USC’s season can go two ways: The Trojans can regroup and win out and go to the Rose Bowl, something Pete Carroll teams often did. Or the Trojans can decide the season is essentially over with preseason goals unattainable and decide it’s time to focus on impressing NFL scouts and increasing their draft stock.
If the latter occurs, that is where games against Oregon, UCLA and Notre Dame become exceedingly difficult and will cause a potential November meltdown.