USC falls in familiar fashion to Illinois

Stop me if you’ve heard this one before. USC lets a late road lead slip away, this time against Big Ten rival Illinois. For many inside the walls of Troy, the loss adds another rung to a familiar ladder of frustration, confusion, and hopefully growth.

Illinois was never as bad as its showing against Indiana the week prior suggested. It was unlikely the Illini would repeat such a flat performance, and against USC they instead slowed the game down, focusing on limiting mistakes. Both teams, however, struggled with ball security, combining for four turnovers apiece.

Ironically, Illinois nearly gave USC the game when a fumble just short of the end zone opened the door for a Trojan go-ahead touchdown with 1:55 left. But USC’s Achilles’ heel from last season, closing out opponents frustratingly reappeared. Leading with just 85 seconds remaining, the Trojans again couldn’t finish the job, and the result was another bitter road defeat.

For Lincoln Riley and his staff, the bye week provides a chance to reflect on USC’s 4–1 start and prepare for a pivotal home matchup with Michigan in two weeks. From the moment the schedule was released, it was clear the road ahead would only grow more difficult. The challenges won’t ease up, and the Trojans must find a way to solve the recurring problem of closing out tight games.

Needed USC improvement

So far in Big Ten play, USC has struggled to finish consistently, and that inability remains the program’s most glaring obstacle. Until the Trojans prove they can win the close ones, the question will continue to hang over them like a weight on their shoulders. Whether they can finally turn that corner won’t be answered until Michigan comes to Los Angeles.