Barkley stands out for more than just records


As senior quarterback Matt Barkley ran into the locker room after a 50-6 rout against Colorado, he was all smiles. And why wouldn’t he be? He had the game of his life and set records that should stand for years. Barkley threw his 100th career touchdown pass, making him the school’s all time leader, and […]

Penalties might be the Trojans’ downfall


Remember how Arizona State unraveled a year ago? A promising beginning to the 2011 season, punctuated by a 43-22 victory over USC in the fourth week, quickly spiraled into mediocrity as the Sun Devils lost their final five games. You didn’t need to be a college football pundit to determine the source of their woes: […]

Inefficiency on third down plagues USC


Halfway through a season that was supposed to end with the Trojans hoisting the crystal football in South Florida, let’s just say things have not gone as smoothly as expected. USC holds a respectable 5-1 record, including a 301 mark in Pac-12 play, and is in no way out of contention for the national championship, […]

Turnovers key to USC’s defensive resurgence


Last year, the Trojans posted signs all around Heritage Hall, proclaiming their mantra: “That’s our ball!” And yet, for the past several years, the Trojan defense has been subpar in forcing turnovers. The Trojans ranked 90th nationally in 2011 with just 1.4 takeaways per game (for an embarrassing comparison, UCLA averaged 1.5). The 2010 team […]

Frustration grows with USC’s lack of flashiness


USC mounted an early 10-0 lead at Washington last Saturday and prevailed to improve its overall record to 5-1 at the midway point of the season. But as the Trojans trotted off a damp CenturyLink Field in Seattle, the overwhelming mood was that of frustration. They didn’t score enough — held without a point in […]

Halfway through 2012, USC has surprised us


SEATTLE — When the Trojans defeated the Huskies on Saturday night at CenturyLink Field, it marked the halfway mark of USC’s regular season. USC stands at 5-1, with that lone loss coming at the hands of Stanford. Of those six games, the Trojans played just two at home, meaning that four of their last six […]

Talent is there for Trojans to dominate


In what has become an annual tradition in advance of USC’s matchups with the Huskies, Washington coach Steve Sarkisian once again praised USC for having superior talent to the rest of the Pac-12. But this time, Sarkisian notably changed his phrasing in one subtle respect: He referred solely to the Trojans’ starting offensive and defensive […]

Could Marqise Lee play cornerback, too?


USC sophomore Marqise Lee is already one of the most dynamic players in college football as a wide receiver and kick returner. CBSSports.com’s weekly Heisman Trophy Straw Poll ranked Lee fourth, after all. But if it was up to the talented wideout, he’d do even more for the No. 11 Trojans. On the return flight […]

J.T. Terrell could be the Trojans’ missing piece


CBS Sports rolled out a college basketball preview Monday, featuring predictions for All-American finalists and Final Four contenders, along with a list of the top 100 players in the country. The Pac-12, despite being uncharacteristically weak last season, has a fair number of athletes who could end the season with some serious accolades. UCLA alone […]

Trojans can get back into the BCS equation


By now, you’ve likely heard a pundit mention that one team or another controls its own destiny. Just what does it need to do? Run the table. This is college football speak. This has been uttered before. This is hackneyed. But this also pertains to USC. What this means is: If a team can win […]