How the turn tables, as they say.
The first three games of the USC season painted a very clear and obvious portrait of a team almost completely reliant on its offense to score in bunches, build a lead, and prevent the defense from having to take the field in a tight game in the fourth quarter.
USC led Stanford 41-14 midway through the third quarter of Week 2. The Trojans led Fresno State 35-17 in the fourth quarter of Week 3. The defense never had to play a possession in which the outcome of the game hung in the balance.
That all changed in Week 4 against Oregon State … and the defense was able to answer the bell. Our report card looks very different this week.