Records:Â Arizona State 1-3, 0-1 in Pac-12; USC 4-0, 2-0
Odds: USC -26.5
Adam Grosbard (OC Register)
Arizona State update:Â The Sun Devils are in a complete tailspin as they come to Los Angeles. Last week, following a home loss to Eastern Michigan, Arizona State finally fired head coach Herm Edwards, whose days in Tempe always felt numbered with an NCAA investigation hanging over him.
Saturday, in the first game since the firing, Arizona State lost big 34-13 to Utah. … The Sun Devils were never able to get the run game going. Xazavian Valladay (1) gained 30 yards on eight rushes, but this was negated by the five sacks surrendered by the ASU offensive line. … The Sun Devils are 11th in the Pac-12 in total offense, gaining 348 yards per game.
USC update: The Trojans return to the Coliseum riding a wave of emotions following a 17-14, Houdini-act win over Oregon State in Corvallis. After three weeks of consternation, the Trojan defense proved it can hang with its high-powered counterpart. USC held the proficient Oregon State attack to two touchdowns — one on a short field — and 320 yards, both well below the Beavers’ season averages.
USC is tied for first in the nation with 14 turnovers gained this season, without allowing a single one. … Running back Travis Dye had his third straight game with 100 yards rushing, taking 19 carries for 133 yards and a touchdown. … Wide receiver Tahj Washington (below) has found his role in the offense, gaining 67 yards on six passes and serving as the only reliable option for much of the game against the Beavers.
USC lost to ASU last year 31-16 in Tempe, the first of four straight losses to end their 4-8 season.
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I know Allen does it and I do to once a week. Go to the ncaa football stats page. Interesting reading. USC stands well in several categories and few not so good. But overall USC is represented well, better than Alabama in some areas.
Steve, The turn around engineered by LR is off the charts. And, it was LR. Mario Cristobal had the same opportunity at Miami and look what happened to him. LR recruited a sensational 2021 team. It is far from perfect, but it is a solid team. And it is entirely put together by LR. 51 of Helton’s players are gone from the 2021 team. It is amazing what he has done. And, whatever was written about Donte Williams not be able to coach was simple nonsense. Our DB are amazing. Whatever was written about Grinch, particularly by the folks from… Read more »
Grinch was only at tosu 1 year. Not enough time for them to really get a read on his abilities. Who knows what the politics were, if the players bought in, etc.
I’m looking for steady improvement throughout the season, and then next year after his system has been in and completely understood by all before I make any judgments.
I mentioned this last week about the PAC-12 shooting it’s own foot in denying more TV viewers to see the more competitive games in a conference trying to prove itself still viable in the Power 5. Here is a great example; the OSU game was showcased all last week as an upset target match and few got to see it. This week the Trojans play, next to Colorado, the worst team in the conference and it is being shown on ESPN. It would not surprise me to see the Utah-USC game held captive again on the PAC-12 network.
This is what forced USC and UCLA to go to the Big10.
The Pac12 is not taking full advantage of the media exposure.
If you look at the presentation the games don’t have the buildup
that would have on ESPN, Fox, or ABC. On a big national game
only the west coast is comfortable to watch the game.
Is the Pac12 they only conference with its own network?
The more national exposure the Pac12 has the more money
they can bring in. But they haven’t for some reason figured that out.
Fox & ESPN have preference in selecting games before the Pac-12 Network. They have been waiting on better matchups before exercising their choices. The SC-Utah game is exactly what they have been waiting for. Expect to see more SC games on Fox or ESPN. I am not 100% certain but I think SC has already met their contractual obligation to the Pac-12 Network for this season.
Trojan 5, I think SC has one more Pac 12 game. I trust it will be the CO game. If I were the Commissioner all future CO games would be on the Pac 12 network. I would not want that team to represent the Pac on national TV.
The Big 12 isn’t much better. TTech beats Texas, K St beat OK. This week TTech plays K St and it isn’t televised. Go figure that one out. The South Carolina game has been moved to Thursday due to Ian. So perhaps some schedule changes will happen.
Jamaica, I totally agree. When I saw what had happened to the USC/Oregon State game, I said the Commissioner had to intervene and switch out with another Pac 12 game. Biggest game for OSU in the last decade. If OSU had won, it would have made the Utah/OSU game must see TV. And, if SC won in a close game, it established SC as a national must see and a contender for the Final Four. Instead it played at an awful time zone on a network no one watches. Even then, I bet it was (and will be) the most… Read more »
Maybe at the coliseum the Trojans will get a regulation 40 second play clock. Something has been bothering me since the first quarter of the Oregon State game. The Trojans were late starting their plays several times. I wondered how can a person who can probably tell you accurately when 40 seconds have passed, as Caleb should be able, be off so many times. I only have the TV picture as my guide so I don’t know where the 40 second clock was located in the stadium, but I do know how to run a stop watch. So watching the… Read more »
Only answer I can come up with, was the OSU defense repositioning their players after the Trojan offense was set, causing Caleb to audible at the LOS before the clock ran out?
