Conquest Chronicles - USC vs. Cal Football Week, 2013a USC Trojans Bloghttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48551/conquestchronicles_fave.png2013-11-07T12:09:51-08:00http://www.conquestchronicles.com/rss/stream/48398252013-11-07T12:09:51-08:002013-11-07T12:09:51-08:00Cal Expects Team To Show Signs of Life
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<p>We want to thank Nick Kranz and @atomsareenough from California Golden Blogs for diving into some of the hot-pressing topics around a Cal Football program anxious to pull the upset this weekend in Memorial Stadium. </p> <p><span><b>Q. Ranking near the bottom in almost every defensive statistical category, can you see this Cal team show some signs of life this weekend?</b></span></p>
<p><b>Nick Kranz: </b>How do you define signs of life? Cal's defense has undeniably improved over the last few weeks, as the various back ups and freshmen playing due to injuries learn on the job. Cal's offense, while profligate, typically come up with a big play or two every game.<br><br>Those are certainly signs of life. Will there be enough signs of life to put USC in danger of losing? Probably not.</p>
<p><b>atomsareenough:</b> Yes, actually. Although this team isn't very good, it's shown signs of life in every game it's played. Despite the blowouts, this is a team with a lot of heart. A team with lesser character could have easily started to give up and roll over, and it's a credit to the players and coaches that they're still out there giving it their all. We'll play hard, even if it's not competitive in the end.</p>
<p><b>Q. Do you feel Cal improved or took a step back as a program by playing a rather challenging non-conference slate?</b></p>
<p><b>atomsareenough:</b> It's really hard to say where we are relative to last year, considering we're playing SO many new players, have an unprecedented amount of injuries, and are installing completely new systems on both sides of the football. Last year's 3-9 team wasn't very good either, though they also gave up completely down the stretch. I really don't know what to tell you. Hopefully there was progress, and hopefully it will be evident both in the final few games this year and from the beginning of next year. The challenging schedule didn't help us in the win column, but hopefully it gave us some valuable experience for the future.</p>
<p><b>Nick Kranz:</b> I think it would be tough to argue that playing Northwestern and Ohio State helped Cal in any meaningful way, but I think it would be tough to argue that it hurt the team Perhaps the players took a confidence hit, but high confidence hasn't been the difference between wins and losses in any game this year.</p>
<p><b>Q. Southern California prospects Chris Harper and Bryce Treggs have begun to emerge as a dynamic one-two punch in the conference and we want to know where you think this passing duo ranks amongst the Pac-12, and what has made them succeed this year?</b></p>
<p><b>Nick Kranz:</b> They would surely rank behind USC's duo when Marquise Lee is healthy. And Oregon State's Brandin Cooks is good enough that you could pair him with any other receiver on the Beaver roster and he'd win the argument.<br><br>Other than that? Yeah, probably Harper and Treggs. With every major pass catcher back next year (Richard Rodgers and Kenny Lawler have looked pretty good as well) I fully expect Cal to have the best set of receivers in the conference.</p>
<p><b>Q. Sonny Dykes has drastically improved Cal's passing game this season, but do you believe this style of offense is the best for Cal moving forward and can they lure in big-time recruits by playing balls to the wall (in a sense) with the football?</b></p>
<p><b>atomsareenough:</b> I think this style of offense can and should work for Cal, especially when we start running the ball more effectively. If we start scoring and moving the ball consistently, of course recruits are going to be excited by that. It's really hard to say with any certainty how it's going to go as of yet, though. There are signs of promise, but no consistency so far. It's disappointing to say that 10 games in, but we still don't really know.</p>
<p><b>Nick Kranz:</b> I would actually argue that Sonny Dykes hasn't drastically improved Cal's passing game yet, although the fact that there are almost no upper classmen starting on offense might have something to do with the below average offensive output seen so far this year.<br><br>Frankly, what's appealing about Sonny Dykes is that he's coached spectacularly effective offensive attacks without getting big time recruits. The hope is that, almost regardless of recruiting, Cal will develop a great offense as Dykes gradually coaches up the players on his system. And if Cal DOES happen to get great recruits, all the better.</p>
<p><b>Q. Who on this defense should USC expect to make some big plays this Saturday? </b></p>
<p><b>atomsareenough:</b> CB Kam Jackson. DT De'Andre Coleman. Those are our two best guys on defense. DT Vei Moala seems to be getting better week by week as well. We'll likely need the DTs to win up front if we're to have any chance at slowing down the Trojan run game.</p>
