New UCLA coach Bob Chesney said a couple things yesterday that made him seem like the anti-Riley. ‘We will be a yes program, where the majority of the time, if someone comes to us and says, ‘Can you help us with this?’ My answer will be yes, and then I’ll figure out how to do it and how to manage it after that. “It’s important … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Do We Have New Rivalry Of Polar Opposites?

You mean to tell me that allowing 1,300 yards in offense to Illinois, Notre Dame and Oregon did not get D’Anton Lynn on this list for the Broyles Award, which goes to the nation’s top assistant coach. T-shirt of the day Continue reading USC Notes: Football Staff Misses Cut

Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua held a press conference and this quote is getting the most attention: “We were shocked, mystified what happened Sunday. We had one of the most dominate 10-game runs in the history of college football.” Here are the games, which include three teams who went 2-10. Continue reading USC Tuesday Buzz: One Of The Most Dominant 10-Game Runs In College Football

Let’s wrap up a weekend to forget: Continue reading USC’s Weekend To Forget

If you play in the Alamo Bowl, can you possibly define this as a “really good season” like Lincoln Riley and his chorus of fan boys have done? Since when is the Alamo Bowl a sign of success for a program with USC’s history and tradition? USC lost to two good teams (Notre Dame, Oregon) and was upset by a team it was expected to … Continue reading USC Monday Buzz: The Alamo Bowl Is Not A Sign Of Success

Notre Dame will not play in a bowl game after failing to make the College Football Playoff. I’ve admired Irish coach Marcus Freeman but this is a weak move and sends a bad message. Is this the future? Teams that don’t make the College Football Playoff will just skip the bowls? That’s not great for the bowl system. By the way, Ross Dellenger of Yahoo … Continue reading Notre Dame Decides To Skip Bowl Game

Who were these experts predicting USC would play BYU in the Alamo Bowl? Instead, USC gets the team that finished tied for seventh in the Big 12. And it’s a rematch of the 1998 Sun Bowl, a game I’m still trying to forget. This feels like a game that a lot of people might skip, including the players. Is Ja’Kobi Lane playing? I need to … Continue reading USC v. TCU In Underwhelming Alamo Bowl

Some USC fans really need to relax and stop looking for a savior. Four players entered the transfer portal on Friday: Linebacker linebacker Matai Tagoa’i; defensive lineman Carlon Jones; offensive lineman Micah Banuelos and linebacker Anthony Beavers. I didn’t make a big deal when these players came to USC and I won’t make a big deal when they leave. Of the group, Tagoa’i flashed at … Continue reading Saturday Buzz: Some Perspective On Player Departures

Wide receiver Chris Henry said he will honor his commitment to Ohio State. If Henry had signed with Oregon, the Ducks would have the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class. That would have sent some people into orbit. But the bigger and more interesting point is that two West Coast schools have the nation’s best recruiting classes. Luke Wafle, defensive end: Frankly, I’m tired of highly … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

Oregon is now the favorite to land wide receiver Chris Henry, who has been committed to Ohio State. USC is believed to be out. First-team coach selection: WR Makai Lemon, S Bishop Fitzgerald Second-team coach selection: TE Lake McRee Third-team coach selection: QB Jayden Maiava, K Ryon Sayeri Continue reading USC Lands Three First-Team Players On Big Ten Team

I’m told the delay in tight end Mark Bowman signing with USC was over NIL wording. He was the last and 35th recruit to sign with the Trojans. How many will stay at USC in the next 2-3 years? USC signed six wide receivers. How many will eventually transfer? It’s going to be interesting to see how you blend 35 recruits (plus transfers) into the … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Signing Day A Success, Now Who Transfers?

It’s Signing Day and USC has the No. 1-recruiting class. Who is flipping? Wide receiver Kayden Dixon-Wyatt of Mater Dei has flipped from Ohio State to USC. Chris Henry, also of Mater Dei, was suppoed to sign with Ohio State but is holding off because wide receivers coach Brian Hartline was hired by South Florida. “I have not signed yet. Still trying to weigh my … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Signing Day Is Here!

