The #17 USC Trojans have been all over the national headlines after Thursday's 17-12 home loss to the unranked Washington Huskies, mostly due to criticism of head coach Steve Sarkisian and the way the team performed under him all night long. We will address that and more in our USC Football Rumors Roundup: Latest Following Thursday's Loss To Washington.
Did USC Make "Wrong Decision" In Hiring Steve Sarkisian?
Head coach Steve Sarkisian is once again on the hot seat in Southern California, and SI.com's Pete Thamel spared no punches in evaluating Sark's work on the sidelines during Thursday's gutting home loss to the Huskies:
"Sarkisian got completely outfoxed by Petersen on Thursday night. The team with less talent, inferior athletes and a liability at quarterback won with a better game plan, crisper execution and fewer penalties. The scary part is that it could have been much worse, as Washington quarterback Jake Browning missed a wide open Jaydon Mickens in the end zone and overthrew a few handful of open receivers on well-constructed deep routes.
"In perhaps his best decision of the night, Sarkisian fell on the sword for the loss. “This game starts with me,” he said. He added: “The head coach has the responsibility to own up to it.”'
Thamel added that USC made the "wrong decision" in playing it safe by hiring Sarkisian (a member of the Pete Carroll coaching three) after the 2013 season -- a sentiment that seems to be shared by many who have made their voices heard after Thursday's loss.
Injuries Piled Up Against Washington
Sarkisian's bad night may have taken up most of the headline space, but an equally as troublesome story also emerged from Thursday's loss.
Claude Pelon, Iman Marshall, Steven Mitchell and Max Tuerk all suffered “significant” injuries on Thursday, according to Sarkisian.
Sark says injuries to Pelon, Tuerk, Biggie & Mitchell are all "significant," but didn't have concrete update on them. #USC
— Adam Maya (@AdamJMaya) October 9, 2015
While there's no update right now on any of the names listed above, CB Iman Marshall's sprained ankle, C Max Tuerk's sprained knee and DL Claude Pelon's knee injury loom large as USC looks to get itself back in order in advance of next Saturday's rivalry game at Notre Dame.
USC Trending For 4-Star DT
Four-star 2016 Houston Westside defensive tackle Jordan Elliott told 247Sports recently Texas, Michigan, USC and Nebraska are the four schools currently recruiting him the hardest. Elliott plans on making an official visit to Texas, and the Longhorns are reportedly in the lead for him thanks to their in-state recruiting advantage?
Who's #2? Most national recruiting analysts are pegging the USC Trojans as the runner-up for 2016's #14 overall defensive tackle. However, don't be surprised if USC vaults to #1 with rumblings that Elliott could be looking for a marquee school out of state to ply his wares.
Follow our USC Trojans team page for the latest USC Trojans football news!
Back to the USC Trojans Newsfeed