<p>Atoms has picked out the three most likely guys. It gets lost amidst the problems Cal has had elsewhere on defense, but the two interior linemen make up one of the better duos in the conference. Teams haven't had much success running straight ahead. Around the edge, on the other hand . . .<br><br>Really, if Cal is going to slow USC down, it will be because Kam and Cam in the secondary pick off a Cody Kessler pass or two. For as much as the defense has improved from the shocking horrors of the first half, they still haven't forced many turnovers. That'll have to change on Saturday.</p>
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<p>More USC vs. Cal Football: <a target="_blank" href="http://www.conquestchronicles.com/">Conquest Chronicles</a> and <a target="_blank" href="http://www.californiagoldenblogs.com/">California Golden Blogs</a></p>
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<p><b>Q. We watched Brendan Bigelow put up some gaudy numbers against Ohio State last season but his big-play potential has been relatively unheard of since that game. Is his struggle as a product of the pass-happy offense or is he just in a rut in the backfield?</b></p>
<p><b>atomsareenough:</b> He hasn't been the same guy this year after having offseason meniscus surgery. He's supposedly healthy now, but I think it's mostly a confidence thing for him. So many times, it seems like he's been close to having a big play, but he hasn't been able to make that last defender miss. I think he badly needs something to go right for him right now, but at the moment he's unfortunately more of a liability than an asset. That could change in a heartbeat, though. The talent is there. They've moved him from running back to slot receiver, with the thought that it would make it more likely for him to have the ball in space so he can use his skills better. So far, we're still waiting for the results.</p>
<p><b>Nick Kranz:</b> Brendan Bigelow endured a few more knee surgeries over the off-season, and that's after some serious injuries sustained prior to coming to Cal. I think the bottom line is that Bigelow isn't the same player he was when he blitzed through the Ohio State defense last year. I won't say that it's impossible for him to rediscover that form, but it's probably not happening this year.</p>
<p><b>Q. What will the atmosphere be like at Memorial Stadium? Has the fan base lost hope in this team or will the 12:00 p.m.start actually help fans come out to the stadium against an old rival in USC?</b></p>
<p><b>atomsareenough:</b> Lost hope? I don't know. Perhaps. The expectations, whatever there may have been, have certainly evaporated. But ~40,000 fans still [eventually] stumbled out of bed and made their way to Memorial for the last game last week against Arizona, and that was at least competitive and entertaining, for a change. It may be a late-arriving crowd again, but I think it will be more than half full, and hopefully they'll have something to cheer about. Personally, I prefer a 4:30 start time.</p>
<p><b>Nick Kranz:</b> Well, fans will reliable show up for the intra-state rivalry games. It's a pattern Cal fans have seen in many more lost seasons in the past. I expect the stadium to be reasonably full. Whether or not that translates to a better atmosphere is anyone's guess. It would be nice if Cal could score early, or at least keep the game close in the first half.</p>
<p><b>Q. Any funny memes or expressions to sum up your thoughts on the season to this point?</b></p>
<p><b>Nick Kranz:</b> I personally enjoy the 'Jared Goff has tiny hands!' meme that has grown out of some fumble problems our quarterback has displayed.</p>
<p><b>atomsareenough:</b> Cal fans have an exhaustive supply of memes and expressions to express their frustrations and overall sense of doom. None of them are funny anymore. We just want to win a damn football game at this point.</p>
https://www.conquestchronicles.com/2013/11/7/5077818/usc-vs-cal-football-weekender-preview-from-california-golden-blogsEvan Budrovich2013-11-06T19:48:39-08:002013-11-06T19:48:39-08:00Trojans Silent Assassin Out Rest of Season
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<p>Trojans will be without their "Silent Assassin" as DE/OLB Morgan Breslin needs hip surgery.</p> <p>USC senior defensive stalwart <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/161052/morgan-breslin">Morgan Breslin</a> will undergo surgery on his hip and will miss the remainder of the regular season, interim head coach Ed Orgeron announced after practice Wednesday.</p>
<p>Orgeron did leave open the possibility of the 6-2, 250-pound pass-rushing machine returning for a bowl game (if USC becomes eligible by winning one of its final four games).</p>
<p>Breslin has been banged up for the majority of the season. After missing the season opener at Hawaii with a foot injury, he returned for four games, racking up 11 tackles and four sacks from his new defensive end/outside linebacker hybrid position. But then he injured his hip and in the last four games, his only action came when he played sparingly at Notre Dame.</p>
<p>Last year, the junior college transfer from Diablo Valley College was the biggest surprise of the season. The "Silent Assassin" who declines to talk to the media, signed with little fanfare, but then developed into one of the nation's top defensive ends. He tallied 13.5 sacks -- the most by a Trojan since 2003 -- and 19.5 tackles for loss. Breslin finished with 62 tackles, including nine in the USC's Sun Bowl loss to Georgia Tech.</p>
