Right after a stinging loss, a lot of USC football fans might not be in the mood to hear any positive spin or any “look on the bright side” comments. Yet, it seems warranted in this moment, for one very obvious reason: This was never the year in which USC was supposed to make the College Football Playoff.
Reach the Pac-12 Championship Game? Yes. That was always in play, and it still is.
Reach the Rose Bowl? Yes. Still in play.
Make a New Year’s Six bowl game? Yes. That’s very much in play, and USC is still likely to get one of those premium bowl invitations.
The playoff, though, was a bridge too far. Not with this defense. Not with the roster limitations. It was always about building a foundation for the future.
USC is doing that. Let’s explain why this program’s long-term outlook is better than it was heading into the Utah game: