In this Pac-12, a USC playoff run would require true greatness

Up 49-3 with his Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback not needed for the entire second half, Lincoln Riley rampaged up and down the USC sideline, red in the face. Quite to the contrary, I think Riley had it just right, revealing a healthy understanding of just how little USC’s romp of Stanford proved — and how daunting the rest of the season looks now, knowing what we know after two full weeks of the college football season. After last season, Riley could have been the spokesperson for fast transfer portal turnarounds, but Prime looks like he’s about to take that one, too. Pete Carroll’s 2004 team wanted to “leave no doubt” on its way to a national championship, and, with this gantlet ahead, this group can hush all doubters with a playoff run. Steve Sarkisian’s big night Texas coach Steve Sarkisian watches from the sideline during a win over Alabama on Saturday.