USC football falls outside top 15 in US LBM Coaches Poll after loss to Michigan

The USC Trojans took a hit in the new US LBM Coaches Poll, presented by USA TODAY Sports. USC lost to Michigan and dropped four spots in the poll. The Men of Troy squandered a golden chance to cement themselves as a top-10 team and a frontline College Football Playoff contender. They can play their way back into the conversation, but now that looming Penn State game on Oct. 12 is a must-win, rather than a game USC would love to win but could afford to lose. The Trojans really can’t afford to lose that game at this point.

USC has shown signs of becoming a good team, but the Trojans have also shown signs of being a team which doesn’t correct errors and doesn’t address lingering deficiencies. It’s still early in the season. It’s still September. Now, however, we have to see this USC team and coaching staff grow into an improved group. We have to see accountability emerge on both sides of the ball. The crucial mistakes which keep cropping up have to be dealt with and weeded out of this team’s DNA. If these problems persist, USC will fall short of its potential. It’s time for everything to get fixed at USC, and for these coaches and players to take the next forward steps in their evolution. With all of that in mind, here is the full US LBM Coaches Poll after Week 4: