Can the USC Trojans Still Win the BCS Championship? - Joe Chacon's Blog

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Joe Chacon's Blog

Can the USC Trojans Still Win the BCS Championship? Stuck

Posted on September 19, 2012 at 12:24 AM.

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Photo Credit: Rich Barnes, US PRESSWIRE

I've finally emerged from the depths of my USC hangover.

Not because I overindulged in whatever beer the local dive bar was promoting, but rather due to the fact that the USC Trojans sucker punched their fans once again.

It's crazy how games just don't feel right sometimes. A few years back when Mark Sanchez and the Trojans lost on the road to Oregon State -- something was just off. The same goes for the games in which Jim Harbaugh got the best of Pete Carroll in the huge upset at the Coliseum.

It's hard to explain the feeling, but I'm sure you've all felt it before. You just have a sick feeling in your stomach.

There's nobody to blame but the Trojans themselves either. They were outplayed and outcoached by Stanford -- plain and simple. The reactions I gathered from the USC coaching staff and players is that they really felt like every game on the schedule but Oregon was going to be a gimmie.

And that's the main reason why I don't think the Trojans will be in the BCS picture at the end of the season. The rest of their schedule includes games against Cal, Utah, Washington, Colorado, Arizona, Oregon, Arizona State, UCLA, and Notre Dame. Those games against Oregon, UCLA, and Notre Dame could help propel them up the rankings if they win, but who knows what kind of condition UCLA and Notre Dame will be in as the season progresses.

Sure, we've seen a team recover from an early season loss and make a great run at the end of the season before. Alabama did it just last year. I just don't see my beloved Trojans doing the same. Now that they have been exposed with a loss, many of the Trojans are going to be looking more towards the NFL Draft than they will their next game. It would not surprise me in the least to see the team finish with three losses (vs. Oregon and at Arizona being the other two).

I'm not going to discount the talent this team has or the good job of coaching Lane Kiffin has done thus far. I like Kiffin and I like this team. But I also believe this loss could be demoralizing for many of the players who see the reality that a BCS Championship is not going to happen.

Joe Chacon is a staff writer for Operation Sports and a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. You can follow him on Twitter @JoeChacon.

Comments

# 1 SkillzKillz719 @ Sep 19

Agreed.

This team is falling under the 2010 Alabama team that was more worried about their draft stocks/ staying healthy than winning games.
And I read somewhere, or heard it on ESPN, where AJ McCarron came out and said that.

USC does have a way of like, I don't know, not reaching their potential? Is the best way to put it. It's so frustrating because the talent is there too.

I think the only answer is a great coach. Just how smaller university's need certain coaches (Greg Schiano at Rutgers, Chirs Peterson at Boise State, or even Mike Riley at Oregon State) bigger schools like Alabama and USC need coaches like Saban and Carroll to help their teams reach their potentials.

Lane Kiffin is not the answer. I can assure you that.

Now what about that USC basketball team... no THAT is a head-scratcher. lol

# 2 SkillzKillz719 @ Sep 19

And yes I realise Greg Schiano isn't at Rutgers anymore haha

# 3 jrtplaya21 @ Sep 19

Did you even watch the 2010 Alabama team?? The problem was a sense of self-entitlement. We had just won it all the year before and thought we would steamroll all opponents. The Auburn game was quite the collapse. The LSU loss was pretty close. The South Carolina loss had some key injuries on defense that were lacking in experience and leadership capabilities plus there were so few rushing yards. This years USC team would get destroyed by 2010 Alabama.

# 4 fudgie @ Sep 19

This SC team is supremely talented. But, for as much talent as there is there is a lack of depth. Matt Barkley was ate alive by Stanford on Saturday, taking his name out of the Heismen race for now. USC has very little to no chance of getting back in the National Title picture. Not only will they need either Alabama or LSU to lose TWO games they will need to win out themselves. Plus they will need Florida State, amongst several other undefeated teams, to lose. The thing that is in SC's favor is that they do face Notre Dame and Oregon and will be able to dictate if those two teams win or lose. However, as backwards as it sounds. For USC to have a chance of entering the Natty, they are better off beating Oregon then hoping the Cardinal find a way to win their division and set up a rematch with Stanford for the Pac12 title game. The reason being - it is highly unlikely that either USC OR Oregon will be able to beat each other twice. All this of course rides on the shoulders of Lane Kiffen. If he can keep his team focused, which he has not been able to do at all durring the first three games, USC has a microscopic chance of being number 2 at the end of the year.

I however see a miracle being required for the Trojans to be playing for the BCS title though.

# 5 SkillzKillz719 @ Sep 20

I'm not dissing the 2010 Bama team. They were one of the most talented teams of the decade. Right up there with the 01' Canes or 05' Trojans. I thought Alabama could have beat anyone. In no way was I dissing them.
I'm unclear on why you got offended. And I would also agree it would be a 31-10 game if USC played the 2010 Bama team.
No need to say why they lost. Just saying USC falls under the mental category with that Alabama team.