USC Ranked No. 12

Posted on by

USC is ranked No. 12 in both the coaches’ poll and AP Top 25 poll today. The Trojans are even ranked behind the same team (Louisville) and ahead of the same team (Florida) in both rankings.

52 thoughts on “USC Ranked No. 12”

  1. Here is a article written by Bill Plaschke in the LA times today about Coach Helton. Here is part of that article:
    Hard to believe there was a time this autumn when the Trojans didn’t have a prayer. They certainly come a long way from their 1-3 start that put Helton on the hot seat. Helton will never take credit for the resurgence, but he deserves plenty of it. Yes, everything changed when Darnold replaced Max Browne as the quarterback, but it was Helton who made that call, and Helton who kept the entire team calm and moving forward during -the turbulent early storm. And, oh yeah, Helton is now undefeated in two games against the Bruins…..Fight On Coach Helton

  2. Coach Helton deserves as much credit for the 7 game turnaround as he dose NEGATIVE credit for being dumb enough to start Max in the first place. Admire his loyalty, but loyalty doesn’t help you keep your job OR get into the Playoffs!

    • You don’t think player’s loyalty to a coach helps in anyway ?.That loyalty of a team to each other coaches/player’s helps in some form win?.After every turnover the D gets,they want to bring the ball to Clay.I agree its just a part of the equation.But all Championship teams are made up of parts.
      We are in Process of
      bringing all the parts together.

      • Personally, I don’t think it helped USC in the least to start Browne, who had been outplayed by Darnold in practice according to every report I ever read. The best player should start. At least I think that’s what every recruiter absolutely tells every recruit coming in. Kiss of death to say otherwise.

        That said, we all understand CH named Browne the starter before the opener to keep him in the program. Word was out he might leave if he was gonna be on the bench in favor of a redshirt frosh. So CH did what he thought was best for the USC program and I can respect that even though I disagree with his decision.

        Ironically, Browne didn’t get to play much and now he’s an asterisk at USC. We lost to both STAN and UTAH IMHO because we didn’t name Darnold the starter two weeks before the ALA disaster. Also ironically, both STAN and UTAH are now ranked behind the high-flying Trojans because Darnold is starting – as he should have been all along. He’s the best QB since Palmer, only more athletic, as many experienced college players have already stated publicly. Actually, Darnold is my favorite QB since Rodney Peete, but he’s a better thrower.

        As long as we have Darnold, we’ve got a shot. Did you see Mora’s presser? His eyes glazed over and his face changed when he spoke of his complete admiration for Darnold’s skill. I don’t remember the last time I head an opposing coach speak so reverentially about a USC QB.

        • Browne looked lost last night. He even ran the wrong play. He looks frail and slow. I felt a little sorry for him out there.

        • I agree with pretty much all you say Jack. Hindsight allows this for us.However currently I believe it’s the player’s respect (loyality))for Helton that has been a major factor. Sam is excellent. I can’t name a USC QB I’ve watched going back to the 60’s better.Couple equal maybe. There’s a team Dynamic here that goes way beyond one player.Type of Dynamic that few can describe.These Dynamics are often born from adverse situations. Again hindsight says should have.
          8 games and now we know alot about this team.They have costly Turnovers and offensive penalties.Despite these they brush them off and pull together. This is the team’s personality.Can’t say enough about how Clancy has the D playing….

          • That’s why I say in Darnold I trust.

            If we didn’t have him starting, I don’t believe this USC team dynamic would exist like it does. It would be like taking Namath away from the Jets or Staubach away from the Cowboys. You need a lot of other moving parts and you need strong coaching too. But certain players are the straw that stirs the drink. They give the team an identity that’s irreplaceable.

            As good as Adoree and JuJu are, Darnold’s the man despite his age and inexperience. If he gets hurt, all bets are off IMHO.

          • For the naysayers per Helton imagine if Fisher were the Trojans coach i.e. Keenam and Goffs.

            It isn’t that Keenam is Browne nor Goffs Darnhold but the ‘I know what’s right’ idiocy of Fisher.

            Helton is a decent man and he may in fact grow into this position. Here’s to the future of Helton and USC – USC needs to win out and look forward to 2017.

