USC tumbles out of US LBM Coaches Poll

USC fell from No. 15 to unranked in the latest US LBM Coaches Poll. Frankly, no one can debate that the Trojans should not be in the top 25.

The USC Football team isn’t a top-25-quality team. The new US LBM Coaches Poll, presented by USA TODAY Sports, reflects that. USC lost 24-17 to Minnesota on Saturday, blowing a seven-point lead in the fourth quarter. The Trojans led Michigan 24-20 before losing that lead late in the fourth quarter as well. USC has struggled in first halves, to the extent that when the Trojans play well in the third quarter — something they have done in every game so far this season — they don’t grab a large lead. The third-quarter surge from USC merely cancels out the bad work the Trojans did in the first half. USC is not getting separation on the scoreboard, relative to its opponents. This means that in the fourth quarter, with a one-score lead, USC can get into trouble by making just one or two huge mistakes. That’s how the Michigan and Minnesota games have turned from wins into losses. It’s appropriate that USC should be out of the top 25, but it’s also deeply painful for the Trojans and their fans to contemplate.

Ranking Team Record Points
1 Texas Longhorns 5-0 1,364 (44)
2 Ohio State Buckeyes 5-0 1,330 (11)
3 Oregon Ducks 5-0 1,215
4 Georgia Bulldogs 4-1 1,174
5 Penn State Nittany Lions 5-0 1,163
6 Miami Hurricanes 6-0 1,085
7 Alabama Crimson Tide 4-1 1,035
8 Ole Miss Rebels 5-1 935
9 Tennessee Volunteers 4-1 856
10 LSU Tigers 4-1 839
11 Clemson Tigers 4-1 818
12 Notre Dame Fighting Irish 4-1 807
13 Iowa State Cyclones 5-0 695
14 Texas A&M Aggies 5-1 564
15 BYU Cougars 5-0 549
16 Oklahoma Sooners 4-1 541
17 Utah Utes 4-1 479
18 Missouri Tigers 4-1 473
19 Kansas State Wildcats 4-1 360
20 Indiana Hoosiers 6-0 358
21 Michigan Wolverines 4-2 224
22 Boise State Broncos 4-1 213
23 Illinois Fighting Illini 4-1 179
24 Pittsburgh Panthers 5-0 170
25 SMU Mustangs 5-1 123