USC Trojans (3-2, 2-2 Pac-12) vs. Utah Utes (2-2, 1-0 Pac-12)
Location: L.A. Memorial Coliseum | Los Angeles, Calif.
Kickoff Time: 5:00 PM PT
TV: FOX – Click here to stream the game live on your computer or cellphone
Radio: 790 KABC -Radio coverage in Los Angeles for USC vs. Utah will air on 790 KABC beginning at 1:00 pm PT and features Pete Arbogast, Shaun Cody, Jordan Moore, John Jackson Jr., Jason Schwartz, Max Browne, Su’a Cravens (includes 4-hour pre-game and 2-hour postgame shows).
Ute to Watch: Junior LB Devin Lloyd
Lloyd will not be hard to find on the field. He will be sitting in the middle of the Utah defense, rocking the No. 0 and flying to the football. In four games this season, he has racked up 46 tackles (most per game in the Pac-12), 2 interceptions, 2 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery. Other than that, he’s been pretty quiet through the first month.
Three Keys
Line of Scrimmage: When it comes to Kyle Whittingham, you can always count on his teams to be big and strong at the line of scrimmage. This year’s version may not be his best, but they will be a test for the Trojans nonetheless. In its wins this season, USC has held opponents to 82 rush yards per game, but in their losses, the Trojans have allowed 231.5 yards on the ground. Along with putting pressure on USC’s run defense, the Utes are averaging 3 sacks per game, which ranks second in the Pac-12. The Trojans must protect Kedon Slovis who was knocked out of the 2019 Utah game on the first drive.
Big Play Potential: After Slovis was injured in 2019, Matt Fink came off the bench and threw for 351 yards and 3 TDs. Last season, Slovis passed for 264 yards and 2 TDs in a victory in Salt Lake City. The Utes have the No. 13 ranked pass defense in the nation, but it’s an aggressive scheme which has leaked big plays against Graham Harrell’s passing offense. If the quarterback has time, Drake London, Gary Bryant Jr. and Michael Trigg can get behind the Utes.
Special Night: This projects to be a close game which means special teams could play a huge role. Historically, Utah is elite in the kicking game. So far this season though, USC’s specialists are at the top of the Pac-12. Parker Lewis is 9/9 kicking field goals and ranks third in the conference in scoring. Ben Griffiths is averaging more than 45 yards per punt, but needs to avoid Britain Covey, the leading punt returner in the Pac-12. A blocked kick or a long return could swing this result one way or the other.
From USC Athletic Department.
We are learning with each passing week that Urban Meyer needed us as much as we needed him. His NFL experiment cannot be going worse. It’s a full-fledged train wreck, and I believe that his recent public transgression was the equivalent of a cry for help. That was as close to a “f**k it all” moment as you can get. That was Cameron killing his dad’s Ferrari. “I can’t hide this,” so now things gotta change. I am sure there are those who are saying, ah, good thing we didn’t get Urban, or Folt would have this big embarrassment on… Read more »
Poor Urban. I never thought I’d see him in THIS position. Unless things change quickly for him, he’ll lose not only his career, but also his family as well. As you say, what a total full-fledged trainwreck Urban has become.
USC has its problems. Urban has his. Never the twain shall meet.
Not anymore, certainly. Guy probably can’t get his gig on Fox back now either.
For a guy who seemingly has had some stress issues in the past, I can’t imagine the strain he’s under. I hope he can hold it together. Tough time.
Yeah. On the other hand, while money can’t buy happiness, it can buy away a lot of UNhappiness! He just needs to get away from everything, and I mean everything, for a while and connect with nature or something!
I’m jokingly picturing Urban now alone in some wildly overhot weight-loss sauna, somewhere near a dry, tumbleweed town in the middle of Work Out Farm, California. What else better way to connect with nature?! So many people’s lives in CFB have changed radically and forever in just the last three months. And the biggest question still looms. Just who will be USC’s next head football coach? Even when consistently fielding only truly mediocre, even downright bad teams, USC still remains this subject of intense coverage, as if it’s under a giant nationwide microscope. Everyone wants to know who the next… Read more »
It’s pretty amazing, Allen, that we’re going to get an answer to that question. This is a really hard one for Bohn to nail. With Penn State going down this weekend, hopefully that dampens some of the Franklin madness. Same with BYU/Sitake. But I can’t think of someone I really WANT. I am not even sure about Cristobal at this point. I mean, he is losing some games he has no business losing (Stanford). His recruiting has been off the charts but his in-game choices are odd at times.
