Hot seat watch, Week 1: Clay Helton and 5 coaches feeling the heat

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LOS ANGELES, CA- NOVEMBER 10: Head coach Clay Helton of the USC Trojans walks off the field as the California Golden Bears defeated the USC Trojans 15-14 during s NCAA football game at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Saturday, November 10, 2018 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Keith Birmingham/Digital First Media/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images) /

2. Clay Helton – USC

Perhaps one of the most surprising outcomes of the 2018 season was Clay Helton keeping his job. He isn’t escaping the 2019 season however if USC doesn’t have a drastic turnaround on the football field.

USC originally brought in Kliff Kingsbury to be its offensive coordinator this year. Instead, Kingsbury bolted for the NFL to coach Kyler Murray and the Trojans will turn their offense to Graham Harrell.

The big hope for USC here is that JT Daniels takes off and establishes himself as one of the top quarterbacks in college football. The Trojans need to be in the Pac-12 South conversation with the Utah Utes.

It’s a tall task for Helton, but USC is a program that carries high expectations. USC’s first game is not going to be easy either.

Fresno State rolls into town after a fantastic season that saw them win 12 games. The Bulldogs had one of the most stout defenses in the nation last year. Points are going to come at a premium in this one. A loss to begin the season is going to turn the heat up on Helton in a hurry. A win here would be a nice one the Trojans can build on.

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