University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: John McGillen
Pac-12 South Playoffs
October 26, 2017 | Football, USC Ripsit Blog, Features
From 2002 to 2008, USC football won a share of seven consecutive conference titles. By the end of that run, the accomplishment was considered commonplace.
However, the past decade has proven that winning the Pac is not as easy as it once was. The Trojans have failed to win the conference since 2008, and they have only won the Pac-12 South twice since the divisional split began in 2011.
With one month to go, USC controls its own destiny in a cluttered conference race. The Trojans sit atop the South at 4-1, but Arizona State (3-1) and Arizona (3-1), USC's next two opponents, are surging. The desert duo can make the same claim that all they need to do is win, win, win, and they'll be on a plane for Santa Clara by the end of November.
While the Notre Dame loss stung the Trojans in terms of national ranking and rivalry pride, USC can take its next step as a program by regaining conference supremacy. With tiebreakers potentially playing a major role, the Trojans have no room for error this weekend.
"We've got to move on. We've got to win the Pac-12 South," said head coach Clay Helton with urgency. "We're in kind of a round-robin tournament the next two weeks with Arizona State and Arizona. We're coming against a good Arizona State club right now that's red hot."
The Trojans and Sun Devils will duel in the dark on Saturday night at 7:45 p.m. PT on ESPN. USC has won its last two games against ASU, including a 42-14 blowout in Tempe in 2015.
However, the past decade has proven that winning the Pac is not as easy as it once was. The Trojans have failed to win the conference since 2008, and they have only won the Pac-12 South twice since the divisional split began in 2011.
With one month to go, USC controls its own destiny in a cluttered conference race. The Trojans sit atop the South at 4-1, but Arizona State (3-1) and Arizona (3-1), USC's next two opponents, are surging. The desert duo can make the same claim that all they need to do is win, win, win, and they'll be on a plane for Santa Clara by the end of November.
While the Notre Dame loss stung the Trojans in terms of national ranking and rivalry pride, USC can take its next step as a program by regaining conference supremacy. With tiebreakers potentially playing a major role, the Trojans have no room for error this weekend.
"We've got to move on. We've got to win the Pac-12 South," said head coach Clay Helton with urgency. "We're in kind of a round-robin tournament the next two weeks with Arizona State and Arizona. We're coming against a good Arizona State club right now that's red hot."
The Trojans and Sun Devils will duel in the dark on Saturday night at 7:45 p.m. PT on ESPN. USC has won its last two games against ASU, including a 42-14 blowout in Tempe in 2015.
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