Caleb Williams Would Sell a Lot of Coliseum Seats

Roundtable: Could Caleb Williams transform USC? What is Chip Kelly’s contract status?

Ben Bolch, J. Brady McCollough, Ryan Kartje, Thus Nhi Nguyen (LA Times —  Los Angeles will host next season’s College Football Playoff championship game at SoFi Stadium. Is there any chance UCLA or USC could earn a spot in it?

New Trojans coach Lincoln Riley has been courting Oklahoma star quarterback Caleb Williams with the hope he can be the centerpiece of a quick USC rebuild, while veteran UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson has committed to returning to UCLA before coach Chip Kelly has locked in his future with the Bruins.

L.A. Times college football writers Ben Bolch, Ryan Kartje, J. Brady McCollough and Thuc Nhi Nguyen break down what fans should expect from the Bruins and Trojans in 2022.

What impact can Caleb Williams have if he does choose to transfer to USC?

Bolch: Williams would sell a lot of tickets, making the Coliseum a far less desolate place, and make the Trojans’ offense not just buzzworthy but capable of torching defenses from the moment he throws his first pass. His presence would vastly accelerate the timeline for coach Lincoln Riley to succeed by giving the Trojans the sort of star they want to build around. The quarterback’s familiarity with Riley also means there would be no breaking-in period for either one once the reunion becomes official.

KartjeJaxson Dart had a really impressive debut season while thrust into a difficult spot as a freshman. USC would’ve been just fine with him at the helm next season. With Riley guiding his development, a Dart-led future looked pretty bright at USC, and I have no doubt he’ll make another team very happy as its quarterback. But Williams is on another level. He’s already being viewed as a candidate for the top pick in the 2024 NFL draft. His arrival would immediately set USC on a different course over the next two seasons. He’s already comfortable in Riley’s offense, and while he wouldn’t have the same caliber of weapons to work with, there’s no doubt he would immediately step in as one of the best quarterbacks in the Pac-12. That goes a long way when you’re trying to rebuild a program.

McCollough: Ryan, it’s interesting you feel that way about the difference in weapons between USC and Oklahoma. I do think that the Sooners had way more proven depth at wide receiver than the Trojans feature at this moment, plus a deeper stable of running backs, particularly with Keaontay Ingram’s decision to go pro. But Riley is going to pack USC’s wide receiver room very quickly, as it also seems that five-star player Mario Williams will be transferring with Caleb from Oklahoma. You roll out Gary Bryant Jr. (who flashed this year), Mario Williams, Tahj Washington/Kyle Ford, recent top-100 commit C.J. Williams, plus some transfers like Washington’s Terrell Bynum, and, while you may not have the depth OU had, you can give Caleb plenty to work with. Running back will be a question, of course, but five-star prospect Raleek Brown will give Riley a tantalizing option right off the bat. The bigger issue will be the drop-off between Oklahoma’s offensive line talent and USC’s. But Caleb’s athletic ability will really come in handy there too.

Kartje: Adding Mario Williams would definitely help, and I agree that Bryant could be a major beneficiary of Riley’s arrival. But the rest of the group still has a lot to prove. Losing standout freshman tight end Michael Trigg hurts. The biggest question mark is in the backfield, where USC is going to be relying a lot on Darwin Barlow.

Nguyen: It’s a shame Jaxson Dart didn’t work out at USC. He clearly showed how talented he was. But USC fans aren’t crying about trading him for someone as good as Caleb Williams. We’ve already seen the kind of magic Lincoln Riley makes at the quarterback position, and to bring someone of Williams’ caliber to USC will add a much-needed jolt of energy to the fan base. And like Brady alluded to, it’s not just the fans who get excited. Recruits and other players are now feeling USC’s gravitational pull, so Lincoln Riley will be able to restock the cupboard quickly. Come on down, Mario Williams.

Dorian Thompson-Robinson is back. Is that a good thing for UCLA and who will he have to work with?

