The USC Trojans once again battled through familiar problems that have persisted all season. Despite a roster filled with athletic talent and strong individual performers, the team continued to repeat costly mistakes that nearly jeopardized their matchup against their long-time rival.
Head coach Lincoln Riley emphasized the need for discipline and consistency, calling out the importance of finishing drives and maintaining defensive focus. Turnovers and missed assignments kept the rival team in contention until the final quarter, when a late touchdown sealed USC’s narrow win.
Players acknowledged that improvement is critical if the Trojans want to sustain success in upcoming conference games. Several team leaders mentioned accountability and preparation as key steps going forward.
"We can’t keep making the same mistakes and expect different results," one senior player said after the game.
Despite the instability, USC’s talent shone during key stretches, allowing the team to survive another shaky performance.
USC edged out a rival in a tense match, but repeated errors and inconsistency continue to threaten the Trojans’ potential for a stronger season run.