Where are the true masters?!?!
I’m not one of those who think Cristobal would take the USC job, regardless of money. He’s got other designs most think.
I get the impression he holds USC football more in contempt. And if not, he does a great job of selling that somewhat disdainful approach to me. Maybe I’m just the sucker his agent likes to exploit. Could be.
Nobody seems to know nuthin’ in this in-full-swing USC coaching search. Ain’t it grand? Love it.
Isn’t there a small part of us that would not be surprised if USC were to steal Sark from Texas at the end of the season? It’s stupid as hell, but that’s how I felt when we took him from Washington. They were done with him up there and we did them a favor! I know (or at least I THINK I know) that we would never do that now. But why do I have this nagging feeling this coaching search is going to end with something equally head-scratching and stupid?!?!
When I read in the morning that Haden had hired Sark (Petersen turned down the job), I was one disappointed Trojan fan. I remember that day well.
Yeah, I’m guessing that is exactly how Texas fans felt last year. Boy that guy Sark must interview well!
In a bar dancing with a girl who is younger than his daughters. 🙂
If he were not married nobody would have given a second to it.
My morning amusement: Is there anything left to believe in as the college gridiron goes with Alabama losing to an unranked team that got all it could handle from the Colorado Buffaloes?!?! And does this mean we are closer to the scenario raised in this group recently — Clay Helton’s hiring as the next OC in Tuscaloosa?!?!
I predict Saban and ‘Bama will play for another NC this year. Just because they lost one heart breaker at historic Kyle Field in College Station is no reason to throw out the baby with the bathwater. Jimbo Fisher can coach, as he has proven many times in the past against elite competition.
Frankly, I’d take Jimbo Fisher at USC, though I doubt the two are a fit for each other. Of course, I’m desperate!
It’s amazing to watch two fairly bad teams, like UCLA and especially ARIZ. Constant penalties. Total slop. But ARIZ is so bad that even UCLA will run away from them.
Something to write home about:
USC (3-3, 2-3) has lost three straight at the Coliseum by at least 14 points for the first time in school history. Now that’s a record worth hiding Clay/Donte/Bohn/Folt/Caruso!
ARIZ trying to stop the longest losing streak in CFB and losing to UCLA only 17-16 with 8 mins to go in the 3rd. Go Wildcats!
I will say this for Choc Chip Kelly. Defensive player made a stupid roughing the passer penalty and he was yanked. Couple of plays and have not seen him back on the field.
First half the bRuins have 3 yards passing. 😝
But they just had a huge kickoff return.
Reminded me of USC’s late KO return against UCLA last year that set up Slovis winning the game for USC!
DTR just threw a horrible pass. So they kicked a field goal.
Pass defense, O line, and red zone scoring are the big problem areas for USC. Any time a QB can throw for over 400 yards and not win is inexcusable. Couldn’t put it into the end zone. Giving up 42 points is always tough to overcome and pass defense when you know it is coming deep and they score is horrible. So take a week off, thank God for it.
BTW, bRuins are only up by 1 at half-time against AZ. Could they lose tonight to the woeful Wildcats?
That would be SO cool if it could happen. I would be totally elated!
DTR is horrible tonight.
The most inconsistent qb in college ball.
I like it when DTR pretends he’s a ballerina after making a good play. It’s such a little gutty thing to do.
Lol
Not sure what you can say about tonight’s game other than Utah whipped us. People will look at the stats and think it was a close game. It really wasn’t close and it was over by halftime. I think a new coach will help to change the culture, play, and the players. I really hope Bohn gets this hire right. His job depends on it. Doubt we get Fickell so let’s go all in on Mario Cristobal. James Franklin proved today he can’t win the big games. Would love to see if Kirby Smart wants to leave Georgia but doubt… Read more »
You got anyone else because not one of those guys would even consider it.
Dave Aranda or Mel Tucker
I like Aranda. Tucker is the guy that left CO high and dry. Like DeBoer? Harsin? Stoops?
Yeah but he’s got Michigan State at 6-0. Stoops at Kentucky? Maybe but not sure if he’s ready for the primetime jobs.
So we should see Georgia, Iowa,,Cinncy, oklahoma, Alabama in the top 5 tomorrow.
