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I certainly can't say that the players didn't put forth the effort. But some of those players killed momentum with undisciplined play.
Marqise Lee was a monster out there. His receiving yardage was fifth best all-time for a single game, but he broke the USC and Pac-12 records for a single game performance.
Marqise Lee's numbers in the Trojans' loss were a little ridiculous: 16 catches, 345 yards and two touchdowns. He didn't drop a pass all game. Pretty much the only thing he did wrong was gain only a yard on a fourth-and-2 reverse Lane Kiffin drew up for him in the second half.
Afterward, Kiffin said he had only seen one other skill-position player like Lee in his college-coaching career: Reggie Bush.
Lee's day broke the school and conference records for receiving yards and came within 60 yards of the NCAA all-time record ... and were a huge part of Matt Barkley’s school-record 493 yards passing on the day. He was still bawling on the field after the game, though: He said the numbers didn't matter.
Barkley also had another record setting day.
Barkley’s 493 passing yards was a school record. His previous career high was 468 -- also a USC record -- against Arizona last season.
That's nice, but the only numbers anyone really cares about is wins and losses.
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Marqise Lee...
Matt Barkley...