Bolch: After 3½ years of wildly vacillating highs and lows, Thompson-Robinson has finally been almost universally embraced by fans given his strong finish to the 2021 season. His six-touchdown performance against USC, including the signing of a hat midgame and the vault over a helpless Trojans defender, was the tipping point that sent his approval rating soaring. If Thompson-Robinson can maintain that sort of spectacular level of play in 2022, he could have the Bruins in the hunt for their first Rose Bowl appearance since the 1998 season. The one caveat is that UCLA is losing both of its starting offensive tackles and top two pass catchers in Kyle Philips and Greg Dulcich, meaning that Thompson-Robinson will need to find several new favorite targets next season.

Kartje: I’m already anticipating Thompson-Robinson’s rematch with USC next November. No performance was more demoralizing for the Trojans this season than DTR’s complete dismantling of their defense. But like Ben mentioned, I think losing Philips and Dulcich is significant. I’m curious to see if he can carry over the success of last season’s final stretch without them.

On another note, don’t be surprised if UCLA is still a player in the quarterback transfer market. Dart considered the Bruins until the very end of his recruitment, and he reiterated this past season in the run-up to the game how close he was to signing with UCLA. There’s even been chatter about Williams visiting the Bruins. Could Thompson-Robinson reconsider if one of those two suddenly decided to sign with UCLA?

McCollough: Until DTR’s announcement Monday, I had been assuming Dart would just switch zip codes and zoom across town to Westwood, spending the next couple years trying to make USC and Riley regret prioritizing Williams over him. With DTR back, I assume Dart will be looking for a clearer path to immediate playing time because he’s a kid with supreme confidence.

To go back to the original question, is it a good thing that DTR is back? If the Bruins did indeed miss out on a guy like Dart — who would be around for at least two years — to bring back DTR for one, we won’t know the answer until we see how 2022 plays out. Ben points out the stakes of possibly contending for a Rose Bowl, and if the Bruins do that (they have Utah and USC in Pasadena), then this will have played out perfectly. But that puts a lot on DTR’s shoulders.

A big domino yet to fall is whether Zach Charbonnet returns for his senior season or goes to the NFL. Having a strong run game with Charbonnet and Brittain Brown took a lot of pressure off DTR. He’s going to have to be Superman if Charbonnet leaves.

Nguyen: First of all, just the thought of a rivalry matchup between Dorian Thompson-Robinson and Caleb Williams has me very excited. I was surprised that Dorian Thompson-Robinson decided to come back, especially because so many of his top weapons like Philips and Dulcich and his starting offensive tackles won’t be back. Like Brady said, Charbonnet’s potential return would be huge. I assume that he will because he only has one season as the No. 1 back and could need more to sway NFL suitors.

In terms of a potential transfer challenging Thompson-Robinson, I don’t see it coming. Chip Kelly has shown immense loyalty to two people during his UCLA tenure: defensive coordinator Jerry Azzinaro and Dorian Thompson-Robinson. The chances of a transfer unseating Thompson-Robinson look extremely thin in my eyes because Kelly never wavered on the quarterback when he struggled as a sophomore. Why would he when he’s coming off a good season?

Why is Chip Kelly’s extension taking so long to nail down and will it have a negative impact on UCLA?

Bolch: It’s a little mystifying that the parties have not been able to get this hammered out sooner given the optics of the $9-million buyout expiring [this coming] weekend, which would officially put Kelly into lame-duck status. But the deal is expected to get done before then so that we can all move on. Kelly needs to back up his public comments that he loves being at UCLA by signing any reasonable offer that’s put in front of him.

Kartje: The clock is ticking for athletic director Martin Jarmond. As long as the deal gets done by the weekend, this situation should resolve itself. But what’s the hold up? By waiting this long, it seems like Jarmond has sacrificed some of UCLA’s leverage. They have no choice but to sign Kelly to some sort of extension now.

McCollough: Or … maybe Chip’s buyout going to $0 after Jan. 15 gives Jarmond all the leverage? He may like Chip just fine, but Chip is not his guy. Jarmond and UCLA reps have had over a month, if they were so inclined, to put out feelers to potential candidates. I’m not saying I think this is about to get messy, but I wouldn’t rule it out either. After all, if we have learned anything from this ridiculous coaching carousel, it’s to keep an open mind about what’s to come.