USC has the nation’s No. 1-ranked recruiting class but Lincoln Riley is bypassing the traditional Signing Day press conference that would celebrate the accomplishment. I bet Chad “Charmin” Bowden would love to hold a press conference to highlight the class. But Riley cannot be bothered. He must be feeling good about his 9-3 record. Continue reading Lincoln Riley Won’t Comment On Signing Day

Here’s a new USC tradition that seems to happen every year now at the last home game of the year. Once again, former players feel like they have been treated like cattle at the Coliseum. “You could not make former players feel more unwelcome and devalued,” a former player told me. Former players were told they could participate in the Senior Salute but instead of … Continue reading USC Notes: Here’s A New/Unwanted Tradition

QUARTERBACK Jayden Maiava was pretty much the offense, or whatever you would call it, until UCLA collapsed in the fourth quarter. It wasn’t one of his best games but it didn’t need to be. Grade: B- RUNNING BACK The running game was fairly atrocious until King Miller’s 41-yard TD run. If USC wasn’t playing UCLA, it might have mattered. Grade: C WIDE RECEIVER Can Makai … Continue reading USC-UCLA Report Card

I will discuss the play of Jayden Maiava this season later in the week but it appears some USC fans want Maiava to turn pro because of speculation Husan Longstreet will transfer if he doesn’t start next season. This is the world we live in apparently. Maiava’s been inconsistent in some key games but I don’t know if I toss aside someone with 27 career … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Is QB Facing Changing Of The Guard?

Did you catch this comment from Lincoln Riley after the game last night? “Nine wins with the schedule we play is a really good year. It was close to being a great, great year.” If he thinks the schedule was tough, wait till he sees next year’s schedule. And memo to Riley, nine wins is never a “really good year” at USC. Imagine when he … Continue reading Lincoln Riley Redefines Success At USC

I’ve been a lone voice when it comes to pointing out the surprise of even former players when it came to the way Lincoln Riley treated the USC-UCLA rivalry, making it seem like just another game. Think back to two years ago when USC played listlessly for four quarters in a 38-20 loss to UCLA. Or last year, when USC messed around before squeaking out … Continue reading My USC-UCLA Analysis: A Pattern Of Sleepwalking

It’s Crosstown Rivalry day. I’m going to post most of my comments on twitter. Will this be a close game? Continue reading USC-UCLA Live Blog

With the Crosstown Rivalry tomorrow, let’s hail the king, George Tirebiter. Here is George when he bit Oski in 1947. Here is George upset at Bill the Goat of Navy in 1949. It’s not actually Bill the Goat but a substitute that was brought in from a Naval station in Southern California. And here is George at a USC-UCLA rally in 1947. George in glorious … Continue reading A Look At The Real King Of USC

It’s definitely not as fun when the USC-UCLA game is Thanksgiving week. The rally got moved to Monday. Students go home for the holiday. UCLA’s Daily Bruin even declined to play the Blood Bowl against the Daily Trojan this week because of the holiday. Is this going to be the future if Jen Cohen and Lincoln Riley cancel or move the Notre Dame game? Gone … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

Oregon coach Dan Lanning told John Canzano that he didn’t know how unprofessional the USC press release was last week until people from CBS Sports pointed it out. That’s pretty bad when the employees at CBS — who probably swiftly go through the press release for stats and game notes — notice it’s so bad that they have to mention it to the opposing coach. … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Dan Lanning Got Assist From CBS On Pre-Game Motivation

I didn’t hold back yesterday on my appearance with Petros and Don MacLean when it came to Lincoln Riley and whether three losses is a successful season. You can listen here. The interview starts around the 17:45 mark. “I’ve never heard of a three-loss season being called a success at USC,” I said. “Either you’re in the College Football Playoff on a regular basis or … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: No Holding Back On Holding Program Hostage

I will be on with Petros Papadakis and Don MacLean around 4:30 p.m. on 570-AM. I mentioned that Lincoln Riley has never gone to the USC football rally held on campus the week of the UCLA game, including last night. Last year, a prominent USC football player who you would all recognize told me he was around the program the week of the Crosstown Rivalry … Continue reading Someone Tell You Know Who It’s Crosstown Rivalry Week

