Utah was second in the nation in turnover margin entering the game, forcing 19 turnovers and committing just seven.
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Late in the second quarter of USC’s 42-24 upset victory over #3 Utah last night, the Utes had a fourth and two on USC’s 45-yard line when Trojans freshman linebacker Cameron Smith made the biggest play of the game. Jones and Davis combined for 139 yards rushing, and Smith led an aggressive defensive effort that limited Utah to 213 yards in the first three quarters.
Instead of letting the negative press surrounding their former coach, Steve Sarkisian and his alcohol issues, the Trojans banded together and pulled out their biggest win in a very long time.
“We didn’t expect to get punched in the mouth like that”, Utah linebacker Gionni Paul said. But after the way Utah played Saturday night, it’s hard to envision it pulling that off, especially with Wilson’s disappointing regression. Utah could definitely still earn a playoff bid if it wins out, which would entail finishing the season as a one-loss Pac-12 champion with a win over Stanford, most likely, in the conference title game.
The senior quarterback ran for a touchdown and threw for a touchdown as the Trojans finally delivered a dominant performance at home for the first time this month.
On the third interception, all of Wilson’s flaws were on display.
“Enough with the picks”, Smith said.
At Waco, Texas, Shock Linwood ran for 171 yards and a touchdown, caught a pass for another score and Baylor beat Iowa State for its FBS-best 20th consecutive home victory.
Two interceptions from Smith sparked USC’s 21-point second quarter. Smith had 122 total return yards on the interceptions. Star tailback Devontae Booker had just 62 yards on 14 carries (he did add 49 yards on six catches). But for the first time this year, the Trojans elected to defer. Utah looks to bounce back after looking unimpressive in their loss against USC.
Offensively, after finding yards tough to come by on the ground early against the excellent Utah front, USC adjusted by attacking the edges of the defense, mostly with short passes and screens.
There is concern that Kessler could be without wide receivers Darreus Rogers and Steven Mitchell Jr. for Saturday’s game against the Utes.
“We’re sitting in pretty good shape, but there’s still a lot of football left”, said Whittingham, who became Ron McBride’s defensive coordinator in 1995, stayed in that slot for Urban Meyer and replaced Meyer when he jumped to Florida before the Fiesta Bowl in 2004. The difference is how the two teams get to where they want to go. “He preaches everything we believe in, and everything USC is built for”.
So far, Wilson for Utah has no touchdown passes, but 26 yards passing, no interceptions. The Trojans have lost back-to-back games to Washington and Notre Dame and are aiming to avoid their first three-game losing streak since 2012.
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Kyle Kensing is a contributor to Sports on Earth.