KartjeMatt Campbell is still available, I hear.

McCollough: File this away, but when UCLA comes open, Dave Aranda is a name likely to emerge as a favorite. And, if I’m Jarmond and I know I can get Aranda to come home to Southern California right now, maybe I should wait until Jan. 15 and let awkwardness reign.

Nguyen: Reports in November out of Waco said Aranda’s contract was going to be amended, but Jarmond should definitely check to see if pen has been put to paper yet. What an 11th-hour move that would be.

But to be left on this contract cliff for so long is a bad look for UCLA, definitely. Chip Kelly’s contract extension feels like Thanos in its inevitability, but the long wait is damaging to the program that’s trying to compete with USC’s huge momentum-grabbing hire. Coaches and their agents have so much power in these negotiations, as we’ve noticed from the astronomical contracts being signed across the country. Whether he negotiates an extension or has to find a new coach, Jarmond has a tough job ahead because Kelly’s agent isn’t going to settle for anything less than what Kelly’s first contract gave him.

How does Riley’s staff look and does it matter that it’s light on local names?

Bolch: The one name that immediately stood out to me was Roy Manning, known for continually tweeting that it was a great day to be a Bruin during his one season under Chip Kelly in 2018. There weren’t too many great days for UCLA that season, the Bruins going 3-9 and Manning’s special teams a constant mess, but he probably deserves a pass given that there weren’t too many things going the team’s way that season. Manning has enjoyed considerably more success since uniting with Riley starting with the 2019 season.

McCollough: The fact that Lincoln Riley decided to keep Donte Williams on staff is going to do a lot of heavy lifting here locally. A coach of Riley’s stature certainly could have pushed through any pressure he was receiving from USC to keep Williams if he wanted to be stubborn about desiring a fully fresh start on his staff. Few know how to recruit L.A. like Williams, and he can run point. Plus, Riley is such a big name and such a dogged recruiter himself that he won’t have any trouble getting into any living room in Southern California and making his pitch.

KartjeWhen the No. 1 prospect in the state makes it clear he wouldn’t have signed without Williams, that tells you how crucial he was for Riley to retain. Domani Jackson is just the latest top recruit to sign with USC thanks to Wiliams, and while his tenure as interim coach was tumultuous, his continued presence on the recruiting trail is a huge coup. Not that this group is going to need much help in that regard. It’s a young staff, with no one over the age of 48, and with Riley leading the way, it shouldn’t take long for the staff to dominate the recruiting scene in Southern California.

As for the actual coaching part of the job, this is an accomplished group in spite of its youth. Shaun Nua, USC’s new defensive line coach, comes from Michigan, where he helped develop Aidan Hutchinson and David Ojabo into first-round NFL talents. Running backs coach Kiel McDonald had the top rushing attack in the Pac-12 in two of the past three seasons. Offensive line coach and offensive coordinator Josh Henson had one of the top fronts in football over the past two seasons — in 2020, Texas A&M [was best in] the SEC in sacks allowed, tackles for loss allowed and yards per carry. They’ll have their work cut out for them in L.A.

Nguyen: Oh right, actual coaching! That’s a big part of this conversation too. I’m interested to see what Alex Grinch does with this defense. He helped Washington State to some of its most successful years with his “Speed-D” system that overcame some of the program’s recruiting disadvantages by focusing on max energy, creating turnovers and, as the name suggested, speed. Oklahoma fans grew annoyed with Grinch’s defense for some inconsistent play, but the Sooners still showed improvement during his tenure. The Trojans had what could have been the worst defense in school history this past year, so Grinch has his work cut out for him.

When it comes to recruiting, Riley got the one local name that mattered: Donte Williams. The combination of Riley and Williams should run Southland recruiting, no problem.

Who’s better positioned for 2022?

Bolch: UCLA has the edge given it will have a fifth-year quarterback and is essentially being gifted a 3-0 start with those games against Bowling Green, South Alabama and Alabama State. The Bruins’ games against Utah and USC are at the Rose Bowl, and the Trojans will still be in the early stages of filling all of their many talent gaps.

