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 massive arm and mobility gave the Trojans’ offense a unique, extra dynamic look.
The sudden change 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 in which that Jayden dealt with each when he wasn’t the starter, then when he was, I believe set the stage for the participant he has began to turn into and what he means to this program and this crew proper now,” Riley mentioned this week. “He dealt with it with class each methods, and that makes an enormous distinction.”
USC beginning quarterback Jayden Maiava throws a go in opposition to Notre Dame at Notre Dame Stadium on Oct. 18.
(Justin Casterline / Getty Photographs)
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 among the finest 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 sport. The offensive line remains to be coping with nagging accidents. And the Trojans personal dashing 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 needs 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 need to squint too laborious 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 presently final yr.
“We’re nonetheless in place,” tight finish Walker Lyons mentioned. “We nonetheless management our future the place we’re at proper now.”
That’s been the message since USC left South Bend in bitter defeat. However management may slip by way of their fingers in a rush if Riley can’t proper the ship this week on the street at Nebraska. A single loss, particularly one outdoors of Oregon, would all however sink these hopes.
“I believe we’ve discovered quite a bit about ourselves with a few of these actually good matchups we’ve had as of late,” Riley mentioned. “We all know what we’ve gotta do. It’s very clear to us. Now we’ve simply acquired to do a terrific 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 street setting to that equation this week solely makes issues extra sophisticated. The Trojans haven’t received a real street sport in October or November outdoors of Los Angeles since Oct. 28, 2023.
Nor do they appear to have pinned down exactly what’s ailing their protection in the intervening time. Per week after certainly one of USC’s greatest defensive performances of the season in a win over Michigan, the Trojans all of a sudden had main errors in execution, main the Irish to rack up 306 dashing yards, probably the most ever allowed by a D’Anton Lynn-led protection. Lynn, the Trojans’ second-year coordinator, referred to as the errors “extraordinarily” irritating.
However like Riley, he’s assured per week away could have executed USC’s protection nicely.
“On the finish of the day, once we’re on the identical web page, we all know we is usually a good protection,” Lynn mentioned. “However we have now to be on the identical web page and belief that the man subsequent to us goes to do his job, and we don’t need to overcompensate for something.”
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 sport by way of seven video games.
All of it makes for a check that the Trojans can’t afford to fail, one the place its quarterback shall be essential.
“Maintain your head down, preserve preventing,” Maiava mentioned. “Simply keep in it it doesn’t matter what. We had this bye and we acquired to relaxation up somewhat bit which is nice. However we have to be that beast each single day.”
Harm replace
Left sort out Elijah Paige and heart Kilian O’Connor each dressed for follow on Tuesday, however Riley expressed some doubt that USC would have its full beginning offensive line out there in time for Saturday’s sport.
“We’re higher,” Riley mentioned, “however we’re not at a degree the place I’m like, ‘Yeah these guys are able to go.’ We’re simply to not that time but.”
