we thought they would be given their performance tonight against Washington.... So far they are hanging with the #10 team in the country.

Since the USC game was away I got a chance to look at many of the top 15 and looking at the AP poll some are IMO overrated , or underrated. Before anyone gets steamed I think its way too early to pick yet, but ESPN started 3 weeks before the season so here's my picks:

Overrated:

#12 University of South Florida (UCF)-yes they are 4-0 (UNC game canceled) but that #158 SOS disqualifies them from the top 15. To a lesser degree #8 Auburn with 5 home games (UW was in Atlanta) with SOS=75 is here even though they beat UW 21-16. They lost to LSU who may be good and struggled vs. USM. #11 Penn State with SOS of 28 (not bad).The loss to OSU after being up 12 in Q4 isn't new. Hint (Sam Darnold). They also struggled with Appalachian State (Really?). #13 Kentucky with an SOS=36. Sometimes UK surprises and this may be one, but #13 is too high for a team that made their grade by beating Florida, Mississippi state and South Carolina (perhaps overrated0. #4 Clemson with an SOS of 38 could fall here with their QB issue, but I'll give them an undetermined at this point. But close wins over TAMU and Syracuse are worrisome. #2 Georgia is undefeated and has an SOS=74.They played relatively no one and struggled in one game versus Missouri. Until they do have a big game I'd say they are undiscovered as opposed to overrated. #15 Michigan with SOS of 43. They lost to ND, not horrible, but struggled against a weak Northwestern . Not impressive.

Underrated":

Being in the top 15 is accolades enough but a few that I feel are underrated. #14 Stanford- , SOS-13. Yes they lost big at Notre Dame, but as we know from last year (Ugh I still have nightmares) they can get up for big games. I think the Trees being felled 7 spots on losing, versus PSU dropping just 2 after blowing a win is not justified. #5 LSU with an SOS of 22 is pretty lofty and they are not terribly underrated but for a team ranked #25 coming into this season they are up to now bring underrated IMO.

Not sure yet:

#1 Alabama with an SOS of 44-they are very likely the best in the nation but really hadn't had much chance to be tested. #3 Ohio State with an SOS of 47, but without PSU it was a really blah schedule. #10 Washington with an SOS of 12 (pretty good) so they should be great, right? I am not sure , they played well vs. Auburn but had no offensive dynamics, they beat a pretty good Utah team, but struggled with ASU. Like USC they have been under 30 points for most of their games. Something isn't clicking there for a senior laden team. #7 Oklahoma with SOS of 50, they struggled with Iowa State and Army. I tend to think they are overrated, but will keep it not sure. And of course #6 Notre Dame with an SOS of 15. And the beatings to Wake Forest and Stanford are fresh in our minds but the faint remembrance of close ear;y games with Michigan, Ball State and Vandy pop up. I know they navigated the tough part of the schedule and have a "new" QB but I'll wait a little while here.

Opinions?

will have their hands full with Colorado DL and for sure Utah’s DL. Watching The Trees v Utah. Pretty impressive.

I went to St. John Bosco's win over Orange Lutheran last night, so I had to write something about USC 2020 commit Kris Hutson's four touchdowns (including two kickoff returns).

Here's another look at the intriguing prospect.

https://usc.rivals.com/news/usc-commit-kris-hutson-flashes-full-range-of-potential-with-4-tds

I'll admit it I'm envious. Fast and lethal.

Will top notch assistants enable Helton to take USC to the playoffs? Like Jacob Spavital (West Virginia Off. Coor.), Corey Raymond (LSU D-backs coach), Dell McGee (UGA Running back coach) and Dennis Simmons (Okl Recevers coach). Not saying these exact guys (but would love them to come to USC) but that caliber.

looks like a completely different sport than what SC plays.

Don't know if Texas will beat the Sooners today, but they are showing well early. Good for Hermann.

Here is a quote from Hermann after the Longhorns beat K-State on the road (first win in Manhattan since 2002).

Hermann talking about "wins".

"They all count the same. We told our guys that championships are won on the road, and this is historically a ridiculously tough environment to play in for a lot of different reasons."

I love that Helton has an incredible record at the Coliseum...but until he learns how to play better than .500 ball on the road, his team's are going nowhere...except maybe to the Sun Bowl.

One of my favorite Trojans.