<p>"In my 27 years of coaching, Morgan is absolutely one of my favorite players I've ever coached," Orgeron said this week. "An outstanding young man, great team guy, just loves football."</p>
<p>Despite playing only four and a half games, Breslin is still third on the team with 4.5 sacks and third with 8.0 tackles for loss.</p>
<p>Luckily for Orgeron, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136372/j-r-tavai">J.R. Tavai</a> has made a near seamless transition, moving from the defensive line and stepping into Breslin's role on the outside. Tavai had 9 tackles (3.5 for a loss) and 0.5 sacks against Arizona in his first action replacing Breslin. Tavai then had an even bigger breakout two weeks later against Utah with 11 tackles and 2 sacks.</p>
https://www.conquestchronicles.com/2013/11/6/5075568/morgan-breslin-to-have-hip-surgery-out-for-regular-seasonShotgunSpratling2013-11-06T06:01:29-08:002013-11-06T06:01:29-08:00Injury Report Released, Trojans Remain Confident
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes</figcaption>
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<p>The motto "One Team, One Heartbeat" will be put to the test this week as OLB Morgan Breslin, who recorded 3.5 sacks in last year's meeting, has been ruled out for Saturday. </p> <p>Beginning preparation through the most crucial stretch of the season, the Trojans took to the practice field in lighter doses before departing to Berkeley for the annual Weekender.</p>
<p>While the Bears may not be the most daunting team on the defensive side of the ball, the Trojans firmly understand Sonny Dykes and company will let it fly in the passing game and are certainly up for the challenge from their long-standing Northern California rivals.</p>
<p><b>WR BACK IN THE FOLD:</b></p>
<p>Starting at the top with <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136355/marqise-lee">Marqise Lee</a>, the Trojans WR corp is back, healthy and ready to make major contributions this week against the Berkeley Bears' worst ranked pass defense in all of Division I football, allowing over 340 YPG.</p>
<p><span>"I'm feeling good," Lee said Tuesday after practice. </span><span>For the first time in weeks, Lee worked alongside sophomore standout <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/161018/nelson-agholor">Nelson Agholor</a>, freshman vertical sensation <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113431/darreus-rogers">Darreus Rogers</a>, senior <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78120/de-von-flournoy">De'Von Flournoy</a> and sophomore Victory Blackwell with coach Tee Martin in practice. </span></p>
<p><span>"I'm running OK, no pain," Lee said, following his first full day of practice after catching five passes for 105 yards against Oregon State. "In the game, I was OK. Today, it didn't stiffen up and in the game it actually did on the sideline."</span></p>
<p><b>PLAYERS CONFIDENT: </b></p>
<p class="p1">The Trojans enter this weekend's tilt in the midst of a two-game winning streak in which the defense has yet to allow points in the second half, while the offense is slowly starting to pound teams away in the running game. With all that being said, confidence is sky high around the locker room heading into a unique test from Sonny Dykes' squad.</p>
<p class="p1"><span>"That was a wonderful game for us, we did a lot of nice things our running game got developed, and a lot of guys played with a lot of intensity," said sophomore Nelson Agholor, adding the team has to "j</span><span>ust keep moving with the momentum we have going."</span></p>
<p class="p1">Cal looks to present challenges that rival the top-ranked Beavers attack, which USC slowed way below its season averages last week in Corvallis. Led by freshman quarterback Jarred Goff, the Bears will look to feed local receivers Bryce Treggs (St. John Bosco) and Chris Harper (Crespi HS) the rock early and often.</p>
<p class="p1">"The spread offense has given us problems. Cal's very quick and they play no huddle. They can also throw the ball vertically and they have a lot of speed. They're a dangerous team," said Orgeron.</p>
<p class="p2"><b>ORGERON PREACHING PATIENCE:</b></p>
<p class="p1">While the cookies and treats have come in large sample sizes over the past four weeks, Orgeron made clear that this is just another game in the Trojans new season and that it must be treated like any other.</p>
<p class="p1">In spite of the team's impressive 31-14 victory at Reser Stadium, Orgeron noted some key penalties and missed opportunities that could have sealed the deal after properly evaluating last week's film. Moving forward, he believes his team has been practicing well this week and will not be overlooking the one-win Golden Bears.</p>
<p class="p1">"Obviously our guys are feeling very good, we went back to fundamentals and how we can get better at each position," Orgeron said, after evaluating the Oregon State film. "It's about taking it one game at a time and focusing on getting better."</p>
<p class="p1">For a roster that continues to battle its fair share of bumps and bruises, Orgeron is also impressed with the team's resolve and ability to plug in all over the field. The three-touchdown performance from Buck Allen personally took a shine to the interim coach, who praised contributions from all over the roster these past few weeks.</p>
<p><b>INJURY UPDATE:</b></p>
