Utah has proven to be USC's kryptonite. The Utes beat the Trojans twice last season, including in the Pac-12 championship game with a result that all but ended USC's playoff hopes. USC football took a major hit last week after they got waxed by Notre Dame, but they still controlled their destiny to the Pac-12 championship game this season. If they got in with only one loss and took down their opposition in that game, they still had a very real path to the college football playoff.
But those odds took a major turn for the worse this week after the Trojans fell at the hands of the Utes once again by a final score of 34-32. This is USC's fourth consecutive loss to Utah dating back to 2021. Caleb Williams was not otherworldly like he's been for most of this season, but he played a great game and did more than enough to get USC football the win. He isn't to blame. The questions is: who is?
MarShawn Lloyd
In a game decided by only two points, just about any play can cause the outcome of that game to flip. Unfortunately for USC, that play came on a fumble by running back MarShawn Lloyd. Lloyd transferred to USC from South Carolina this season and has played really well for the Trojans thus far.
He's averaging just under eight yards per carry (7.9 to be exact) and has six rushing touchdowns on the year to go with seven receptions for 85 yards. He kept that efficiency up in this game against Utah. Lloyd had 86 yards on only seven carries and even ran in another touchdown.
But Lloyd had a costly fumble in the second half while USC was trailing byseven points. Utah scored another touchdown right after that fumble to go up 14 points and wrestle control of that game. USC was able to retake the lead, but this fumble by Lloyd made the path to taking that lead much more difficult than it needed to be.
Alex Grinch
If there's anything that has held USC back since Lincoln Riley took over as head coach, it has been their defense. Their defense got absolutely gashed by Utah twice last season and again by Tyjae Spears and the Tulane Green Wave in the Cotton Bowl. Last season, USC gave up 415.1 yards per game. This season, it hasn't been much better; they're giving up 407 yards per game.
Unfortunately, it's led to the same results. The Trojans could not get a stop against the Utes. Utah scored in three plays on their first drive of the game and that was indicative of how the night would go for the USC defense. This was despite Utah being down their starting quarterback in Cameron Rising, their starting tight end in Brant Kuithe, and Dalton Kincaid now playing for the Buffalo Bills in the NFL.
USC forced only four stops all game. One of those was a pick-six to get them back in the game, but Utah still had more scoring drives than not.
That all came to a head at the end of the game. After a thunderous punt return by Zachariah Branch set up USC in great field position, USC scored a touchdown with 1:46 left to play. All they needed was one stop by their defense to win the game, but they couldn't get it. Utah promptly marched down the field and kicked a game-winning field goal at the final whistle to once again upset the Trojans.
USC getting manhandled in the physicality department is nothing new since Lincoln Riley took over as head coach, especially on the defensive side of the field. Utah ran for 247 yards and a touchdown on 47 carries in this game. USC couldn't stop them and it once again cost them. That falls on the hands of defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. He isn't getting the job done, and that is going to cost USC a trip to the college football playoff once again.
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