Rest In Peace and Fight On ✌️

Colorado has only played 4 games (record is 4-0). These 4 teams combined record is 1 win and 16 losses! Pathetic. One of Colorado's wins is FCS New Hampshire (and NH has not won 1 single FCS game). Another one of Colorado wins is against a non-power 5 conference team, Colorado State. The 2 wins against Power 5 Conference teams (Nebraska and Ucla) have a combined record of 0.00 wins and 8 losses.

Underwhelming.

For the sake of comparison let's look at Arizona State (unranked):

Arizona State record is 3 wins and 2 losses. The combined record of the five ASU opponents is 13 wins and 10 losses. Not too shabby! The two losses by ASU are against #10 Washington and San Diego State (more poll votes than USC).

I think I will wait and see how the game goes this Saturday between ASU @ Colorado to see if they really deserve to be ranked.

For me, it will Be Arizona State @ Colorado and LSU @ Florida (Coach O, Fight On!).

As expected, 4-star cornerback Max Williams (Gardena, Calif.) announces that he's committed to USC.

https://usc.rivals.com/news/4-star-cb-max-williams-commits-to-usc

Some good stuff here....

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Beat the Buffs!!!

Yeah! You have to get up pretty early in the morning to get the jump on JBWilson!

Tom Herman actually doing good? Hate to say it but the Fart-thorns just beat one of the best teams in the country. Will it last? Eh...I couldn't tell ya if I wanted to.

Has removed every pic of USC on his social media. I think Adam is right, he is gone!!

I'm wondering what happened to Swanson?

He's great... I'd like to see more of him on this site

Python = This board

Canine = Clay

Boyz = Swann and Wayne Hughes

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28-7.

Neither TE Daniel Imatorbhebhe nor WR Josh Imatorbhebhe have played this season because of injury. The latter returned to practice a couple weeks ago, while the former has not been a full participant since last December.

I asked Helton about Daniel Imatorbhebhe and spoke with Josh Imatorbhebhe myself today. Here's what we learned:

Helton said there's still no timetable for Daniel’s return from the quad injury that slowed him in 2017 and thus far has claimed his 2018.

"I know he's working as hard as he can to get back and when he feels comfortable with it, he'll be back," Helton said. "Like I've said with any injury, there's medical clearance and there's people being comfortable. Until there's a comfort level with that player, that's when you go with it. And there's not a comfort level. ...

"He's the first one in every day trying to get it better. I appreciate that. He's working to try to get back for his brothers, and when it's right, it's right."

Josh added of his brother: "To me, it wouldn't make any sense, someone who last year before the season was going to be a Mackey Award winner potentially, why he would willingly sit out? So obviously there's still something going on. People don't understand. He wants to play."

Helton isn't confident Daniel, a redshirt junior, would be granted a medical redshirt waiver because he would have missed just one full season with the injury. He redshirted in 2015 after transferring from Florida. A sixth year is typically granted to players missing two seasons because of injury.

Meanwhile, Josh had another good practice today. He's had a few since returning. He said he is all the way back from the high ankle sprain he suffered in training camp and is eager to see the playing field.

"I'm ready. I feel great," Imatorbhebhe said. "I just feel like there has to be good communication between myself, the medical staff and then the coaches, and once we're on the same page I feel like I'll be out there in no time. ...

"My hopes are high. I know we need some firepower on offense and I feel like I can contribute."

I relayed to him there are rumors of him wanting to transfer.

"I don't know where that came from. I've never told anybody anything," he said. "I'm a one-day-at-a-time guy and I never read the press. I've never talked about that at all. I don't have any intentions of doing that. Just focused on the next day of practice and getting better."

Stephon Wright, a 4-Star DE and USC target from Cathedral here in LA, plans to make his decision next month. Interestingly, I talked to his coach yesterday and set up a time to talk to Wright on Monday, so I’ll see what he says about his thought process.

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This week, we discuss Mike Leach's comments about a balanced offense and how it applies to USC, the development of JT Daniels, and why Yogi thinks the Trojans will win out in the Pac-12.

(Note: This podcast is exclusive to TrojanSports subscribers. It can be streamed below or added to iTunes after downloading it through the embed player.)

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Also be sure to check out Yogi's podcast: Life Without Limits

Tennessee fans certainly don’t think so.
http://www.volnation.com/forum/threads/tyson-helton.296054/