Kartje: In his opening press conference, Riley expressed confidence that the turnaround at USC would be quick. He reiterated those feelings again shortly after early signing day in December. But the reality of how far USC’s roster has to go makes me think that Riley will need at least a year to establish a foothold. Williams can certainly accelerate that timeline. His talent alone could make USC a dangerous team as soon as next season. But Thompson-Robinson’s experience, coupled with a schedule that’s somehow easier than USC’s, makes me inclined to go the safer route and say UCLA. If Charbonnet returns, the Bruins’ rushing attack can be one of the best in the Pac-12.

McCollough: The return of DTR plus UCLA finally having a cake nonconference slate plus the Bruins playing the Trojans in the Rose Bowl makes me want to lean UCLA in 2022. Beyond that, after Riley has a full year to recruit and mine the transfer portal, I think we can all see that USC could be able to take over the crosstown rivalry for the foreseeable future. The Trojans just have so much roster turnover to deal with in the short term, but we can’t rule out the possibility that Caleb Williams elevates the entire program very quickly.

Nguyen: If he comes to USC as expected, Caleb Williams could definitely provide some huge individual moments in his first season, but considering UCLA’s easy nonconference schedule and fifth-year quarterback, the Bruins are on much more solid footing as a program for 2022. But USC could quickly close the gap by the following year with how tenaciously Lincoln Riley can recruit, so the Bruins need to make the most of their window.

Watching Monday night, just how far away is the Pac-12 from contending for a national title?

Bolch: Far. The big takeaway from the national championship game was that elite defense is what separates Georgia and Alabama from everyone else, and nobody in the Pac-12 is close to that level right now. The good news for the Pac-12 is that the recent hiring of Lincoln Riley and Dan Lanning could help narrow the gulf, particularly given what Lanning’s Bulldogs defense just did.

Kartje: That gap remains cavernous. Watching Georgia-Alabama felt like watching two NFL teams clash in the playoffs. That’s not something I’ve felt watching the Pac-12 over the past decade. Riley’s arrival definitely helps. USC can be the rising tide that lifts the rest of the conference’s boats, but it’s going to take a few years. If Lanning can get hit the ground running at Oregon, those two could become recruiting powerhouses in short order. That’s ultimately how the Pac-12 closes the gap.

McCollough: Pac-12 Commissioner George Kliavkoff mentioned to me coming off the Rose Bowl loss and the league’s 0-5 bowl record that the No. 1 thing the league has to do in recruiting is extend its territory east to bolster the offensive and defensive lines across the board. And that was certainly apparent watching Alabama and Georgia in the trenches. It’s going to be very difficult to go into other areas and convince top linemen to take a leap of faith and come to the Pac-12, but USC at least has a very adept offensive line recruiter in Josh Henson — who was cleaning up at Texas A&M — on its staff. The top Pac-12 schools will need to use the portal majorly on the lines to make up for the growing deficiency in elite offensive line and defensive line talent on the West Coast.

Nguyen: The Pac-12 is as far away as the drive from L.A. to Athens, Ga., at least. The matchups between offensive and defensive lines Monday night illustrated just how elite those SEC programs were and how far the Pac-12 has to go. It’s no coincidence that Utah, which is generally known to have some of the best linemen in the Pac-12, was the conference’s champion and stomped the other favorite, Oregon, in both games. The Pac-12 needs Dan Lanning to bring some of that Georgia strength to Eugene ASAP.

latimes.com

_________

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misterusc
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January 18, 2022 7:10 pm

Allen, let’s just call it an early spring cleaning. Sometimes the toilet needs to be flushed.

misterusc
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January 18, 2022 8:57 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I just happen to run into a group of die hard Irish fans who were very concerned about the hire of the new head coach. They believe that Kelly never would have let that lost happen, which I fully agreed. He would have willed that team to the win. That being said, they were happy that USC has a new head coach who is a proven winner. I think both fan bases want to see a meaningful rivalry. It will be interesting to see if things don’t work out with this new coach, how long before they flush their toilet???

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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January 19, 2022 5:59 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

My kids are past their college years, but my thinking was always this: Either of you kids go to South Bend, it’s cool. You go to ucla, you are out of the will.