<p>Orgeron said after practice <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/136351/tre-madden">Tre Madden</a> (hamstring), tight end <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/113443/randall-telfer">Randall Telfer</a> (knee), cornerback Anthony Brown (knee) and linebacker <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/161052/morgan-breslin">Morgan Breslin</a> (hip) will not play Saturday at the Weekender. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78141/kevin-graf">Kevin Graf</a> (ankle) is questionable, after missing most of the second half due to injury, while TE Jalen Cope-Fitzpatrick is probable.</p>
https://www.conquestchronicles.com/2013/11/6/5072004/usc-football-injury-report-released-for-the-weekenderEvan Budrovich2013-11-05T07:00:26-08:002013-11-05T07:00:26-08:00Time For The Final Five
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<figcaption>Steve Dykes</figcaption>
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<p>With a win this weekend against Cal Berkeley on Saturday, the Trojans will clinch a spot in some Bowl Game this season and would assure yet another winning record. </p> <p>This week we will break down some of the key story lines to the USC vs. Cal matchup in sets of five, not only for the Trojans outlook moving forward, but also assessing whats left of the final fives games on the calendar.</p>
<p><b>NOVEMBER TO REMEMBER:</b></p>
<p><span>USC has a 243-127-20 (.649) all-time record while playing in the month of November, and this year will have five opportunities to make history in the regular seasons' final month. </span></p>
<p><span>The Trojans enter November at 6-3 overall, winners of two-straight physical bouts, with chances of not only finishing the season with 11 wins but also making the Pac-12 Championship Game for the first time in the events history.</span></p>
<p><span></span><span>In pursuit of that success, Orgeron said earlier this week that he learned about getting better in the month of November from one of the Trojans most decorated head coaches in Pete Carroll. </span></p>
<p><span></span><span>During his nine year tenure on campus (2001 to 2009) Carroll's teams were 29-1 in November with their only loss coming at the hands of Jim Harbaugh's Cardinal 55-21 back in 2009.</span></p>
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<p><b>LAST SEASON:</b></p>
<p>Thanks to a dominant defensive effort, that equalled in the number of total sacks and points scored, No. 13 USC responded well following its loss to Stanford by crushing the Bears 27-9 at the Coliseum. The offense also came to play, thanks to 100-plus yard rushing games from Silas Redd and former USC tailback Curtis McNeal.</p>
<p><b>USC's RECENT BERKELEY BEATDOWN</b></p>
<p>The Trojans lead the all-time series with Cal, which dates back to 1915 (and is uninterrupted since 1926), 64-30-5 and to that point, USC has not lost to the Bears since 2003 (Cal has averaged just 10.2 points in those games). Not to mention the fact that on the road in Berkeley, USC has won 32 of the 46 all-time meetings including the last three such outings.</p>
<p><b>IN-N-OUT SURPRISE:</b></p>
<p>Ed Orgeron has pulled out all the stops in the cuisine department from cookies to ice cream and even Roscoe's Chicken and Waffles. But on Monday, the team was pleasantly surprised to burgers, fries and shakes from In-N-Out Burgers.</p>
<p>In a move that seemed rather interesting, given former what Oregon State Coach Mike Riley pulled off last season taking his team to the same burger joint after defeating UCLA here in Los Angeles.</p>
<p>Whatever the case may be, players were ecstatic about the treats and certainly want to kick off the month of November which features five games on the calendar in prime fashion.</p>
<p><iframe width="560" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/mpS73k_mnf4" frameborder="0"></iframe> <br id="1383639761820"></p>
<p><b>WEEKLY FUN FACTS:</b></p>
<p>USC has played 1,183 games in its history and only twice-when Troy snapped No. 1-ranked California's 38-game regular season unbeaten streak in 1951 at Berkeley and in 2012's loss at Stanford.</p>
<p>Also of note, thanks to the USC Sports Information Department for this and many other fun facts we fire out each week, this Wednesday (Nov. 6) marks the 100th anniversary of the 160-acre Exposition Park that surrounds the Coliseum.</p>
<p><span></span>Interestingly <span>enough however, USC did not field a football team at </span><span>the land transformed and renamed Exposition Park upon its re-opening on Nov. 6, 1913, instead playing out its final year of collegiate rugby. </span></p>
https://www.conquestchronicles.com/2013/11/5/5065164/quick-preview-for-cal-weekenderEvan Budrovich2013-11-03T09:18:21-08:002013-11-03T09:18:21-08:00AP POLL RELEASED: TWO TOP 25 GAMES REMAIN
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<figcaption>Jonathan Daniel</figcaption>
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<p>The Trojans (6-3, 3-2) have won two-straight games for the first time since September, and have now lost two of their three games this season against opponents that are currently ranked. </p> <p>
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<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" border="1" width="100%" class="sortable"><tbody>
<tr class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#EDF1F3">
