Click here to watch Lane Kiffin, Matt Barkley and Dion Bailey addressing the media.
- Defensive stats: 5 turnovers, 3 sacks and 6 tackles for loss. The last two weeks the USC defense has been under fire for not being able to force turnovers and yielding too many points. On national television, they fought back. "It was much more important for our team to win like that and have a game like that for confidence after all the defense has been hearing about them," Lane Kiffin said after the game.
- Dion Bailey: A Star is Born. While several defensive players had big nights, the redshirt freshman linebacker continues to be the "most consistent player" and on his way to a Freshman All-American season, praised Kiffin. Bailey recorded two interceptions, a fumble recovery and a team-leading 8 tackles. The safety-turned-linebacker is even surprising himself. "Coming in with the big position change, I was only hoping to play 20-30 snaps a game," Bailey admitted. "I end up starting...and I've been at the right place at the right time game in and game out and I'm just hoping that I can continue my success." (Photo by AP/Marcia Joe Sanchez/LA Times)
- Robert Woods: Season low 5 catches for 36 yards. The Matt Barkley to Robert Woods connection, which has been the story of the season so far, missed by small margins on several big play attempts. The QB criticized his own performance saying that "just little things were off" and that he was "not good enough to win big games" tonight. "We're a couple inches away from a big passing day," said Kiffin, who was encouraged that the Trojans won without getting much from the star duo.
- Hello George Farmer! "It felt great. I had the jitters at first, but that's normal for an athlete," said Farmer about his debut. The true freshman flashed his athleticism coming out of the backfield, but he was most impressive sprinting down the field to cover kickoffs. He also went through some growing pains with a late fumble. "I take full blame for it. I have got to secure the ball before I run."
- Mash Unit. The Trojans paid a heavy cost for Thursday night's victory. WR Marqise Lee (shoulder), RB Marc Tyler (shoulder), CB Anthony Brown (ankle), DB Demetrius Wright (leg) and OL Martin Coleman (shoulder) could not finish the game. USC has nine days before the big game in South Bend and they will need every one of them to rest up and get healthy. Brown's injury appears to be the most serious with an initial diagnosis of a broken ankle. (Photo of Lee by US Presswire/Jason O. Watson/LA Times)
- 5-1. At the midway point, Lane Kiffin is proud of his team's record. "It is the first time we've been 5-1 since we've been here," he said. "It's a good feeling." The Trojans were 4-2 at this point last year. "We are 5-1, which is huge," Barkley said. "When you play football, you play to win." The schedule will get tougher in the second half, but USC is buoyed by the first road victory of the season.
- The special teams units had another sparkling performance led by Matt "The Hammer" Kalil's fourth blocked kick; Kyle Negrete pinning Cal inside its 20 three times; and Andre Heidari making all three field goal attempts. Of course, the botched faked field goal was a noticeable blemish. "You're on ESPN. You've got to do something fun," Kiffin quipped when badgered by the media.
