A Third-String Slinger Leads USC to Victory over Utah

Looks like the title of best secondary in the country is up for grabs again.

So, too, is the anointment of best Pac-12 defense.

In retrospect, the Utah Utes' biggest mistake was pounding USC's second-string QB outta the game, opening the door for that fabled Pac-12 After Dark mystique to kick in.

 

If the Pac-12 has perfected anything, it's an ability to devour its own.

In this age of a four-team College Football Playoff, other conferences find ways to flout their elite programs each season. Not so out West. They're too busy knocking each other outta national consideration.

Not that the Utes were stone-cold locks to overcome Troy in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. History was not on their side.

 

It's mystifying how this stuff works, but even though team rosters constantly churn, some trends hold true.

The Utes, for instance, haven't won in LA since 1916. This time, the pre-season conference favorites swaggered into SoCal with an alleged No 10 ranking, key seniors all over the roster, a vaunted defense, and ... what?

Getting shredded by Matt Fink, buried in the Trojans' QB depth chart to the point he briefly entered the transfer portal.

 

Dude waited his turn, which is far from easy these days, and then finally got a chance to show why USC recruited him.

Fink dialed long distance three times and ran a steady ship in the Trojans' 30-23 victory over Utah:

 

Thus, the Pac-12's annual chaos continues:

• The anticipated standard-bearers -- Utah, Washington, and Oregon -- have early losses,
• Their non-con schedules drag them down, in part because they can't get quality opponents travel,
• Until further notice, the unheralded CalBears have the mantel as best conference defense, and
• Year after year, national pundits discount Mike Leach and Washington State.

 

What's more, no matter what he does, USC coach Clay Helton seems to be a dead man walking. Urban Meyer rumors are just sexier than Helton results, more so if they're not dominant.

to his credit, dude read the trends and bought into the Air Raid by hiring Kliff Kingsbury, and when he found instantly greener pastures, staying in the same coaching tree by bringing in Graham Harrell.

 

If the Trojans can maintain the level of play they showed against Utah, they may hold the key to the Pac-12's national perception.

That'll come when they get their shot at Notre Dame on Sat 12 Oct.

Chaos may yet reign supreme.