The USC Trojans survived a scare at home on Saturday night but were able to pass their first Pac-12 South test.
The USC Trojans faced their first test in the Pac-12 South on Saturday night, and while it was anything but easy inside the Coliseum, they made it out with another conference win. Sam Darnold and his crew welcomed in the 4-1 Utah Utes to Los Angeles and were able to come away with the hard-fought 28-27 win after the defense was able to stop a two-point conversion attempt following a Utes score with under a minute left.
If the first half was any indication, this was heading toward a second loss on the year for USC. Utah came out firing, taking a 21-7 lead into the half. Having their struggles with the Utes in the past, most were ready for Utah to maybe come away with the easy win. But Darnold and the offense put it together in the second half, and the defense played spectacularly to allow this team to keep whatever playoff hopes they still have after the Washington State loss intact.
Three Takeaways
3. Kyle Whittingham likes fun
I’m going to throw this in here simply because it makes me so happy. Too many times we see coaches get conservative and it ends up costing them in some capacity. Some coaches are scared to take chances when an opportunity presents itself. Folks, Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham fears nothing!
Down 28-21 with under a minute to go in the game, Utah found the end zone on a 1-yard scoring run by quarterback Troy Williams. Expecting the extra point unit to come out and everyone getting ready for overtime, Whittingham threw everyone a curve by keeping his offense on the field to try and get the win. And why not? USC was running roughshod over his defense in the second half, so just try to walk out of LA with a win when you can.
Now the play call he made … well, that’s a different (stupid) story altogether.
2. USC’s defense tightened up when it had to
We’ve seen throughout the season that the USC defense can struggle at times. With Utah holding a 21-point lead at the half, this unit had to tighten things up in the final 30 minutes, and that’s just what they did.
The Trojans defense held the Utes offense scoreless right up until the touchdown with under a minute to go in the game that almost led to the game being tied.
USC still has championship hopes in their future, but if they’re going to see those come to fruition, as much as we want to pay attention to the dazzling USC offense, they’re going to need all the performances like the one they displayed in the second half on Saturday night.
1. Sam Darnold still puts the team on his back when they need it
Sure, Sam Darnold probably won’t be winning the Heisman this year like many predicted, but make no mistake about it, he fuels this offense. Down 21-7 they needed him in the second half, and once again for this team, he answered the call.
Darnold tossed two of his three scoring passes in the second half, but maybe more impressively were the drives that he led in which the Trojans found the end zone. 16 plays, 98 yards; 11 plays, 88 yards; and 11 plays, 93 yards. That is how you lead a team down the field as a top-tier quarterback in the country, which is exactly what Darnold is.
He might not be taking that bronze trophy home in December, but he still carries the hopes of his teammates and college football fans in Los Angeles as the Trojans look to claw their way back to the top of the polls.