<th align="center">Rank</th> <th align="center">Team</th> <th align="center">Record</th> <th align="center">Votes</th> <th align="center">Previous</th>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">1</td>
<td align="center">Alabama (52)</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">1,491</td>
<td align="center">1</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">2</td>
<td align="center">Oregon (2)</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">1,418</td>
<td align="center">2</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">3</td>
<td align="center">Florida State (6)</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">1,409</td>
<td align="center">3</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">4</td>
<td align="center">Ohio State</td>
<td align="center">9-0</td>
<td align="center">1,315</td>
<td align="center">4</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">5</td>
<td align="center">Baylor</td>
<td align="center">7-0</td>
<td align="center">1,234</td>
<td align="center">5</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">6</td>
<td align="center">Stanford</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">1,214</td>
<td align="center">6</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">7</td>
<td align="center">Auburn</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">1,082</td>
<td align="center">8</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">8</td>
<td align="center">Clemson</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">1,059</td>
<td align="center">9</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">9</td>
<td align="center">Missouri</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">956</td>
<td align="center">10</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">10</td>
<td align="center">LSU</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">863</td>
<td align="center">11</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">11</td>
<td align="center">Texas A&M</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">861</td>
<td align="center">12</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">12</td>
<td align="center">Oklahoma</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">816</td>
<td align="center">13</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">13</td>
<td align="center">South Carolina</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">769</td>
<td align="center">14</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">14</td>
<td align="center">Miami (FL)</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">737</td>
<td align="center">7</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">15</td>
<td align="center">Oklahoma State</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">662</td>
<td align="center">18</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">16</td>
<td align="center">UCLA</td>
<td align="center">6-2</td>
<td align="center">515</td>
<td align="center">17</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">17</td>
<td align="center">Fresno State</td>
<td align="center">8-0</td>
<td align="center">493</td>
<td align="center">16</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">18</td>
<td align="center">Michigan State</td>
<td align="center">8-1</td>
<td align="center">478</td>
<td align="center">24</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">19</td>
<td align="center">UCF</td>
<td align="center">6-1</td>
<td align="center">472</td>
<td align="center">19</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">20</td>
<td align="center">Louisville</td>
<td align="center">7-1</td>
<td align="center">385</td>
<td align="center">20</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">21</td>
<td align="center">Wisconsin</td>
<td align="center">6-2</td>
<td align="center">342</td>
<td align="center">22</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">22</td>
<td align="center">Northern Illinois</td>
<td align="center">9-0</td>
<td align="center">322</td>
<td align="center">21</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">23</td>
<td align="center">Arizona State</td>
<td align="center">6-2</td>
<td align="center">197</td>
<td align="center">25</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">24</td>
<td align="center">Notre Dame</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">164</td>
<td align="center">NR</td>
</tr>
<tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">25</td>
<td align="center">Texas Tech</td>
<td align="center">7-2</td>
<td align="center">102</td>
<td align="center">15</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<table class="sbnu-legacy-content-table"><tbody><tr onmouseover="this.bgColor='#C7D9EC'" onmouseout="this.bgColor='#FFFFFF'" class="sbnu-legacy-content-table" bgcolor="#FFFFFF">
<td align="center">Others Receiving Votes: Texas 34, Georgia 32, Brigham Young 28, Mississippi 17, Houston 9, Minnesota 7, Michigan 6, Washington 6, Ball State 4, Duke 1</td>
</tr></tbody></table>
<p>What do you feel about USC's chances moving forward against Stanford and UCLA, both of which should be in the Top 25 for the rest of the season? That being said, do losses against ASU and Notre Dame seem more forgiveable given boths win/loss records?</p>
https://www.conquestchronicles.com/2013/11/3/5061352/ap-poll-trojans-last-two-losses-versus-asu-nd-join-top-25-ranksEvan Budrovich