It’s Crosstown Rivalry week, so a recent tradition was upheld Monday night: Lincoln Riley skipped the big rally on campus just like he always has since becoming head coach. Coaches like John McKay, John Robinson and Pete Carroll attended the rally but not the legend from Muleshoe, Texas. He doesn’t want to deal with the public, including students. Now the report card: QUARTERBACK Jayden Maiava … Continue reading Morning Buzz: USC-Oregon Report Card

The Crosstown Rivalry is a bit off this week because of Thanksgiving. The traditional Thursday night rally will be tonight and won’t include the usual concert. How many players will bother to show up? Will Lincoln Riley make an appearance? He never has during his tenure at USC. Continue reading It’s A Weird Week For Crosstown Rivalry

What has happened to a segment of USC fans? They are softer than the defense looked against Illinois. Right on schedule, they are saying a three-loss season shows progress and is an acceptable rate of return in Year 4 of the Riley Era. I guess I was raised in a different era because three losses was never considered “good enough” for USC. I used to … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: What Is A Good Season?

There is no shame in losing at Autzen Stadium, especially when you are as much as a 10.5-point underdog. So why was Saturday’s loss to Oregon sickening to watch? Because of the lack of preparedness and leadership that USC arrived in Eugene with for the biggest game in years. Let’s look at some miscues: How do you hit a punt returner who signaled for a … Continue reading My Analysis Of What Happened At USC-Oregon Game

Did I expect USC to beat Oregon at Autzen Stadium? Of course not. Lincoln Riley is now 6-13 against ranked teams at USC. But here is what I did not expect: USC to average 1.9 yards per rush. Ja’Kobi Lane to chase an Oregon player to a wall behind the Oregon sideline for an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Desman Stephens to hurdle the line on a … Continue reading A Quick Thought On USC-Oregon

Defense. Running the ball. Special teams. USC goes 0 for 3 against the good teams. The go-to play has been to just chuck it deep and hope for a penalty or great catch College Football Playoff bid on line and USC lets Oregon eat up six minutes and go 79 yards for a touchdown. Yards rushing: Oregon 137, USC 42. Oregon finds the USC weak … Continue reading USC-Oregon Live Blog

I spent enough time around Lane Kiffin to know he is being as calculated as possible before deciding his future. He knows what he is going to do but is just waiting for the right time to announce it . . . and he loves the attention. Kiffin’s got some grand theory inside his head and he’ll reveal it at his convenience. There are reports … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

It takes no insight to gather that USC-Oregon is a huge game. But a segment of USC followers seem to be laying the groundwork for saying if the Trojans lose, the season is still a success. I’m not sure I’ve come across this defeatist mentality before. USC fans always believed they could win every game, whether they should or not. They didn’t enter a game … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Excuses Already Before The Game?

USC can earn a signature win Saturday that will be bigger/better than anything the past four seasons. It’s silly how people this week have made beating two teams that are 0-42 (Nebraska, Iowa) against ranked teams as sign program is back Continue reading A Real Sign If USC Is Back

Lincoln Riley has been named a semifinalist for the George Munger Coach of the Year Award. That’s what happens when you are 0-6 at AP Top 25 teams since being hired at USC. Munger was the head coach at Penn from 1938-53. “I think this USC team is different. SC’s gonna win,” Cross said. At least he is a consistent contrarian. Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Lincoln Riley Makes Cut For Award

Looks like James Franklin was a bigger draw at Penn State than Brian Kelly at LSU or Billy Napier at Florida based on this list of decommitments since they were all fired: Continue reading USC Notes: Quite A Recruiting Stat

Before I start the report card, did you Lincoln Riley’s comments last night that the media who are hyping the Oregon game also thought USC was “going to suck” this season but he never paid attention to them. If Riley never paid attention to them, how did he know they said USC would suck? F-r-a-u-d. QUARTERBACK Jayden Maiava bounced back from his dreadful performance against … Continue reading Morning Buzz: USC-Iowa Report Card

