NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
Dec 2, 2022; Las Vegas, NV, USA; Southern California Trojans running back Raleek Brown (14) carries the ball agaisnt Utah Utes defensive end Gabe Reid (91) in the first half of the Pac-12 Championship at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
The 2022 Pac-12 Championship Game was a brutal experience for USC. The Trojans were one win from the College Football Playoff and took an early lead over the Utes. Caleb Williams, the Heisman Trophy winner that year, got injured. Utah came back in the second half to win. The loss was painful, but it felt like the beginning, not the end, for Lincoln Riley and the Trojans. They figured to play in more conference championship games and have more chances to make the playoff in the future. Utah and Kyle Whittingham also figured to continue to be good. Whittingham had figured out how to win consistently, claiming back-to-back Pac-12 titles and making consecutive Rose Bowls.
Imagine anyone telling you on that December night in Las Vegas that two years later, USC and Utah would both be lost at sea in October of the 2024 season, with no hope of any significant goal. USC and Utah won’t play for a conference title. They won’t make the playoff. They won’t play in a New Year’s Six bowl game. All of those hopes are gone while other highly unlikely teams pursue championships. Utah rival BYU is looking at a playoff berth and Big 12 title. Indiana, not USC, is a Big Ten title contender. This is crazy. Let’s look at what has gone so deeply wrong for USC and Utah, as these programs confront the reality of a wasted 2024 season and try to start building for 2025:
CAM RISING
Rising – Gary A. Vasquez-USA TODAY Sports
In 2023, Cam Rising’s health hijacked Utah’s season. It was unfair to criticize the Utah staff too much, because they had the impression Rising would be healthy enough to…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/usc-utah-both-collapsed-since-160733844.html
Author : Trojans Wire
Publish date : 2024-10-22 16:07:33
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
