Sam Darnold answers critics, makes history as Trojan QB
Allen Wallace — Sam Darnold will become the first USC Trojan quarterback to start a Super Bowl by leading the Seattle Seahawks to Super Bowl LX with a 31-27 nail-biter over the LA Rams.
USC holds the all-time record for the most college football players to appear on Super Bowl-winning teams, with a total of 64 Trojans as of early 2025. But the all-important quarterback position has been a gap for USC, until Darnold QBd the Seahawks to victory yesterday.
Darnold, originally chosen #3 by the New York Jets, is also the first quarterback from the 2018 NFL Draft class to start a Super Bowl, preceding others such as Baker Mayfield (1st ), Josh Allen (7th) and Lamar Jackson (32nd).
Darnold, who’s often been hounded by questions about his big-game ability while with five NFL teams and has been dogged by nightmare NFL situations and questionable coaching, finally blew down his critics with the game of his professional career.
USC’s 2017 Rose Bowl MVPfrom Dana Point, Calif., completed 25 of 36 passes for 346 yards with 3 touchdowns. And, unlike in some of his previous high-profile debacles, Darnold avoided any turn overs.
The Seahawks scored a touchdown on their first possession, capped by a run by Kenneth Walker III. Los Angeles fought back to take a 13-10 lead late in the second quarter. But Darnold quickly drove the Seahawks 74 yards in 36 seconds, finding Jaxon Smith-Njigba for his first touchdown pass of the game to send Seattle into halftime with a 17-13 lead.
He then connected with Jake Bobo for another TD early in the third quarter after a bungled Rams punt return set up Seattle in the red zone. Darnold’s third touchdown pass, this one to former Ram All-Pro Cooper Kupp, gave Seattle a 31-20 lead with 4:52 remaining in the third quarter.
Smith-Njigba starred alongside Darnold with 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown, extending a breakout season in which he led the NFL in receiving yards.
Seahawks survive late taunting blunder
The Rams led the league in scoring in the regular season and again severely tested the vaunted Seahawks defense by putting up 479 yards of total offense. A taunting penalty on Seattle CB Tariq Woolen extended a late third-quarter Rams drive after a third-and-12 stop, allowing LA to score on a deep throw from Matthew Stafford to Puka Nacua on the very next play.
But Seattle’s defense came up with two crucial stops in the last five minutes. Darnold and Seattle were finally able to shut the door on a Rams comeback.
Their prize is a rematch of Super Bowl XLIX with the Patriots, who beat the Denver Broncos in Sunday’s AFC championship. It’s a redo that’s 11 years in the making — the two organizations played a classic Super Bowl XLIX 11 years ago, with Malcolm Butler’s stunning over-the-middle-goal-line pick preserving a 28-24 New England win over Pete Carroll’s Seahawks, who were seeking their second straight Super Bowl win in 2015.
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I was hoping that Indiana would be easy due to quite a few folks leaving. The story is that three OL starters are returning including Carter Smith, adding the 6th guy from this year as a starter….and…..they landed Brunner from Wisconsin who is a road grader with good feet.
That is going to be another outstanding line.
Anything short of playoffs and Riley should go. It’s Year 5. We can’t keep looking at the schedule and “giving” Riley the loss on all the tough teams. He has to start beating teams with a pulse. Not all of them – he “gets” to lose to Oregon and maybe Ohio State. If he wants to lose to Washington, Penn State or Indiana, he has to earn that right by beating one of Oregon or Ohio State. But the bottom line is, 12 teams make the playoffs. In Year 5, with a veteran QB, we had better be one of… Read more »
“We can’t keep looking at the schedule and ‘giving’ Riley the loss on all the tough teams.”
Sadly, this is the state of USC football under Riley. When tough teams come up, people start immediately penciling in USC losses. I’ll be damn glad when this is no longer the case, whoever our coach is.
JMHO — I once again don’t see this USC team as playoff bound, even with three out-of-conf cupcakes and no ND on the schedule.
