly, I’m slightly shocked Enos was once the lone casualty. With the Hogs heading into their bye week at 2-6 total and 0-5 in the SEC, I believed there was once an excellent probability Sam Pittman can be the one getting his strolling papers.

Untackleable QB of the Week

Last week it was once Arkansas’ Ok.J. Jefferson that Alabama defenders could not deliver down. This week it was once Tennessee’s Joe Milton working Tide defenders over.

Unfortunately for Milton, like Jefferson closing week, his group received the fight, however misplaced the struggle.

Future Top-Five Pick of the Week

I used to be lamenting with a pal this week how there is not an elite go speeding prospect in the 2024 NFL Draft magnificence, however fortunately, there is one in the 2026 magnificence I will fawn over for the following few years. Dearest reader, for those who are no longer but acquainted with Miami’s Reuben Bain, I request you train your self.

The four-star member of Miami’s 2023 recruiting magnificence is taking part in like any individual who deserved a 5th famous person, and almost certainly a 6th. After a gradual get started to the season, Bain leads the Canes with 4.5 sacks, with 3.5 coming the closing 3 weeks, together with two in Miami’s 28-20 win over Clemson Saturday. He already performs with the methodology of any individual a lot older and wiser, and is at 110% on each and every snap. Bain can be the bane of life for plenty of an ACC QB the following few years.

Whoopsy Daisy Rate Leaderboard of the Week

Didn’t come with an replace closing week, however we are again this week. For the ignorant, Whoopsy Daisy Rate measures the quantity of interceptions and fumbles through a QB divided through snaps performed. Whether you need a QB on the low or prime finish is an issue of private desire. I would possibly not kink disgrace.

College Football Playoff Projection of the Week

1. Georgia
2. Michigan
3. Florida State
4. Ohio State

Until the subsequent Monday After!