Steveg
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Steveg
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January 19, 2022 8:24 am
Reply to  misterusc

Notre Dame makes some great hires, then they make some really bad ones. It will be interesting to see how this guy works out.

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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January 19, 2022 5:55 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

IMHO, the Irish missed their All-American safety, Kyle Hamilton. OKS kept making completions in the deep middle of the ND secondary.

Chris
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Chris
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January 18, 2022 6:49 pm

Riley keeps cleaning house. Sopsher is in portal now. He wasn’t kidding around when he said he needed to remake our roster.

Chris
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Chris
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January 18, 2022 7:15 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I think he was always hurt.

alfa1
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January 19, 2022 6:21 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

His being accepted based on his previous stats, shows just how bad the QC Analysts we’re and to mention how ebullient So’oto was … both missed the mark by a mile. If you look, there are major changes in the support staff, long overdue. Simply put Helton is nothing but a self centered gas bag without a clue and a fake.

Steveg
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January 19, 2022 8:21 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Cleansing USC from the curse of Clay Helton is a much bigger task than we all probably imagined. It is great to see dead wood being gone, now LR just needs to replace them all.

Golden Trojan
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January 19, 2022 7:18 am
Reply to  Chris

The total count now is 14 expired eligibility, 8 early NFL draft and 19 transfers. 41 players gone! Riley is now up to 30 new scholarships available. He now has 8 commits and 6 transfers. That leaves 16 more spots to fill as of now. He will transform this team by Spring!

Steveg
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January 19, 2022 8:19 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

He sure has his work cut out for him. Getting the real needs fulfilled is going to be tough as it seems linebackers, OL and DL players go pretty fast in the portal.

Golden Trojan
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January 18, 2022 4:23 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, your quote posted yesterday is so true, Caleb Williams isn’t a businessman, he is a Business, Man! Can’t imagine the deals floating out there to try to get him. It looks way more than just following your coach to the next stop. It will take all hands on deck for LR and USC to land him.

Golden Trojan
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January 18, 2022 4:29 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Caleb will now have 3 four star WRs and a five star RB waiting for him at USC. Does USC have a plan B for QB?

ATL D.D.S.
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January 19, 2022 6:00 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

From your lips to God’s ears, Allen….

Chris
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January 18, 2022 11:44 am

Another WR transfer. I trust Riley, but it would have been nice to have picked up Wingo or some more help on O and D lines. Also LB would be great. I trust Riley and crew, but hoping to see us win the battles for the big guys.

Chris
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Chris
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January 18, 2022 12:20 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I didn’t mean to diminish the pickup, I just hoped we would get Wingo. He’s a difference maker at a position of need. I think Riley and crew are rebuilding quickly. If we get CW, I think our offense will be rolling next year.

Golden Trojan
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January 18, 2022 11:24 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

USC is not even listed on 247 Recruiting page for Connerly. That would be a steal for LR to get him.

Steveg
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January 18, 2022 8:44 am

The portal shows USC has had 18 players enter of which only 4 have committed. Looks like LR got rid of a lot of dead wood. LR has signed 5 incoming. Three RB’s from Oregon have left the Ducks including Sean Dollars and as reported by Allen, Travis Dye, who has a wife in L.A.

UtahTrojan
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January 17, 2022 8:38 pm

NC odds Alabama Crimson Tide: +200 (bet $10 to win $30 total) Georgia Bulldogs: +200 (bet $10 to win $30 total) Ohio State Buckeyes: +750 (bet $10 to win $85 total) Clemson Tigers: +1000 (bet $10 to win $110 total) Texas A&M Aggies: +3000 (bet $10 to win $310 total) Oklahoma Sooners: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total) Michigan Wolverines: +4000 (bet $10 to win $410 total) Notre Dame Fighting Irish: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Miami Hurricanes: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Florida Gators: +5000 (bet $10 to win $510 total) Penn State Nittany… Read more »

John Weld
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January 17, 2022 3:47 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I wonder if this means that Stetson Bennet is coming back for another year.