I just looked at the 2023 recruiting class…….except for one player the rest of the better than average recruits are gone. 2024 is not much better. We lost the best recruit from last year (25)…..Husan. His coaching is driving people away. If ND was on the schedule even an optimist would say 7-5. Downside 5-7. but….he managed to convince us that playing a nobody was in our best interest. Bottom line….the sooner he leaves the better……although I will say he has a chance this year to pull a few wins out of his —. He now has a DC and… Read more »
What did the hell did USC expect for $10 million per year? Heritage Hall still needs an on-call Shaman Spiritual Advisor and a Roster Sorcerer Coach. A Tarot Card Reader who can align recruiting visits when the moon is not in retrograde. A Vibes and Affirmation assistant sideline coach. An assistant Culture Coach who gently explains to LR why other coaches aren’t working, and then immediately apologizes for the comment. An Assistant Sideline Masseuse Tight Shoulder Muscle Coach for those constant third and forever downs. A Depth Chart Feeling Committee Coach who whispers to all new recruits “next year”. A… Read more »
SC-72 it seems like Lincoln Riley has sold Jen & the administration the Brooklyn Bridge in not only making him rich but giving him all the toys a football coach dreams about. In the accumulation of HC responsibility perks all Riley has to deal with is running his offense and is CEO’ing everything else. You can’t tell me there isn’t a bunch of coaches out there who think Riley is a fraud in not only what he has accomplished at USC but also how pretty much everything was given to him in getting this job (taking over a previous HC… Read more »
Truthfully Sam Darnold is the reason my wife and I decided to keep our Trojan season tickets. We were struggling because we’d had our seats for seasons, but wasn’t happy with the program’s direction ( hugs Helton for one) and as you know Trojan season tickets ain’t cheap. Once Sam took over, it’s like the entire team went to a different level. Not smug, not dismissive, not outspoken. Just a good kid from south Orange County. Yes I support the Rams but I’m a CFB guy from childhood. Get it done Sam !
That was such a hard game to watch, being born and bred Rams fan since childhood, and a USC fan the same time. It was great to see Sam excell as he has, he deserves this shot at the big game, he has truely paid his dues. The Rams will be back next year I am sure.
I cannot root for the Rams anymore. They moved to Anaheim, took John Robinson, then moved to St Louis and then the only reason they came back was for the money. Oh wait; let’s add the name Georgia Frontierre to my list of grievances. So, all of that makes it super easy for me to root for Sam and the Seahawks and I will make the drive to Primm this weekend to get a few wagers in on the Seahawks.
Much the same why I can’t root for the Chargers. Started in LA (before my time), moved to SD. Wildly entertaining with Don Coryell. Got close to the Super Bowl then Gene Klein gutted the team to sell it to Spanos. Got to the Super Bowl only to get completely blown out by the 49ers. Then Spanos ripped the town off and then move back to LA. I’m done. Go SC players in the NFL, especially Darnold.
I have always bristled at trolls who would ask “where are the Trojan Quarterback’s with Superbowl rings?” Under McKay, Robinson and most following coaches, the Quarterback position was the middleman of the offense. They occasionally good passers behind brick walls blocking. Then Pete Carroll’s era brought quarterbacks who turned tailback U into a more rounded offensive scheme with also some of the best linemen in college football. So while our quarterbacks flourished in college ball, they usually got drafted by teams who never thought to add to their lines. Sam is the one who managed to hang in there until… Read more »
Darnold, originally chosen #3 by the New York Jets, is also the first quarterback from the 2018 NFL Draft class to start a Super Bowl, preceding others such as Baker Mayfield (1st ), Josh Allen (7th) and Lamar Jackson (32nd). 
The Seahawks scored a touchdown on their first possession, capped by a run by 
This Trojan is now #1
2026 five-star EDGE Luke Wafle (6-5.5, 255, Princeton Hun School, NJ) is now the nation’s overall No. 1 prospect per Rivals’ latest rankings.
Wafle had 23 sacks and 37 TFL last season before being named the MVP of the 2026 Navy All-American Bowl.
New cornerbacks coach on the way.
I don’t see how the top teams in the Big Ten gets through their schedules undefeated. They all play eachother.
I was hoping that Indiana would be easy due to quite a few folks leaving. The story is that three OL starters are returning including Carter Smith, adding the 6th guy from this year as a starter….and…..they landed Brunner from Wisconsin who is a road grader with good feet.
That is going to be another outstanding line.
They’ll have more talent next year than they had last year since they lacked talent last year.
Best case for 2026 7-5.
USC is only team with 2 byes with one between OSU and UI. Still no week 0 game yet. Will this be the first time USC plays an FCS team? Hope not.
5 maybe 6 conference wins, 3 cupcakes to start the season, 9-3 or 8-4 likely. Anything worse Riley should go if USC can afford the buyout.
Anything short of playoffs and Riley should go. It’s Year 5. We can’t keep looking at the schedule and “giving” Riley the loss on all the tough teams. He has to start beating teams with a pulse. Not all of them – he “gets” to lose to Oregon and maybe Ohio State. If he wants to lose to Washington, Penn State or Indiana, he has to earn that right by beating one of Oregon or Ohio State. But the bottom line is, 12 teams make the playoffs. In Year 5, with a veteran QB, we had better be one of… Read more »
“We can’t keep looking at the schedule and ‘giving’ Riley the loss on all the tough teams.”
Sadly, this is the state of USC football under Riley. When tough teams come up, people start immediately penciling in USC losses. I’ll be damn glad when this is no longer the case, whoever our coach is.
