LOS ANGELES — USC’s home game against Utah on Saturday features a tough, well-coached team that doesn’t beat itself.
The other team is USC.
Maybe that’s a bit harsh, but the season has mostly gone wrong for the Trojans, who are 3-3 overall, 1-2 in the Pac-12, and fired its coach, Steve Sarkisian, on Oct. 12. That’s the same day Sarkisian reportedly entered a treatment center for a drinking problem.
USC has lost two games in a two — at home to Washington and at Notre Dame — despite having talent that, man-for-man, very well could be the best in the Pac-12. Not much has changed in that regard from the beginning of the season.
The big question is whether interim head coach Clay Helton can keep the USC wagon from going over the cliff. There’s still time to save the season, but the Trojans are running out of road, and it’s nearly impossible to predict the mindset of the players.
Will they rally and fight with their backs against the wall … or will they call it a season and merely play out the string.
That’s why this game against No. 3 Utah (6-0, 3-0) is so huge. With a win, USC is right there in the Pac-12 South race.
“I’m frustrated,” linebacker Su’a Cravens said in the L.A. Daily News. “It’s on us. It’s time to move on. We’re 3-3 but 1-0 in the Pac-12 South. We’ve got a chance to win it.”
The oddsmakers agree. Because of all that raw talent — like Cravens, sophomore receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster and three-way star Adoree’ Jackson — the Trojans are favored by about three points to beat Utah.
The Utes are getting it done with a stellar turnover margin (plus 2.0 per game) and efficiency — sixth nationally with a 95.8 percent conversion rate in the red zone, third in the nation in net punting (42.5 yards) and tied for ninth in fewest penalties (4.5 per game). All those marks are significantly better than USC’s.
Utah’s coach, Kyle Whittingham, has been rumored to be a potential candidate at USC. To that, he says, “I never comment about job openings in the middle of the season.”
The good news there for USC — it’s still the middle of the season. If the Trojans’ survival mode kicks in, they can still do big things in the league.
NOTES, QUOTES
PLAYERS TO WATCH
–CB/WR Adoree’ Jackson wore an offensive jersey in practice Tuesday for the first time this season, apparently needed more on offense because of some injuries at wideout. Jackson turned a short pass into an 83-yard touchdown last week at Notre Dame. He has 11 catches for 279 yards and two scores this season. As a cornerback last week, he was beaten deep a few times, including giving up a 75-yard TD pass to Will Fuller.
–RB Ronald Jones II, a true freshman, isn’t the starter but he’s been the team’s leading rusher in two of the past three games and has taken over the team’s rushing lead for the season. Jones carried six times for 73 yards against Notre Dame last week, giving him 380 yards through six games. His average of 8.6 yards per carry trumps the marks of starter Tre Madden and fellow backup Justin Davis.
–LB Su’a Cravens is showing up on some midseason awards list. The junior has 41 tackles, including 5.5 for loss and two sacks. He also has an interception and a forced fumble. His first order of business this week against Utah is stopping Utes’ RB Devontae Booker.
SERIES HISTORY: USC leads Utah 9-4, including a 6-1 record in Los Angeles. The Utes won 24-21 last season in Salt Lake City, as QB Travis Wilson threw a 1-yard touchdown pass to WR Kaelin Clay with eight seconds left in the game.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “I love USC, it’s a great place. But that’s not happening. We’re in good shape here.” — Seattle Seahawks coach Pete Carroll, on the possibility of returning as USC’s head coach