I do not think the guy running the play clock is part of the officiating crew. He works for OSU so some quick clocks would be possible. Of course the officiating is not top caliber to begin with so we have to take that into consideration. I don’t understand why there isn’t someone on the field close to LR that keeps tabs on the clock when USC is visitor.
Arizona State update:Â The Sun Devils are in a complete tailspin as they come to Los Angeles. Last week, following a home loss to Eastern Michigan, Arizona State finally fired head coach Herm Edwards, whose days in Tempe always felt numbered with an NCAA investigation hanging over him.
Lincoln Riley’s post-practice interview today:
https://youtu.be/nbUuA8tgN5U
I know Allen does it and I do to once a week. Go to the ncaa football stats page. Interesting reading. USC stands well in several categories and few not so good. But overall USC is represented well, better than Alabama in some areas.
Steve, The turn around engineered by LR is off the charts. And, it was LR. Mario Cristobal had the same opportunity at Miami and look what happened to him. LR recruited a sensational 2021 team. It is far from perfect, but it is a solid team. And it is entirely put together by LR. 51 of Helton’s players are gone from the 2021 team. It is amazing what he has done. And, whatever was written about Donte Williams not be able to coach was simple nonsense. Our DB are amazing. Whatever was written about Grinch, particularly by the folks from… Read more »
Grinch was only at tosu 1 year. Not enough time for them to really get a read on his abilities. Who knows what the politics were, if the players bought in, etc.
I’m looking for steady improvement throughout the season, and then next year after his system has been in and completely understood by all before I make any judgments.
I mentioned this last week about the PAC-12 shooting it’s own foot in denying more TV viewers to see the more competitive games in a conference trying to prove itself still viable in the Power 5. Here is a great example; the OSU game was showcased all last week as an upset target match and few got to see it. This week the Trojans play, next to Colorado, the worst team in the conference and it is being shown on ESPN. It would not surprise me to see the Utah-USC game held captive again on the PAC-12 network.
This is what forced USC and UCLA to go to the Big10.
The Pac12 is not taking full advantage of the media exposure.
If you look at the presentation the games don’t have the buildup
that would have on ESPN, Fox, or ABC. On a big national game
only the west coast is comfortable to watch the game.
Is the Pac12 they only conference with its own network?
The more national exposure the Pac12 has the more money
they can bring in. But they haven’t for some reason figured that out.
Fox & ESPN have preference in selecting games before the Pac-12 Network. They have been waiting on better matchups before exercising their choices. The SC-Utah game is exactly what they have been waiting for. Expect to see more SC games on Fox or ESPN. I am not 100% certain but I think SC has already met their contractual obligation to the Pac-12 Network for this season.
Trojan 5, I think SC has one more Pac 12 game. I trust it will be the CO game. If I were the Commissioner all future CO games would be on the Pac 12 network. I would not want that team to represent the Pac on national TV.
If you were commissioner you would have done a better job than Larry Scott. He promised big , but failed to deliver on any thing.
Trojan5, I think my 11 year old grandson could have done a better job than Larry Scott.
That pos should be in prison
The Big 12 isn’t much better. TTech beats Texas, K St beat OK. This week TTech plays K St and it isn’t televised. Go figure that one out. The South Carolina game has been moved to Thursday due to Ian. So perhaps some schedule changes will happen.
Jamaica, I totally agree. When I saw what had happened to the USC/Oregon State game, I said the Commissioner had to intervene and switch out with another Pac 12 game. Biggest game for OSU in the last decade. If OSU had won, it would have made the Utah/OSU game must see TV. And, if SC won in a close game, it established SC as a national must see and a contender for the Final Four. Instead it played at an awful time zone on a network no one watches. Even then, I bet it was (and will be) the most… Read more »
Maybe at the coliseum the Trojans will get a regulation 40 second play clock. Something has been bothering me since the first quarter of the Oregon State game. The Trojans were late starting their plays several times. I wondered how can a person who can probably tell you accurately when 40 seconds have passed, as Caleb should be able, be off so many times. I only have the TV picture as my guide so I don’t know where the 40 second clock was located in the stadium, but I do know how to run a stop watch. So watching the… Read more »
Only answer I can come up with, was the OSU defense repositioning their players after the Trojan offense was set, causing Caleb to audible at the LOS before the clock ran out?
I do not think the guy running the play clock is part of the officiating crew. He works for OSU so some quick clocks would be possible. Of course the officiating is not top caliber to begin with so we have to take that into consideration. I don’t understand why there isn’t someone on the field close to LR that keeps tabs on the clock when USC is visitor.