I think it will be in this order: Georgia, Iowa, Alabama, Oklahoma and Cincinnati
For now, it looks like Georgia and the four dwarves. Where’s Mickey Mouse when you need him?
So you think Alabama will only fall 2 spots? Could happen with the sportswriters on the AP poll. Love seeing new blood near the top though. Gives everyone some hope.
Alabama will still end up playing for the SEC title based on their record. What do they care about how they are ranked now? It doesn’t even matter.
You are absolutely correct, I was a litte too quick with my response, in fact I would probably change everything about it.
Is undefeated Kentucky in the top 10?
So Bama goes down. My prediction for the remainder of the season is this. UGA goes undefeated and meets Bama in the SEC championship game. Bama wins, giving both UGA and Bama 1 loss. They both go into the playoffs as seeds 1 and 2, defeat their opponents in the semi games, then meet for the championship and rubber match. Why do I believe this? 2 reasons: the way this season is going, there will be no undefeated teams in the Power 5 at the end of the season, and we all know that SEC teams get a mulligan with… Read more »
I love college football. The teams with the least mistakes usually wins, people flood the field, and you never know when there will be a huge upset. Had Nebraska not dropped the football they would have beaten Michigan.
I love and hate the unpredictability of college football, especially when it comes to your school that you live and die for. But you are right, Steve, the traditions, the atmosphere, the pure joy and expectations of everything leading up to every game, is unmatched. Just when you think you have a team and game figured out, it goes the other way, sometimes for no explainable reason. The one constant are the peaks and valleys of programs over stretches of years and decades. Those of us who have been around long enough know we will see better days
A year of firsts? OSU wins in the coliseum after 61yrs and now Utan wins in the coliseum too. Could we be looking at a 6-loss season?
Thanks Helton.
I would say 6 is the minimum.
Now we should see a new #1 as bama falls to A&M.
Congrats to Jimbo Fisher! The first asst to ever beat Saban. It’s about time.
Takes a little of the sting away from our beating. Now I just need the Dodgers to win and all will be well in the world.
Go Dodgers! Guys like Wally Moon, Gil Hodges, Duke Snyder, and Johnny Podres were some of my first sports heroes.
A&M can beat ALA with a FG. Now 38-38 with two mins left.
A&M being led by the backup qb. 
And USC can’t even find a 1st string QB. Neither can UCLA. ✌
Jaxson looks good and he should have a decent coach to work with. The concern is still the O-line.
Jaxson got hurt after he was playing for about two minutes. Hopefully, he can stay healthy.
It would be so refreshing to hear Bohn say he realizes he should have fired Helton sooner, it will never happen. But it would be nice.
I thought a lot of people thought Folt and Caruso put the lid on what Bohn could do? Do you buy that, or not?
They very well could have. But fair or not Bohn is the AD. If he was not allowed to do what he felt was right he had options.
so this is on his watch and a permanent part of his resume. If he brings in an average head coach that only treads water nobody else will ever touch him. But Folt is probably ok with that.
It seems this is one of the great mysteries of USC football.
How much football authority has Bohn really always had? There seems to be lots of different versions to this answer.
Agreed and it will probably never be known unless somebody writes their memoirs. But who will really care in 30 years or so. But that is why I say Bohn had options IF the choice was made for him. I have never had a job that paid me 7 figures but I am paid well and I left my last job in order to keep my integrity. Today I have a great job and I can look at myself in the mirror with pride. IF Bohn couldn’t fire Clay then he made the decision to stay. As you say we… Read more »
We could always try to give Bohn credit for playing the “long game” at USC. If he hires the guy who can/does save USC football, I’ll give him all the credit he ever wants!
That is a big if, but I agree. If he comes through I will give him credit. If he doesn’t he deserves to be flushed with Haden and Swan.
I think that it was made clear to Bohn, two years ago, that to fire Helton then, in wake of the scandals that were breaking, and the financial liabilities that were coming, would be a bad look because the buyout was so high. We don’t know if it were just strongly suggested, or he was flat old told he could make every other change except Helton. If that was the case, hiring new coaches around Helton to three year contracts was an expensive commitment in itself. In light of now knowing mega booster Hughes had a Quid pro Quo with… Read more »
Clay Helton, Trojan Killer. Has a nice ring to it, no?
So what you are really saying is Helton is really King Agamemnon?