          • I feel the same way, and I think Helton has brought a calming sense of confidence to the program that was missing. They are sure not the same since the season started. Yes, Swann has been a big influence also.

          • steveg yup! Soooo wish WA St. had taken CO down yesterday but hey the team and coaching staff have now won seven in a row after that disastrous September.

            Need to focus on crushing ‘The Princess’ this Saturday 12:30 pm PST and watch both her and bel-air tech ‘bowless in December.’

          • Yes Helton is a decent man.He’s also good man to develop and lead young men.It all has worked out for the best.Here’s to the next 2,3 or heck 4 game’s this season.

        • So verdict: weak leader head coach HC cost SC poss 11-1 record/playoffs to avoid hurting Browne’s feelings and showing loyalty to a fine kid (Browne) who stuck around? Unfortunately yes.

          • Saban made the same mistake but had the leadership and coaching skiils to make the QB switch immed after only one quarter. You saw what happened next and where ALA is now.

          • After the Alabama loss nobody blamed Browne. That was a team and coaching loss. Darnold would have come out of that damaged goods and had Barkleys happy feet the rest of the year.

          • You must be joking. ALA ruin Darnold’s future? Not buyin’ it. My version of Darnold is much different from yours! Funny stuff.

        • I don’t think USC has ever had a QB like Sam. He is totally unique, gifted, talented, and blessed with so much natural ability. He only needs to work on his long pass game.

    • With one regular season game remaining,there are many scenarios. From Slight chance to make playoffs,winning South and winning Pac 12.To Rose Bowl ,without winning South…..9-3 New Year BOWL game and so forth…..not bad.

      • U’d never ever see the biased college ftball polls allow 3 Pac12/west coast teams placed in top 5 of AP or Coaches Poll like now with 3 Big 10 teams. Never. OhSt Mich, Wis, including PennSt all benefitting from media poll bias. No diff than corrupt Lib Media who manipulate politics/elections.

        • OSU wins 17-16 over MSU.
          Michigan 20-10 Indiana.
          Bad games.
          Biase?? Where?
          Alabama aside, all other spots are misplaced.

          • It’s a bizarre but fantastic season.

            Was supposed to be a dull Saturday yesterday but ORE/UTAH and WSU/CU were both awesome contests.

            Now we just need to hammer ND and let the chips fall. As long as we take care of our business, good things will happen.

          • SC has made a big impression on these analysts lately. Last night Brian Griese had USC #5, Todd McShay had us #6, and Lincoln Kennedy had us #6.

          • I had a post deleted yesterday afternoon when I wrote what Blackridge said having us at five.I guess it was for quoting him.

          • We’ve played better. Darnold certainly starts that conversation but Clay Helton and Clancy Pendergast have made adjustments since the first month of the season. We’ve opened up a lot of eyes.

          • We’re dangerous. We were down 14-7 and went on to score the next 29 points of the football game. What a way to punch out your crosstown rivals.

        • Sorry but the Pac-12 has hari karied itself….the failure in Pac-12 OOC esp. this year is the reason the ‘biased’ media have no respect for the Pac-12 – the Pac-12 has earned it.

          USC lost to AL
          ucla – lost to TX A&M
          OR – lost to NE
          OR St. – lost to MN
          WA St. – lost to Boise St.
          AZ – lost to BYU

    • If we beat ND, regardless of if CU loses next weekend, we’ll be in a great New Year’s Six Bowl and could finish the season ranked in the top 5. That would be pretty damn fantastic after 1-3. Not sure any other school would be able to say that.

      In Darnold we trust!

  4. That’s what happens when you play at 10:30EST….nobody who votes in these polls even knows you won.

    • Hope we decide to take no prisoners in this game. We owe ND from last year. And with a huge win, it would be just another great reason for recruits to decide USC is the horse they want to ride.

  6. Yrs of contd east coast bias still manipulate polls which determining rankings/qual wins placing West Coast/Rky Mtn teams at constant disadvantage. The. Honest Truth

  7. I hope that the Buffs peaked yesterday and therefore don’t come out as strong. The Utes may be fuming after their stunning loss and hopefully come out trying to make a statement.

  8. It’s about time that they finally have seen the light. The coaches poll had SC 19th last week. I wonder what those guys have been smoking.

Comments are closed.