USC takeaways: Defense, running game carry Trojans to first shutout since 2011
LOS ANGELES — Letdown or lookahead performances were a constant theme across college football on Saturday. It would’ve been easy for 13th-ranked USC to fall into that trap against Utah State while on short rest after an emotional victory over LSU last Sunday. Safety Kamari Ramsey smothered Utah State’s tight end and broke up a pass on a third-and-3 to force a punt in the first quarter, and he sacked Aggies quarterback Bryson Barnes and forced a fumble on the first drive of the third quarter. Running game dominates A few days before the LSU game, Riley was asked about finding consistency in the run game after the Trojans rushing attack sputtered late last season. USC ran it well in certain situations against LSU last week — such as Woody Marks’ game-winning touchdown in the final seconds — but it was an up-and-down performance.
His defiance gone, Lincoln Riley struggles to explain USC’s latest devastating loss
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