ATL D.D.S.
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January 18, 2022 7:43 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

As far as Bennett going to law school, I need to tell you about a local phenomenon here in GA. It is called the “closing attorney” for real estate deals. I bought and sold one townhouse in Torrance before we moved to the ATL in 1991. Escrow people handled those sales. Here in GA, you have to hire “closing attorneys,” which is a big overkill use of a professional lawyer in most people’s opinions, including mine. Forest Gump Bennett is not going to be the next Clarence Darrow, he will be a closing attorney for the sales of $120k homes… Read more »

Steveg
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January 18, 2022 8:38 am
Reply to  ATL D.D.S.

Sounds like mediocrity, which is the range in which he plays Qb. JT is the better passer but cannot stand in a collapsing pocket.

ATL D.D.S.
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January 17, 2022 4:19 pm
Reply to  John Weld

Local sources say Stetson Bennett–the Forest Gump of UGA, is coming back for his SIXTH season of eligibility.

ATL D.D.S.
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ATL D.D.S.
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January 18, 2022 7:30 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Forest Gump of UGA–yeah, I did that.😎 Divine inspiration strikes again!

BUS83
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January 18, 2022 3:50 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, if we don’t get Caleb Williams, and Dart transfers, do you see anyway that JT comes back to SC? Is he even permitted to return? Stranger things have happened.

Jamaica
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January 17, 2022 9:38 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

It will be nice to see if laid-back LA stops being so.

TrojanRJJ
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January 17, 2022 12:10 pm

To step back a bit from our euphoria over the LR hire and the massive improvement we have seen in SC football since he arrived, we should look at how the other Pac schools have done in recruiting. The two best are Stanford and Arizona (yes, that AZ). Stanford is rated #15 nationally; its recruits are mostly 3 stars. As it normal for Stanford, the bulk of the recruits are OL and DL. The real shocker is AZ. Obviously, Judd Fisch knew what he was doing when he hired Johnny Nansen away from UCLA. He has done an amazing job.… Read more »

Steveg
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January 18, 2022 8:42 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

What thrills me is ucla has Drevno coaching OL. Does that show the football gods are leaning toward USC or what.

HOF19
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January 16, 2022 7:40 pm

Kansas City Chiefs sure do Imaginative Play Calling !!!!!

HOF19
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January 16, 2022 5:11 pm

AHH Cowboy fans >>>>>>>> Calvin Watkins
@calvinwatkins
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12m
Cowboys couldn’t get off one last play off. Fans are throwing stuff onto the field.

HOF19
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January 16, 2022 6:45 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Why doesn’t he just appoint himself Head Coach and General Manager ?

HOF19
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HOF19
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January 16, 2022 5:04 pm

This is just me but that last play of the game by the Cowboys Prescott looked a little UN-WISE (play consumed some time on the clock ……to me at least ).

alfa1
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January 17, 2022 4:06 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Manhattan Beach Pier

HOF19
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January 16, 2022 1:00 pm

Dare I ASSUME USC Mens Basketball can win their next game vs 5-9 ASU ?????

HOF19
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HOF19
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January 16, 2022 12:56 pm

NFL TV Marketing guys putting on FAKE SMILES about these last 2 blowouts ????? ………………Sorry TV Marketing guys may not like the word “Blowout ” .

HOF19
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HOF19
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January 15, 2022 8:03 pm

Just to talk a little NFL Stuff …..Concensus of NY Area Newspapers is that best game of this Wild-Card weekend should be the one on Monday Night .

Golden Trojan
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January 16, 2022 12:13 pm
Reply to  HOF19

Brady to Gronkowski to make it 23-0 Tampa over Philly with 7:42 to go in the 3rd. Why would those two quit if they can keep doing that?

Chris
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Chris
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January 15, 2022 1:45 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Riley!

Steveg
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Steveg
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January 15, 2022 6:01 pm
Reply to  Chris

Christmas everyday!!

Golden Trojan
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Golden Trojan
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January 15, 2022 6:22 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Come on Caleb, LA beats Norman this time of year, actually anytime of year. Let’s go big bucks boosters, get him a NIL deal he can’t refuse.

