Not to create false hope, but USC still has a chance to win the Pac-10 title and go to the Rose Bowl -- if a lot of ifs happen. Eight games would have to fall just right to create a six-way tie at 6-3 in conference play, which would then give the Trojans the tiebreaker and crown. Here's the scenario, according to the Pac-10 office:
All six teams would finish at 6-3 in Pac-10 play. Comparing head-to-head records against one another:
USC would win the three-way tiebreaker against Arizona and Oregon State because of head-to-head victories.
- Oregon loses to Arizona and Oregon State
- Stanford loses to California
- Oregon State loses to Washington State and beats Oregon
- Arizona beats Arizona State and Oregon; loses to USC
- USC beats UCLA and Arizona
- California beats Stanford and Washington
All six teams would finish at 6-3 in Pac-10 play. Comparing head-to-head records against one another:
- Arizona, Oregon State and USC would be 3-2
- California, Oregon and Stanford would be 2-3 and consequently eliminated from the tiebreaker
USC would win the three-way tiebreaker against Arizona and Oregon State because of head-to-head victories.
...I got it...so you're telling me there's a chance.... :)
I think we need to focus on just winning our games and let everything else outside of our control happen. I think realistically the Rose Bowl is a long shot and even the Holiday Bowl. Best shot is for the Sun Bowl.
I think the funny thing is with the exception of Oregon State losing to Washington State, everything else is plausible. However, with that said, The Rose Bowl is not happenning, and the focus should be on team wide improvement and quality control throughout the organization..
I realize the site is here to promote the USC football program, I do think it has become far too positive in these difficult times. I understand that the coaches are not going to name names, etc. But insight into where the coaches think improvement needs to come would be great.
I agree that except for WSU beating the the beavs, the rest of that could actually happen.
But, alas, WSU has their own problems and won't be helping us.
My perspective: if we can get through the regular season with 3 losses than this season is only a blemish on a great run we can continue.
Which one of the departed defensive coaches should we be missing most?
Nah, let some other Pac-10 beat up a Big Ten this year, then the rest of the country might acknowledge that there are other good teams in the Pac-10 (wait, they didn't acknowledge it after 5 wins in 5 bowl games last year, so never mind). SC's done their part there and frankly, who wants to see SC vs OSU again??
There are problems in the coaching staff, but let's not be like other colleges and start calling for their heads after a couple of ugly losses. There are a lot of factors at play here: injuries, inexperience (players and coaches), etc, but nothing that can't be fixed with time. It's 2 bad losses - and how many spanking wins?? Give them some credit and let them fix it - don't start this "you win the title or you're out" crap that's so common in the other conferences.
It will still be a winning season for SC, and they beat ND, so really the only thing left is to beat UCLA and it's all good. Fight on, boys - there's always next year
I agree with Texas Trojan...well said :)