As far as 28-point victories go, USC vs. Oregon State was as unsatisfying as they come.
It was unsatisfying because despite the 38-10 scoreline, the Trojans confirmed that they exist in a time loop on offense. USC’s 2017 season is a reboot of the movie Groundhog Day.
The Trojans have now played six games this season and, with one exception, each has followed the same script. The endings have been different—Western Michigan and Cal were put away with the defense forcing turnovers, Texas was downed in overtime after a Sam Darnold miracle drive, while Washington State didn’t let the same happen to them, forcing a fumble and upsetting the Trojans in Pullman—but the story hasn’t changed.