Did you know former USC defensive end Romello Height plays at Texas Tech? And he’s been one of the best transfers in the country? Height’s generated eight adjusted sacks, put up a 26.9 percent pressure rate and forced two fumbles. He would be better known if it wasn’t for the fact Texas Tech has high-profile defensive transfer David Bailey and Jacob Rodriguez,, who played a … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: An Under The Radar High Impact Player

Before I discuss the game, did you know Iowa fans are livid over the officiating on Saturday? They have a strong case on at least two face mask penalties that were not called, including one the play before an interception. You can watch them here and here. This play looked out of bounds on TV but this angle is a little different. There was also … Continue reading Sunday Buzz: My View Of USC Victory Iowa

It’s over and USC dodges a trap game before facing Oregon in the big one on Saturday. And the Trojans take the lead, 26-21, a 16-0 run in the second half. USC cuts lead to 21-19. Did you know it is boiling at the Coliseum? Iowa is carving up USC’s defense. USC can’t defend an offense that can run and pass. The offense finally wakes … Continue reading USC-Iowa Live Blog

USC athletic director Jen Cohen addressed her positions on the Big Ten private equity deal and the future of the Notre Dame series. It’s interesting this was released on a Friday while most fans our focused on tomorrow’s game with Iowa. Here is her tortured response on Notre Dame, where she tries to have it both ways and obviously doesn’t want to become the focal … Continue reading Jen Cohen Addresses Notre Dame Series And Private Equity Deal

USC has announced the guidelines to be eligible for the Hall of Fame next year. 1. Have earned one or more varsity letters in a sport at USC 2. Have gained national distinction through exceptional athletic performance — for example, earning First Team All-America honors, winning an individual national championship, receiving a national award, achieving All-Conference recognition or holding USC and/or NCAA records, or… 3. Have achieved notable … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

I posted this yesterday but here’s a couple things that are outrageous: USC does not list Notre Dame among its home opponents. Does USC intend to play only four home games? Are season tickets going to be cheaper? Continue reading Notre Dame Missing In Ad

Every story seems to have a USC connection. Baylor athletic director Mack Rhoades has stepped from the College Football Playoff committee, where he is chair, and taken a leave of absence at Baylor. According to Outkick, an initial investigation involved allegations Rhoades put his hands on a player before the Arizona State game, followed by a physical altercation with an assistant coach. The player was … Continue reading Morning Buzz: USC Connection To College Football Playoff Controversy

The USC bookstore is selling No. 80 jerseys today. They are going to milk the fake punt for everything they can. It’s an amazing turnaround on a jersey considering how slow USC has been in the past at getting player jerseys released. Continue reading USC Notes: The Milking Of Puntergate Continues

A Los Angeles judge ruled against the Rose Bowl Operating Co. and City of Pasadena in their attempt to obtain a temporary restraining order barring UCLA from further exploring leaving the Rose Bowl until pending litigation is resolved. Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Less Than Ideal Homecoming

USC interim president Beong-Soo Kim has been righting a lot of wrongs since he took over for Carol Folt and making a good impression on campus. So maybe he can contact the athletic dept. and tell them to stop promoting a streak that no longer exists. Yesterday, the athletic dept. perpetuated the idea that a USC superfan’s streak of attending consecutive games is continuing. But the … Continue reading It’s Time To Stop This Streak Nonsense

Who remembers this comment from Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz in Dec., 2023? “There’s a school on the West Coast right now that’s going to re-commit to defense. You know, gave up 42 to Tulane last year in a bowl game. At a place where Ronnie Lott played. Now they’re going to think about defense. That was the first we thought about 25 years ago.” Ferentz … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Will This Be Bulletin Board Material Vs. Iowa?

ESPN has a long article today on Mick Fleetwood’s appearance at the USC-Northwestern game and a lot of background on how Fleetwood and the USC band came together for “Tusk.” One interesting tidbit is that Dodgers third baseman Ron Cey was hanging around Fleetwood Mac at the time and arranged the use of Dodger Stadium for the recording and video — free of charge. When … Continue reading USC Notes: An In-Depth Look At Tusk