The USC Trojans fell to the Notre Dame Fighting Irish 49-35 on Saturday. Former USC Trojans quarterbacks Matt Leinart and Matt Barkley weighed in on the current state of the program.
The Trojans will enter bowl season with an underwhelming 6-6 record. USC had a promising start to the season but struggled mightily on the road.Nov 30, 2024; Los Angeles, California, USA; Notre Dame Fighting Irish cornerback Christian Gray runs the ball after intercepting a pass intended for Southern California Trojans wide receiver Kyron Hudson during the second half at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Mandatory Credit: Gary A. Vasquez-Imagn Images / Gary A.
Since then, USC has regressed in back to back seasons. In 2023, USC went 8-5. Now they are 6-6 in 2024. Former USC Trojans quarterback and 2004 Heisman trophy winner Matt Leinart weighed in on the current state of the Trojans via social media. Finish 6-6 and just really have no clue what we are ? Who we are? There’s no identity. We have good players. Need to recruit harder. As frustrated as anyone. Want to see USC back to being a contender. Don’t think we are close at the moment.Leinart is concerned that USC is falling behind the rest of the country, and he has a fair point. USC was once on top of the college football world but has failed to recapture that in a long time.
Leinart wasn’t the only former USC quarterback to weigh in with his displeasure of the state of the program following the loss to Notre Dame. Former Trojan, quarterback Matt Barkley had this to say., Oregon, Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan will always be in the way. To be a true contender, they won’t be able to skate around the way they did when they were in the Pac-12. There are too many good teams with programs that are trending upwards.
Next year will be the biggest year of Lincoln Riley’s tenure with USC. The lust of his first year has completely warn off, and if there is another middle of the road year such as this season, his status could be in major danger.MORE: Chicago Bears Caleb Williams Addresses Questionable Game Management By Matt EberflusMORE: How to Watch USC Trojans vs. Notre Dame Fighting Irish: Preview, Prediction, ChannelMORE: How to Watch USC Trojans vs.
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