USC Named Pop Tart Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week

USC Football’s epic 30-18 halloween take down of the No. 2 Ohio State Buckeyes at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum has been named Pop-Tarts Bowl Crazy Good Team of the Week.

The All-American Committee of the Football Writers Association of America has now given this honor to the 7-2 Trojans for the fifth time since 2008.

This is the second time the honor was given after defeating an Ohio State team. The first was a 35-3 win for USC in 2008.

With their backs to the wall, head coach Lincoln Riley had the Trojans looking sharp right out of the gate. Freshman All-American Trent Mosley scored on a 69 yard screen play on the second play of the game. 

The Trojans came into this game in a must win situation.

With the national media questioning Riley’s leadership, the Trojans needed a win to stay in the college football playoff race.

No at-large team has made it to the CFP with three losses.

USC had to win.

Ohio State came into the game with No.11 scoring defense at 15.5 points per game. They also had the No. 8 total defense giving up 273.5 yards per game. USC scored 30 points against that elite defense while gaining 338 yards on offense. 

The entire nation wanted to see what Heisman front runner Jeremiah Smith was going to do against a USC defense that was ranked No. 32 in total defense.

Smith ended the game with 10 receptions for 83 yards and a score. 

Smith drew considerable attention from the Gary Patterson led defense, but did not have any impact plays that hurt the Trojans. 

It’s fair to say that after a big game in which Smith didn't have real impact and with the loss of Julian Sayin, Smith might have lost the Heisman on Halloween.

The game was controlled by the seven-point underdog Trojans from the very start.

USC made key stops on defense throughout the game. Mosley dazzled with a 44 yard punt return showing why he’s listed as one of the best returners in the game with his Jet Award nomination.

Ohio State never led in this contest. At one point Ohio State was down by 18 points, their largest deficit since a 2022 loss to the Michigan Wolverines 45-23.

Offensively USC flexed its muscles. On defense,  they shut down Smith, whileon special teams they were great.

It is easy to see why this was the team of the week.

There was drama around Riley possibly not making the playoffs if USC lost.

The biggest question was how could a below average defense stop the greatest receiver in Big Ten history. 

USC survived and will advance to play another meaningful game when the Trojans travel to Bloomington to face No. 2 Indiana Hoosiers.

A win over the Hoosiers keeps USC in prime position to make the playoffs with upcoming games against the Maryland Terrapins and the No. 5 UCLA Bruins.