John Weld
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January 15, 2022 10:38 am

A battle we relish. #BeatTheDucks pic.twitter.com/INT3rLuKP7 — USC Men's Basketball (@USC_Hoops) January 15, 2022 The No. 5 USC Trojans (14-1, 4-1) will host the Oregon Ducks (10-6, 3-2) at the Galen Center on Jan. 15 at 8 p.m. The game will air on FS1 with Jim Kozimor and Dave Miller calling the action. USC’s 14-1 start to the season is its best since 2017, when USC also opened the campaign 14-1. USC was 15-1 after 16 games in 2017. USC and Baylor both lost hours apart on Tuesday becoming the last two schools to pick up a loss in the 2021-22 men’s… Read more »

Golden Trojan
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January 16, 2022 9:18 am
Reply to  John Weld

Bad week for USC basketball. They should be out of the top 10 for sure after an ugly 3 games.

John Weld
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January 16, 2022 9:44 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

During the initial win streak the team kept the opponents shooting percentage well under 40% percent and averaged less than 10 turnovers per game. In the last 3 games the opponents shot over 40% and we have averaged well over 10 turnovers per game. Watching the last 3 games I can see that the defensive intensity and focus on taking care of the ball is gone. These last 3 games have really burst my basketball bubble.

HOF19
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HOF19
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January 15, 2022 10:10 am

Finally …….. Finally ……Someone is showing a USC Mens Basketball game here in the NY Metro Area . (It is not a live showing just a replay of USC vs ORE State )…….Fight On !!!!!

Golden Trojan
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January 15, 2022 6:19 pm
Reply to  HOF19

HOF19 to bad for you it doesn’t start till 11pm for you. What will you do? Stay up till 2am or DVR it?

HOF19
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January 15, 2022 7:52 pm
Reply to  Golden Trojan

Prefer a live version ……But a replay will serve if I nod out watching it live .

Golden Trojan
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January 16, 2022 9:16 am
Reply to  HOF19

Well that was not worth losing sleep over!

ATL D.D.S.
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January 16, 2022 6:39 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Sounds like a University of California satellite campus. So new age touchy-feely it makes me want to puke.

Steveg
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January 16, 2022 7:52 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Allen, we have talked in the past about it, but that day was absolutely the bottom of the barrel no question. Riley saw it (I bet he watched that game several times) and it was the showcase for how inept certain players were. Now we notice they are gone and being replaced. Thankfully.

Steveg
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January 14, 2022 7:36 pm

If THE Williams’s are coming they have two weeks to get enrolled. We should hear something soon I would think. I still cannot imagine them going to ucla, not with what they know LR can do for them both.

Golden Trojan
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January 14, 2022 5:31 pm

I thought scheduling would get better with the new Pac12 Commish. Tomorrow tip offs, #6 Arizona 8pm ET, #3 UCLA 10:30pm ET, #5 USC 11pm ET. Do they NOT want the east coast to watch the Pac12?

Jamaica
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January 14, 2022 5:02 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Evidently the new coaching staff feels Taleni has potential they can develop. After 7-games at KSU he showed questionable production unless he was an effective clog on the LOS preventing much forward accumulation by the offense where he played, allowing LBs/DBs/safeties the ability to make quick tackles? Hope he pans out in this needed position.

Jamaica
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January 14, 2022 11:29 am

I think I may have a bead on where the conferences are on the expansion of the playoff. The SEC & ACC are against expansion while the Big 12, Big 10 & PAC-12 want expansion. The group of five conferences want assurances they would always be included. The main reason for the discord could be having to play more games with an expanded playoff which is why at least the ACC is totally against it. I have always felt 4-teams are enough. The only exception should be if there is a 5th team that really deserves to get in, then… Read more »

Steveg
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January 14, 2022 11:32 am
Reply to  Jamaica

The expanded playoff could play a role in saving some of the bowl games. Not all of them though. I can see an 8 team playoff working out real well and everyone would benefit from it.

Golden Trojan
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January 14, 2022 12:35 pm
Reply to  Jamaica

Play more games with an expanded playoff? Give me a break SEC. Maybe you could eliminate one or two of your 3 cupcake games, especially the one in November! Tell North Dakota State about your long season. They played 15 games same as Alabama and Georgia, 4 of them were post season. 8 team playoff will eventually expand the number of potential National Champs. SEC is afraid of losing their power.