JMHO — I once again don’t see this USC team as playoff bound, even with three out-of-conf cupcakes and no ND on the schedule.
I just looked at the 2023 recruiting class…….except for one player the rest of the better than average recruits are gone. 2024 is not much better. We lost the best recruit from last year (25)…..Husan. His coaching is driving people away. If ND was on the schedule even an optimist would say 7-5. Downside 5-7. but….he managed to convince us that playing a nobody was in our best interest. Bottom line….the sooner he leaves the better……although I will say he has a chance this year to pull a few wins out of his —. He now has a DC and… Read more »
Therein lies the problem…we all have untrained eyes.
Maybe 4th place in the Big10 gets in the playoffs. The Big10 should get 4 spots the way it dominates the other conferences.
Totally agree……now if could only get the talking heads to understand its not 2019.
Ha, that’s exactly what the SEC has said for years.
Ha, ha is right. 😂 Meet the new boss, same as the old boss.
The next thing you know, the B1G will be pirating the catchy slogan, “It Just Means More.”
Not so fast my friend …
I am a big Sam Darnold fan. Hard to believe he is the first USC QB to start in a Superbowl. Go Seahawks, and your quartet of Trojans
Luke Wafle is going to be a star. If you watch his film he’s strong enough to bull rush a defensive lineman(even though he doesn’t look that big) and quick enough to go around you. Also, he seems very mature. If you watch this interview, he doesn’t sound like a typical freshman.
https://www.on3.com/teams/usc-trojans/news/rivals-names-usc-defensive-end-luke-wafle-no-1-overall-in-2026-recruiting-class/?utm_source=sailthru&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=daily_43768638_usc&utm_term=USC%20Trojans%20News%20-%20Master
What did the hell did USC expect for $10 million per year? Heritage Hall still needs an on-call Shaman Spiritual Advisor and a Roster Sorcerer Coach. A Tarot Card Reader who can align recruiting visits when the moon is not in retrograde. A Vibes and Affirmation assistant sideline coach. An assistant Culture Coach who gently explains to LR why other coaches aren’t working, and then immediately apologizes for the comment. An Assistant Sideline Masseuse Tight Shoulder Muscle Coach for those constant third and forever downs. A Depth Chart Feeling Committee Coach who whispers to all new recruits “next year”. A… Read more »
SC-72 it seems like Lincoln Riley has sold Jen & the administration the Brooklyn Bridge in not only making him rich but giving him all the toys a football coach dreams about. In the accumulation of HC responsibility perks all Riley has to deal with is running his offense and is CEO’ing everything else. You can’t tell me there isn’t a bunch of coaches out there who think Riley is a fraud in not only what he has accomplished at USC but also how pretty much everything was given to him in getting this job (taking over a previous HC… Read more »
On the bright side, the infrastructure is now in place to be highly attractive to our next coach, whoever it turns out to be.
Love this post.
Truthfully Sam Darnold is the reason my wife and I decided to keep our Trojan season tickets. We were struggling because we’d had our seats for seasons, but wasn’t happy with the program’s direction ( hugs Helton for one) and as you know Trojan season tickets ain’t cheap. Once Sam took over, it’s like the entire team went to a different level. Not smug, not dismissive, not outspoken. Just a good kid from south Orange County. Yes I support the Rams but I’m a CFB guy from childhood. Get it done Sam !
That was such a hard game to watch, being born and bred Rams fan since childhood, and a USC fan the same time. It was great to see Sam excell as he has, he deserves this shot at the big game, he has truely paid his dues. The Rams will be back next year I am sure.
I cannot root for the Rams anymore. They moved to Anaheim, took John Robinson, then moved to St Louis and then the only reason they came back was for the money. Oh wait; let’s add the name Georgia Frontierre to my list of grievances. So, all of that makes it super easy for me to root for Sam and the Seahawks and I will make the drive to Primm this weekend to get a few wagers in on the Seahawks.
Much the same why I can’t root for the Chargers. Started in LA (before my time), moved to SD. Wildly entertaining with Don Coryell. Got close to the Super Bowl then Gene Klein gutted the team to sell it to Spanos. Got to the Super Bowl only to get completely blown out by the 49ers. Then Spanos ripped the town off and then move back to LA. I’m done. Go SC players in the NFL, especially Darnold.
I have always bristled at trolls who would ask “where are the Trojan Quarterback’s with Superbowl rings?” Under McKay, Robinson and most following coaches, the Quarterback position was the middleman of the offense. They occasionally good passers behind brick walls blocking. Then Pete Carroll’s era brought quarterbacks who turned tailback U into a more rounded offensive scheme with also some of the best linemen in college football. So while our quarterbacks flourished in college ball, they usually got drafted by teams who never thought to add to their lines. Sam is the one who managed to hang in there until… Read more »