The immediate debate after USC’s moderately comfortable win over Arizona State — it wasn’t a blowout, but it also wasn’t a nail-biter — is if the Trojans should be concerned about their status and their overall level of quality.
The answer might be a cop-out: yes and no.
There are certainly reasons to be concerned about the Trojans after this uneven performance, but the reasons might not be what you immediately expect. It’s a more complicated picture than it might seem on the surface. There is plenty to discuss after this game, and to be sure, you’ll want to read our report card feature on this game to get a fuller evaluation of the Trojans. What is important to absorb at a time like this is that circumstances shape evaluations. The larger context of a situation affects the grades we give to players, coaches, and position units. Here are the main points to ponder after the Trojans moved to 5-0 this season: