Painful USC loss needs to yield different momentum moving forward

It says something that despite USC gaining a late lead in the 4th quarter on the road against a formidable Big Ten team, many Trojan fans did not have faith and, furthermore, were not surprised when the game ended up resulting in a loss.

There aren't really any two ways about it. The loss did not sting because of how close it was or because of how USC did nearly pull off the comeback. Instead, this was a disappointing loss in terms of it more or less being the same old story that has been on display from the Trojans.

Particularly since joining the Big Ten, the end of games has been a constant source of frustration.

Although there are some encouraging signs and a lot of aspects are looking vastly improved from the past offseason under coach Lincoln Riley, this is an important hurdle that remains to be overcome in Troy.

For some the latest loss to the Fighting Illini is simply evidence that the good old days will never come back, much less any actual chance of USC even being able to sniff the College Football Playoff.

It needs to be remembered, though, that winning at a high level, particularly after a string of narrow losses, tends not to happen. Some may point to coach Curt Cignetti and what he has been able to accomplish in a short tenure at Indiana to this point. It needs to be acknowledged, however, that this is certainly the exception and far from the general rule.

Changing narratives at USC

That is not to make an excuse for this Coach Riley staff. After all, the university has given this football program the resources it needed in order to compete, and the talent level, at least when fully healthy, is good enough that they should be able to flip the disappointing losses from last year into wins.

The team responds following the bye week will be immensely telling for the rest of this USC season.