Helton — The most hated Trojan coach in my lifetime. I’m 69, so that’s saying something.
People really seemed to hate Larry Smith too after he lost to FRESNO ST in the Freedom Bowl and spoke of logos being meaningless. Bye, bye Larry!
Larry Smith is probably the only one smiling right now. Being number 2 is not so bad.
It is going to be a long……..long …..long 2 more months waiting just to get to the time of the year where we can start interviewing our next head coach …..Have a good night LOYAL USC fans !
So just what job will Orlando be looking for? Harrell can be a manager at McDonald’s.
Nah. He would screw that up too.
Whitt is getting payback on Donte.
Reminds me of when ucla tried pulling that crap.
Wow. They just said Bohn is one of the best AD’s in the country. I’m sorry, but what has he done to make that statement?
Nothing yet, but his next hire will prove whether or not that is true.
I don’t ever remember Clancy’s defense playing this poorly.
You want Clancy back? I didn’t think so. What a schmuck.
We have a history of coordinators that think they are smarter than everyone else, but when their groups hit the field they keep proving themselves to be nothing more than fools.
Slovis makes a play like that and it reminds you what he is capable of. But the rest of the game he just makes you shake your head.
Who knows who was on the field for UTAH? Back-up city probably, and even if not, pure garbage time points don’t matter.
Look on the bright side, we go again next season, AND, we have a new head coach to look forward to!!!!! FIGHT ON as best you can.
Congrats on your big 32-29 win over VT today. Typical ND team. Good, but can’t play with the big boys.
I do not even see traces of this human emotion with this team right now …..The emotion called ……PRIDE !
Guys at Vegas saying “Wanna make the Irish a 20 point favorite over SC ” ?
40
At this point if they wanted at least one person to bet on SC that might just be the number .
I would take the Irish and give the points. 😂
Its sad when your punter is the best player on the team. He actually has a future in the NFL.
Notre Dame gonna drool watching this tape !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Just turned the Dodger game and they score 4 runs during the two minutes I watched. Dodges up 6 to 1.
ALA losing only 31-27 now. Oops, I mean ALA is now losing 31-30, with 8:53 to go.
Can someone tell
me why we keep running the ball out of the end zone to not even get to the 15?
Maybe our players just aren’t good at math?
I was thinking that maybe special teams could be the only group that could have been considered decent tonight, but not with how many yards were given up by not taking the touchback.
If Donte ever wants to be considered for a HC role he needs to decide if he wants to be liked by the players or not. Because right now all I see is a guy that likes to talk tough, but is going deeper into the Helton hole
Hell at least with Kiffen’s teams the offense could at least keep pace and put 50 plus when needed. One thing is certain. The Air Raid is officially dead. This gimmick offense is horrendous. We better get a coach and coordinators that actually understand football. I hope the school loses millions of donations and we dump munchkin Folt. Her commie ass has no business to be running SC.
10,000 upvotes to T 96!!!
What in the world was Brando thinking in the first half when he said Orlando was playing chess and Utah was playing checkers. This defense is simple addition to Utah’s integral calculus is more like reality.
Dan Lanning (Georgia’s DC ) Says yes to being our next DC …..Do you ponder bringing back Kiffin ? (Tho I get nervous if he still has any “Baggage” )
USC is trying to streamline football by only playing three quarters. Who said Helton wasn’t an innovator?
Maybe if we could play five quarters we’d win fourteen minutes after the Utes hit the locker room.
You saw three quarters of football played by players in USC uniforms tonight? Or are you talking about in the last three home games?
No doubt though. This is the SOFTEST USC team ever. So soft, I officially feel sorry for the little Trojans. Please show mercy on us!
Like I said earlier. Utah is going to put up over 40 on us.
Smart observation. Trojans lead the world in busted defensive plays. Ouch. That hurts baby!
If I am USC AD I Gotta make a phone call to Dan Lanning (Georgia’s DC ) as soon as I felt that his current employer would allow it …..Even if he does not want Head Coach I would have no problem making him our next DC .
Having lived here for 30 years, I feel I can give my fellow Trojans on the west coast a statement that I firmly believe in my gut. If a football coach in the Southeast (probably the Southwest) has lived and coached there for much of his life, the prospect of moving your family to Southern California is almost a negative. We all know how a series of woke governors and local politicians in a one-party state have taken much of the bloom off of California’s rose. So, to just throw out names: Kirby Smart, Tony Elliott and other men with… Read more »
I don’t think any of us have ever counted on any southern HFC’s or assts coming to USC’s rescue. About the closest we’ll ever get there is Franklin, who was at VANDY for two years and was born in PA. He’s probably better off there is my guess, where he’s good, but never great. With USC’s season long ago in the dumper, I’m still on Cloud 9 because Helton has been fired. That was my XMAS present from USC football, and STAN football as well. Thank You two! And now that Folt/Caruso/Bohn all get to experience the laughable horror of… Read more »
California is stocked to the ceiling with raging wokeaholics. Will the pendulum ever swing back the other direction?
Yes, Helton, this mess is all on you, and your name will live on in Trojan infamy as the worst coach and leader of the Trojan football program in its history.
Agree !!!!!
If there is a football purgatory, Clay Helton should be seated there in front of a big screen TV and made to watch an endless loop of the Stanford, Oregon State, and Utah games.
Helton is probably partying on Caruso’ boat.
It’s officially called “The Helton Curse” that hovers over the program.
I know NY jets fans that feel Rich Kotite destroyed the Jets for years ……I fear I am getting familiar with how they felt .
London is great. But he needs to stop talking to the Utah sideline. We are getting embarrassed.
I actually like that London is still mouthing off to UTAH. As you can tell, I have bought ALL of his Kool-Aid!
As a person that resides in the NY Metro area I have seen what I thought where the worst program destroyers be employees of the NY Jets (which I am NOT a fan of fortunately) …..This might be WORSE !!!!! (I am NOT talking about the University I am putting this on ONE particular human being ).
Every loss (especially losses at home) put more pressure on Bohn, Folt and Caruso to get this fixed in the best way possible as fast as possible.
I wish I could believe that but they are a very big part of the reason we are in this position
John’s right IMO. USC’s gotta be fixed by someone who will charge a lot of money. Undeniable for ALL to see.
I’m not disagreeing with what we need. I do t feel confident that our leadership trifecta (Folt, Bohn & Caruso) are going to get it right.
From what I understand Bohn has not hired an outside agency to assist in finding the next coach and has decided he is the best one to assess the talent.
Outside agency’s never helped us in the past. There are lots of ways to skin this cat IMO. I’ll be USC’s outside agency. Give me your recommendations and I’ll pass them along!
They are a huge part of it and they were not smart enough to see what we all saw but they can see it now and they will feel the financial pain and the humiliation.
Personally don’t think Folt is embarrassed by any of this. Caruso is an idiot. Bohn is the only one whose career is riding on this.
I just don’t see a quick fix. This culture at USC is going to take a few recruiting cycles to be rid of. These players have wasted their football careers coming to play in this program. They each could have been better elsewhere.
Unfortunately, it will take 2-3 years to see some progress and it could take another year if we lose out on recruits this year due to a lack of a coach.
I think the culture can be changed by the right man in a year. Carroll did it at USC. Holtz did it at ND. Saban did it at ALA. Meyer did it at OHIO ST. It can happen very quickly with the right guy.
If USC fans feel that this is gonna be our level of play in our next game I would have to call any USC fan that would ACTUALLY watch the USC vs ND game very very very BRAVE !!!!!
There are USC guys still out there who are trying to play their hearts out. Good for the Trojans who haven’t quit. Fight On dudes!
Team sure lacks playmakers outside of London.
Air Mail Slovis! Kinda catchy!
#1 on that list is Drake London.
Has any HC ruined more careers than The Cat? I have given up on the SC game and am watching the AL game. Every coach on this staff has suffered major career reversal. Think of the players. Kedon’s career has been retarded. What a disaster.
The Cat laughed his way to the vault! What a killing he made, no pun intended.
The only player to really improve was JT who transferred away.
Best thing that ever happened to JT was losing his starting role at USC.
The “Cat” only did what he did because USC’s administration and amatuer-hour ADs let him. Bohn’s wearing that too. Those are the villains. Helton just looked out for himself.
I got nothing left. Good night, y’all. See you at the biannual crushing of the Trojans at South Bend in two weeks.
Why are you punting when you are down 25 heading into the fourth quarter? Raise the white surrender flag and hope to keep the blowout down? At least Kiffin has the balls to go for it on fourth down in his own territory. What are you trying to tell everyone?
Donte and this team are in way over their heads.