USC athletic director Pat Haden announced that Helton had signed a multi-year contract as the Trojans official head coach prior to the Pac-12 title game.
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The Pac-12 championship game was full of familiar faces, new records, a new champion, and costly mistakes.
Without McCaffrey Stanford is not in the top 10 and perhaps not in the top 25. The Ducks are winners of six straight to end the year and are averaging almost 45 points per game in that span. They play in the Alamo Bowl against TCU. McCaffrey has been the difference maker down the stretch for Stanford and he is a large reason why the Cardinals were still in the hunt for the playoff during championship weekend.
Alabama eliminated some of the drama by defeating Florida, 29-15, in the Southeastern Conference title game. Given that Adoree is a full-time cornerback for the Trojans defense, he is still capable of being an offensive weapon that would allow USC to become more creative within the playbook.
It didn’t take long for Stanford to reclaim the lead. They played their first five games without a healthy coach who was eventually fired, in late October they were 3-3 with an interim coach, by the end of autumn they had lost two centers and two starting linebackers… the place was a mess.
Reading the box scores, one might infer that the game was a blow out. Two teams (USC and UCLA) have never played an FCS team in their history.
TEXAS 23, No. 12 BAYLOR 17: In Waco, Texas, the Bears are out of contention for a Sugar Bowl bid after the defeat, a picture-perfect day in their riverside stadium marred by their third loss in four games and a bench-clearing scuffle in the first quarter.
But none of that seems to impress the committee. “They just beat us”.
Since that’s the case, the SEC and ACC have shown no inclination of altering their scheduling practices, which means eight conference games and a lot of cupcakes for the rest. Not just for this year, but for years to come. Down by 5-points with everything on the line for both teams. No. 16 Oklahoma State will play No. 12 Ole Miss in the Sugar Bowl, while No. 8 Notre Dame gets No. 7 Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl. USC lost Steve Sarkisian during the year, as well as five games, including Saturday to Stanford. The Panthers’ 34-7 victory knocked out IL and Rice, the next two 5-7 teams on the April list.
McCaffrey collected 155 rushing yards and 244 all-purpose yards in the first half, which ended with Stanford leading 13-3.McCaffrey even led the Cardinal in passing yardage in the first half with 11 yards, and Hogan was the Cardinal top receiver with 11 yards. But since the Big 10 champion, Michigan State Spartans, will likely be selected for the playoffs, the Rose Bowl can select another team from the Big 10.
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Southern California linebacker Anthony Sarao (56) looks on from the bench in the final minutes of a 41-22 loss to Stanford during the second half of a Pac-12 Conference championship NCAA college football game Saturday, Dec. 5, 2015, in Santa Clara, Calif. That is when quarterback Kevin Hogan hit McCaffrey over the middle for the 67-yard play that put the ball at the USC 7-yard line.
