Is there any scenario the Pac-12 can get a team in the College Football Playoff? Oregon, Arizona State and Utah all have one loss, so this column examines whether one of them can go undefeated. “A cynic would say neither Utah nor Arizona State belongs in any CFP conversation and the Pac-12 should just be glad it is still considered a Power 5 conference.” Full … Continue reading Morning Buzz: The Pac-12 Needs Help

Vavae Malepeai underwent knee surgery. Now here is who did not dress for practice Wednesday. Palaie Gaoteote (ankle) Olaijah Griffin (back) Greg Johnson (shoulder) Christian Rector (ankle) Isaac Taylor-Stuart (ankle) Tyler Vaughns (unreported) What a great strength and conditioning program. If USC had a game today, the secondary could be Talanoa Hufanga and Isaiah Pola-Mao at safety with Dorian Hewett, Chris Steele, Max Williams and … Continue reading USC Injury Report

A USC assistant coach I spoke to this week told me I should be grateful Markese Stepp got even 10 carries vs. Notre Dame. “The reason he got in the first quarter at all was because he is from Indiana,” the coach said. “If we played another team, he probably would have waited until the second quarter.” If you are skeptical, think back to the … Continue reading Be Glad Markese Stepp Had 10 Carries

A former USC All-American called me after the Notre Dame. ” Who has (Clay Helton) beaten other than Penn State on a national stage?” he said. This is a problem because the former players value games like Alabama, Ohio State and Notre Dame. Helton did beat Notre Dame in 2016 when the Irish were 4-8. So that is definitely an asterisk. I guess it’s just … Continue reading The Marquee Game Dilemma

Here’s what a former USC player said about the Trojans’ defense: “USC runs a 2-gap defense, which means the inside linebackers have to take on offensive linemen. They are big guys against teams like Notre Dame, that pound you. “You have to have personnel to plug in, like the Raiders had with Matt Millen. Against the wide-open teams, yes our inside linebackers can run.” This ties in with … Continue reading Is Defensive Scheme Hurting USC?

Graham Harrell said Tuesday he isn’t playing eight wide receivers — as promised before the season — because USC has only 10-11 possessions per game and North Texas had 17 last year. Welcome to the big leagues, I guess, even if it is the Pac-12. He’s not getting the possessions he used to against Incarnate Word and Liberty (North Texas opponents last season) or in … Continue reading USC Morning Buzz: Shhh, Genius At Work