LOS ANGELES — The Sam Darnold vs. Khalil Tate quarterback matchup lived up to its billing for a half on Saturday, and delivered some much-needed drama into would would have been an otherwise routine 49-35 USC victory over Arizona in a key Pac-12 South game at the Coliseum.
Despite a slow start, the rivalry finally took off in the second half as Tate brought Arizona back from a 28-6 deficit and tied the game, 35-35, on a 2-point conversion play with 8:23 left in the game. Tate amassed just 57 yards in total offense in the first half, but answered with 250 in the second half that better resembled his previous four games.
MORE: College Football Playoff Week 11 outlook
But just when Tate brought Arizona back, Darnold delivered with another of his clutch fourth-quarter responses: The sophomore was 4 for 4 for 76 yards to drive the Trojans right down the field and take a 42-35 lead on a 1-yard run by tailback Ronald Jones.
Whatever Darnold may or may not be this season, he is reliable in crunch time. He threw a perfect lob pass to Jones for a 33-yard gain that few quarterbacks could complete under pressure. It made up for Darnold’s huge first-half blunder, an interception in the end zone with USC facing a second-and-goal at the 1-yard line.
“That was one of the biggest mistakes of my football career,” Darnold said
With USC up 42-35, Tate threw an ill-advised deep pass that was intercepted and effectively ended his budding Heisman Trophy campaign.
“Whenever I lose I’m emotional,” Tate said. “I don’t like losing.”
Although the quarterback duel was only interesting in the second half, the game perfectly illustrated USC’s topsy-turvy season. The Trojans (8-2, 6-1 Pac-12) dominated and should have routed Arizona — but mistakes prevented them for blowing the game open.
That gave Arizona (6-3, 4-2) a chance to come back late. Maybe it was easier because USC had 14 penalties for 123 yards.
"The refs don’t like us," USC wide receiver Michael Pittman said. "I felt like there were a lot of false calls."
WOLF: Notre Dame finally revealed USC's failings
That does not explain, however, why USC cornerbacks Ajene Harris and Jack Jones were both given unsportsmanlike conduct penalties for celebrating an incomplete pass that turned a fourth down into a first down. Or why Jones want across the line of scrimmage on the next play and was blatantly offsides. Or why USC coach Clay Helton got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty because he was upset the officials missed a Tate fumble that the replay booth caught.
The truth is, USC is too undisciplined to be a top-five team, something the pundits did not account for in preseason polls.
The Trojans need one more victory to win the Pac-12 South and advance to the conference championship game. That is great for most teams, but not USC. The goals are higher.
“The Pac-12 is the next-best thing if we’re not going to the playoffs,” Pittman said.
At least Pittman admitted USC is out of the playoff picture. The Trojans would still be in it if they had more of a killer instinct and were more disciplined. They failed to improve this season, and paid dearly for it at Notre Dame two weeks ago. Not to mention earlier in a 30-27 loss at Washington State.
If USC had won that game, it would have one loss and would still at least be in the conversation.
“You’ve got to finish and keep your foot on the gas,” USC tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe said. “When you’re up by a lot of points, the natural thing to do is feel relaxed.”