USC had misplaced 4 of 5, its season already all however misplaced, when Lincoln Riley made a daring transfer early final November that will have lasting ripple results. He benched beginning quarterback Miller Moss, in favor of backup Jayden Maiava, whose huge arm and mobility gave the Trojans’ offense a distinct, extra dynamic look.
The sudden swap made for a tense two weeks main as much as final season’s assembly with Nebraska. Not everybody within the locker room, you see, was thrilled with Moss’ elimination.
However the transfer paid dividends ultimately. Maiava injected life into the offense, USC returned from its bye and received three of its final 4 to complete the season. Extra critically, Riley discovered his quarterback of the long run.
“The way that Jayden handled both when he wasn’t the starter, then when he was, I think set the stage for the player he has started to become and what he means to this program and this team right now,” Riley mentioned this week. “He handled it with class both ways, and that makes a huge difference.”
USC beginning quarterback Jayden Maiava throws a go in opposition to Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 18.
(Justin Casterline / Getty Photos)
A season later, USC is as soon as once more looking for solutions popping out of its second bye, with Nebraska looming in November. Although, not one of the questions this time concern the quarterback, who has been top-of-the-line within the Massive Ten. Nor are they as simple to unravel as plugging in a single participant.
USC’s defensive entrance was simply steamrolled for over 300 yards by Notre Dame’s run recreation. The offensive line continues to be coping with nagging accidents. And the Trojans personal speeding assault left quite a bit to be desired of their final outing.
However, USC is 5-2, nonetheless inside conceivable attain of the Faculty Soccer Playoff dialog. The Trojans ought to be favored in 4 of their closing 5 video games, the lone exception being a visit to Eugene in late November. You don’t must squint too exhausting to see a possible path to the Playoff … assuming USC can iron out its points, first. That’s extra encouraging than the circumstances had been at the moment final yr.
“We’re still in a good place,” tight finish Walker Lyons mentioned. “We still control our destiny where we’re at right now.”
That’s been the message since USC left South Bend in bitter defeat. However management might slip via their arms in a rush if Riley can’t proper the ship this week on the highway at Nebraska. A single loss, particularly one exterior of Oregon, would all however sink these hopes.
“I think we’ve learned a lot about ourselves with some of these really good matchups we’ve had as of late,” Riley mentioned. “We know what we’ve gotta do. It’s very clear to us. Now we’ve just got to do a great job of it.”
That half hasn’t been really easy for USC because it unraveled down the stretch in every of its final three seasons. The Trojans are 6-11 in October and November since successful seven of eight throughout that stretch of Riley’s first marketing campaign.
Including a hostile highway surroundings to that equation this week solely makes issues extra difficult. The Trojans haven’t received a real highway recreation in October or November exterior of Los Angeles since Oct. 28, 2023.
Nor do they appear to have pinned down exactly what’s ailing their protection in the meanwhile. Per week after one in all USC’s greatest defensive performances of the season in a win over Michigan, the Trojans immediately had main errors in execution, main the Irish to rack up 306 speeding yards, probably the most ever allowed by a D’Anton Lynn-led protection. Lynn, the Trojans’ second-year coordinator, known as the errors “extremely” irritating.
However like Riley, he’s assured per week away may have executed USC’s protection properly.
“At the end of the day, when we’re on the same page, we know we can be a good defense,” Lynn mentioned. “But we have to be on the same page and trust that the guy next to us is going to do his job, and we don’t have to overcompensate for anything.”
Notre Dame’s Jadarian Worth (24) carries the ball and pulls away from USC’s Bishop Fitzgerald (19) on Oct. 18 in South Bend, Ind.
(Paul Beaty / Related Press)
That belief comes a lot simpler now for Maiava, after a full yr as USC’s beginning quarterback. Although, Nebraska and its top-rated go protection received’t make it simple, per se. The Huskers are permitting a mere 127 yards passing per recreation via seven video games.
All of it makes for a take a look at that the Trojans can’t afford to fail, one the place its quarterback can be vital.
“Keep your head down, keep fighting,” Maiava mentioned. “Just stay in it no matter what. We had this bye and we got to rest up a little bit which is great. But we need to be that beast every single day.”
Damage replace
Left sort out Elijah Paige and heart Kilian O’Connor each dressed for observe on Tuesday, however Riley expressed some doubt that USC would have its full beginning offensive line accessible in time for Saturday’s recreation.
“We’re better,” Riley mentioned, “but we’re not at a point where I’m like, ‘Yeah those guys are ready to go.’ We’re just not to that point yet.”
