FOOTBALL

USC-Ohio State Report Card

QUARTERBACK

It was actually a pretty mixed performance by Jayden Maiava. He had the two long TD passes (one just a short flick to Trent Mosley) but almost had two disastrous interceptions. One was dropped by the Ohio State defender and the other one was ruled out of bounds. USC was also only 4 for 10 on third downs.

Grade: C+

RUNNING BACK

Waymond Jordan flashed early, so why didn’t he play the previous week? There are whispers he was hurt but Lincoln Riley said it was a coaches’ decision. USC averaged 4 yards per carry.

Grade: B-

WIDE RECEIVER

Pretty crazy that neither Kayden Dixon-Wyatt nor Tanook Hines caught a pass. The big plays from Trent Mosley and Mark Bowman made the difference in the game.

Grade: B

OFFENSIVE LINE

Another mixed bag where it struggled on some plays, like short-yardage, and then suddenly opened a hole for a longer run.

Grade: C

DEFENSIVE LINE

Ohio State rushed for 204 yards. On the other hand, the Buckeyes were held to a touchdown. Was that partly the line’s work or Ryan Day’s?

Grade: C+

LINEBACKERS

They were part of the run defense woes too but at least they looked active and made more plays than usual.

Grade: B-

DEFENSIVE BACKS

Nothing changed. There was receiver wide open for a 32-yard TD but the pass was underthrown. A couple other deep passes dropped. They were lucky they faced a first-time starting QB who was a true freshman.

Grade: D+

SPECIAL TEAMS

So the brain trust trotted Ryon Sayeri out for a 54-yard field goal but didn’t use him the previous week on a long kick. At least Mosley made the coaches look on the punt return.

Grade: B+

COACHING

Does anyone know what was going on at the end of the first half? USC had the ball on its own 25 with 1:46 remaining. It then ran the ball or threw short passes on 7 of 9 plays and never tried to reach the end zone before things stalled out at the Ohio State 19. If it wasn’t for Ohio State’s inept offense, questions would be raised for USC having the ball for only 20 minutes the entire game.

Grandpa Patterson is getting plaudits but his defense gave up 464 yards and was on the field for 40 minutes against a green QB.

Grade: C-

SPECIAL MENTION: POST-GAME CELEBRATION

So the game ends and thousands of fans descend on the field for the first time since 2013 at the Coliseum.

It was excellent opportunity to meet the moment. But instead, USC band director Jacob Vogel had the band perform the same brisk post-game concert it always does. It was so short, the band left with many people still on the field. Wouldn’t you want to make it the best post-game show of all-time when you have the biggest audience?

Grade: D

37 thoughts on “USC-Ohio State Report Card”

  1. giving the Band a D was a classic Wolfian touch!! but then the Band has always resented the wolfman, who sashays around the field surrounded by cheer-groupies while they suffer in their suffocating unis, having to perform that insipid TUSK.

    #MonsterMovie:WolfmanVsTheBandDirector

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  3. Averaging across all categories, not even a C+.

    Didn’t they beat the number two team in the country?

    Yes, OSU had a true frosh in at QB, but he played a very good game, had a few passes dropped that perhaps were due to USC cornerback coverage pressure. If those passes had been completed, the kid would have had 300 yards plus passing.

    Bowman’s play by himself give the WR/TE category an A.

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  4. Now it has been confirmed that if SC loses the coaches will receive F grades, and if they win then Scott will throw them a bone

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  5. With SC enjoying a bye week there are some games this Saturday that might have an influence on SC’s standing at the end of the season if the Trojans are able to win out–

    Missouri, LSU, ucla, Ohio St and BYU losses would be a help

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    1. KAM: We want UCLA to win out until they play us so we get credit with the College Football Playoff Committee for crushing a Top Ten team.

      DON: Once again Cowardly Sparrow Gabby aka Cowardly Gabby displays she has zero Football IQ.

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  6. KAM: We must have done something terrible to this guy to have him insult us year after year

    DON: If you disagree with his politics he won’t let go of you

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    1. KAM: “We” = all of Cowardly Gabby’s various aliases and impersonations.

      DON: You need incarceration at Atascadero State Mental Hospital for the rest of your meaningless existence.

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  9. Consider should ‘the princess’, currently ranked # 11, lose this Ssturdsy evening at home against Miami and TX, AL, UCLA. OH St., KY, BYU, GA, Wake For. all win – they’ll drop and they will not face another ranked team rest of the season to rise.

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      1. Normally ‘yes’ the networks know eyes are always drawn to watch but – No…..this year the parity is overwhelming – no one is dominating even if Miami were to win Saturday. If ‘the princess’ lost to Miami that would be to the only two teams that were ranked when they played them they have no way to ascend based on their remaining games.

        This is the reason they were so insistent on USC playing them in late November and wanted nothing to do with mid-September. Their schedule is weak and their 2027 is the same – currently only two ranked opponents – Wake Forest (9th Oct.) and BYU not known.

