Turnovers key to USC’s defensive resurgence


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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


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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


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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


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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?


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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


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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


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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 […]

This time, USC exhibits composure


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For about four minutes last Thursday night, the then-No. 13 Trojans looked like they were in trouble. They turned the ball over twice in their first two possessions, leading to a pair of Utah touchdowns. With 12:15 left in the first quarter, USC was already down 14-0. Was USC coach Lane Kiffin going to be […]

Undefeated No. 12 Ohio State mirrors 2010 USC team


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During the last four weeks, the parallels between 2012 Ohio State in its first season of sanctions and 2010 USC were becoming a little too eerie. Both teams fumbled through their first four games, narrowly beating teams they should have obliterated and shakily clinging to their undefeated status, with pollsters still pinning them around the […]

Trojans can reclaim national spotlight


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Most coaches would prefer that their teams fly under the radar. The idea that their players are not getting the recognition they deserve creates an “us against the world” mentality that most teams thrive on. At USC, this is most certainly not the case. Arguably the premier sports team in Los Angeles, the Trojans have […]