USC safety Ykili Ross is taking time off from the team for personal reasons, according to Clay Helton. An update on Ross will come next week, Helton said. Should the Pac-12 just admit BYU as a member? Pac-12 teams play BYU 22 times between 2018-27. USC plays the Cougars in 2019, 2021 and 2023. Here are the others:  Arizona: 2018, 26, 27; Arizona State: 2020, … Continue reading If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

If you choose (wisely) to avoid the heat and watch the USC-UNLV game on TV, but do not get the Pac-12 Network, the logical option is a sports bar. But . . . how many sports bars carry the Pac-12 Network. Most sports bars need to carry NFL Sunday Ticket, which is only available through DirecTV. I’ve already heard of one sports bar that said … Continue reading USC Quick Thought

CBS Sports made its Pac-12 predictions and only Jerry Palm did not pick USC to win the Pac-12 South. He picked Utah. College football writer Dennis Dodd said USC was the most overrated team: “You don’t lose Ronald Jones Jr., Sam Darnold and a handful of talented defenders and return as a playoff contender. Throw in a promising — but still freshman — quarterback (J.T. … Continue reading USC Afternoon Notes

A trend has emerged in the past week regarding USC and fan interest: Last Friday the Salute to Troy kickoff dinner got a noticeably smaller crowd according to several people who attended the event. USC announced this week field-level seats are available for the first five home games. And yesterday, USC invited students to attend football practice. That is the type of thing you would … Continue reading USC Thursday Buzz: More On Fan Interest

Here is a the team photo for this year’s USC football team. Take a look at all the support staff, many of whom are hiding in the back row, which makes their presence less noticeable. Now look below at the 1967 team photo: How did USC manage to win a national title without an army of support staff? Continue reading Yes, It’s Team Photo Time

Here’s is USC coach Clay Helton after Tuesday’s practice on waiting until next week to name a starting QB: “I want to make sure I’m right, too.” Extending the competition to next week is good for the morale of the players. But I don’t know why Helton needs to make sure he is right. Unless he remembers he was wrong two years ago. But not … Continue reading Clay Helton Wants To Make Sure He Is Right On QB Decision