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  10. Scott, your analysis from a technical standpoint is pretty accurate. However, in the grand scheme of things for USC football, the win itself was an A. The team rose to the occasion regardless of who played QB for The Ohio State University. This game was a dominant performance for the recruits in attendance to see. It also energized the student section and the overall fan base. We hope that it indicates the way that the team will play in the next three days. But, knowing that it is possible makes us hopeful. I agree about the band not seizing the moment. Even if they just kept playing Conquest while fans were still congregating would have been terrific as a tribute. I know that it was a rainy night, but these opportunities to generate an emotional spirit come few and far between. Fight on, Dan, Class of 1962

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    3. Scott forgets to mention the added difficulty in having to do all that they did in THE RAIN. I was sweating that factor during the game.Well done, Trojans!

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  11. Scooter,

    Oline gets an F: Explanation below

    Head coach: F-, With a 1:10 left in the first half and SC has the ball, he allowed 31 seconds to tick off until 41 seconds were left on the clock. He wasted a whole play. Why did the pencil neck geek call a time out with 1:09 left? he could have run a couple more plays and maybe get a td.

    Online coach: F-, they only ran the ball for 84 yards. The oline is soft as jello. They were pushed back and SC lost yardage. Sc needs to run power and counter. Coach needs to get them physical.

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  12. Wolfman, looks like LA decided to dump trOJie Bass and hire a Socialist! Capital idea!!! We’re defunding the cops and using the dough to build homeless shelters in Bev Hills!! We can finally police ourselves!! Also we will tear down SC unless they reduce tuition by 90%

    #JustGettingWarmedUp

    #SocialistParsdise

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    1. Very funny, Charlie – but how’s that kerfuffle going at Jackie Robinson field? You guys getting kicked out? Not your land, huh? Hope you don’t get behind on the rent at the Rose Bowl (not many observers in the bleachers) An auto accident would draw bigger crowds.If you’re gonna troll this blog, you can expect an occasional rebuttal.Sorry pal.

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      1. KAM: UCLA’s Jackie Robinson Stadium can remain on the Department of Veterans Affairs’ West Los Angeles campus but three other institutions must go, the VA announced Monday.

        UCLA’s baseball team plays home games at Jackie Robinson Stadium, located just west of the I-405 on VA land.

        Clinton appointed Federal Judge David O. Carter ruled in 2024 that UCLA could not use the land, temporarily forcing the team out of the stadium. The judge ruled that the land – or the rents collected from them – did not “sufficiently” benefit veterans.

        DON: The same judge, however, allowed UCLA to return to Jackie Robinson Stadium until the end of the 2025 season, given that it “sufficiently” paid two times its regular rent, according to the Los Angeles Times. The United States Court of Appeals Ninth Circuit then upheld UCLA’s lease with the VA in December.

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      2. I know! Those selfish disabled vets still trying to strongarm our innocent ball players! We can move them to Bev hills with the homeless. Raman’s already working on it!

        #LetTheChildrenPlay

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      3. CB-I’m a disabled vet … I’m good with UC(an’t)LA playing on VA land … hell I’m good with any kid playing ball on any available plot of land … but getting forcibly removed to Beverly Hills? Now you’ve gone to far …

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      4. Humble thank you for your service, Brother. I hope the sarcasm was evident, obviously if the vets need the space, we should clear out, but I’m sure we can find a resolution that makes both sides happy.

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      5. Trying to introduce a little humor from this end as well … but seriously, I can’t speak for anyone but myself, but with only a few exceptions, everyone I ever served with would be in favor of baseball being played on a baseball field and would be happy to see a high level program being the ones engaged in said playing … nothing worse than seeing a perfectly good patch of flat grass not being put to use! So hope that matter gets resolved in the way that leads to baseball being played there … and if the Trojans can enjoy a bit of success as visitors there while we’re at it, so much the better!

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    2. Chuckster,

      Lay off the peyote or whatever Bill Walton used to get high. How will the City of LA defund the police and place homeless shelters in Beverly Hills? Beverly Hills is its own city/corporation. LA would have to have persmission from BH’s to do what you want. BH’s will not give permission to LA to allow LA’s trash into their city. Tearing down SC would take an act of God. However, with ugly being a cal state school and in the city of LA, they could immediatly place the homeless there. But I have the perfect solution for the homeless, place them at dodger stadium. Bums play there, they might as well have bums watch the bums.

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      1. much fear and anger in you, there is.
        fear leads to anger
        anger leads to hate
        hate leads to suffering.
        ~Yoda

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  14. Not even the band escapes Wolf’s wrath!

    I know the game was more about Ohio State being bad than USC being good, but looking at those rankings someone would think USC lost the game!

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    1. Agree completely. Almost as if Scott was rehashing his scorecard for the 2009 game (for which these ratings would have been pretty accurate)! But by his standards, pretty generous, and I think not to unfair.

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