Jamaica
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January 14, 2022 2:11 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

There is no right answer to whether playoff expansion is good for CFB or it will dilute the quality of what playoffs should represent. I don’t want to see a team that isn’t even rated in the top 15 get into the playoff because they were good enough in their lousy conference to win it and then get blasted in the playoff having to play the #1 rated team. You have just made it easier for mediocrity to be rewarded! Are we looking to “socialize CFB” or make teams have to earn it? If I am being selfish in this… Read more »

Golden Trojan
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January 14, 2022 2:23 pm
Reply to  Jamaica

The college basketball playoffs have been that way for decades. The 1v16 is usually a blow out. Those 10-16 seed teams have something to play for and it is excited for fans.

John Weld
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January 13, 2022 10:20 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

USC beat Oregon State 81 to 71 to extend their record to 14-1. The Trojans played a sloppy first-half but in the second-half the Trojan defense locked in and they came back to win the game.

Golden Trojan
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January 14, 2022 7:42 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

First half was ugly like the Stanford game but a nice come back. 67% FT shooting last night, 4th worst in nation 61%. That is going to lose some games.

UtahTrojan
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January 13, 2022 5:48 pm
Reply to  Allen Wallace

This one surprises me.

TrojanRJJ
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January 14, 2022 6:57 am
Reply to  UtahTrojan

Utah, It should not. Bru was accused of violence against a female. The DA did not prosecute. Bru was then faced with the SC Title IX Gestapo. He was never going to play at SC. Kenan C was suspended for 2 years for a minor scuffle with a guy over a girl. Bru made a mistake in the one area that, at SC, is unforgivable. He had to leave.

alfa1
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January 14, 2022 7:31 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Seems football players need to become celibate while attending USC :-))

RialtoTrojan
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January 14, 2022 10:52 am
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

TrojanRJJ I couldn’t say it any better. One just has look at how the Kicker of the winning field goal for the Cat’s one appearance in the Rose Bowl was treated to see there is a heavy agenda over in the Title IX office. The moment they heard it was a football player involved they conjured a mental image of a roid-raged muscle bound brute praying on innocent college ladies. Even when she protested that nothing happened, Title IX told her she was just traumatized and that she was forbidden to see him again. (imagine telling an adult they are… Read more »

Golden Trojan
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January 14, 2022 7:45 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Opens another spot, LR now has 11 open scholarships. Yes, looking for the good news on who is coming in.

Steveg
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January 14, 2022 11:29 am
Reply to  Golden Trojan

There is a ton of good WR in the portal. More of those than anything else so LR should have a good time recruiting for that position.

Golden Trojan
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January 13, 2022 10:22 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Hitting free throws especially at the end of a close game will help!🏀 It’s A FREE Shot! You can nail a contested 3 pointer but can’t hit from the foul line? A mystery in basketball.

Golden Trojan
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January 13, 2022 7:05 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

Has to be some O Linemen in the bunch. Come on LR, Bohn, Caruso, get the deal done. I wonder if they have to open some more roster space by getting some more current players to transfer out.

TrojanRJJ
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January 12, 2022 12:05 pm

I get the biggest kick from reading what the national media is NOW saying about the condition of SC football. The talent is mediocre and the kids are soft and undisciplined. This is a totally different story than was told last August, when SC was pre-season ranked #15 and projected to win the Pac 12 South. Yet, they still do not admit what caused this train wreck (and all NOW agree it what this board long ago knew – The Cat’s SC Program was a train wreck). Yet, Dodd still ranked Clay as a competent coach who Georgia Southern was… Read more »

Steveg
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January 13, 2022 5:51 am
Reply to  Allen Wallace

I am sticking with my 9 win prediction for 2022, and it could be better than that.

Rock2112
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January 12, 2022 11:34 pm
Reply to  TrojanRJJ

Someone has probably mentioned this by now, but Rivals has ranked USC #10 in their way too early Top 10 for the 2022 season. They assume, of course, that CW will come our way, and it is especially critical now that that happen!