#fighton — Public Fediverse posts

My USC-Fresno State Analysis: The Good And The Bad (Yes, Bad)

First, let’s start off with a delusional take from Robert Griffin III.

https://twitter.com/RGIII/status/2096088428270240141?s=20

Last night was a stark reminder how bad this guy is. You declare USC a title contender after beating Fresno State? Fresno State?!?!?

OK, let’s get to the game. The biggest positive was Gary Patterson got overall improvement from Week 1 to Week 2. That’s not something that happened often with D’Anton Lynn.

Patterson’s got a philosophy and is a teacher. That is a reason for optimism.

Now I will say there were plenty of open wide receivers but Fresno State had a quarterback completely incapable of getting them the ball and an offense completely baffled by any blitz. Let’s see how the secondary does against Dante Moore.

With Jide Abasiri and Luke Wafle, Patterson has two disruptors on the defensive line. Opponents will need to game plan for them. I don’t see anything close to that at linebacker or in the porous secondary.

• Now for the offense: I have three main complaints that will go unnoticed by the fanboy media.

1.) The running game. It just looks different from last season and not in a good way. There hasn’t been a breakaway threat in the first two games. You can’t break any long runs against San Jose State or Fresno State? That’s disappointing. And now they are fumbling.

2.) The offensive line. Everyone else told you it was great that all five starters returned. I did not. USC got stuffed twice when it needed a yard. Against Fresno State. At home. They are not moving the pile against bad teams. What happens against Oregon?

3.) Coach Charles Nelson Riley. What is this clown doing having Jayden Maiava run a QB keeper with a 30-0 lead? Maiava got banged up on the play and never returned.

The play also highlighted (AGAIN) Riley’s poor decision making inside the red zone. It happened last week too when USC came up short inside the 10-yard line. Look folks, these things can be plastered over vs. the Tomato Cans that Riley loves to play but USC has some marquee teams on the schedule.

The problem with playing these teams is you can suppose USC is dominating in certain areas but you don’t really know until it plays a real team.

Strange Attendance At The Coliseum

OK, we have something fishy going on with USC attendance figures.

USC announced Friday night the crowd for the Fresno State game was 53,014. The announced attendance for the San Jose State game was 51,144.

The problem is there were way more people at last night’s game than the previous week. So last week was a gross exaggeration or this week was vast underreporting.

Now it’s pretty common for schools to announce tickets distributed or sold and not actual attendance.

But Fresno State brought more fans than San Jose State and I have a hard believing San Jose was ever a hotter ticket given the 12 p.m. kickoff and weather conditions. Also, the crowd in the photos below looks to me like a lot more than 53,000 tickets were sold or distributed.

USC-Fresno State Live Blog

Lincoln Riley said Jahkeem Stewart might return this week. Well, he is still wearing a boot and will not play tonight.

Pick The USC-Fresno State Score

With the early kickoff last week, I didn’t have a post to pick the score so we can start today.

Will this be a routine blowout or will USC make it closer than expected like last week?

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

The big USC Associates booster group pre-game picnic on campus drew less than 400 people at the San Jose State game. Usually, the smallest crowd of the season for the picnic is between 800-900.

• A Saturday noon kickoff in boiling heat and a Friday night kickoff in Week 2. Is this the most fan unfriendly start to a USC season? Not to mention the opponents.

• USC women’s volleyball opened the season with an impressive sweep of No. 12-ranked Arizona State but has since lost to No. 13-ranked Creighton and No. 9-ranked Texas. Unlike Lincoln Riley, these Trojans play a tough non-conference schedule.

• Presley Kiffin, the daughter of Lane Kiffin, is not listed on the current USC women’s volleyball roster.

• Fresno State features two former USC players — defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte and offensive lineman Gino Quinones.

Believe it or not, this is Quinones’ eighth season of college football. His USC recruiting class including Drake London, Drake Jackson and Kedon Slovis. London is about to begin his fifth year in the NFL.

You know who the special teams coach is at Fresno State? The infamous John Baxter, who had two stints at USC. And then there is Fresno State coach Matt Entz, who was linebackers coach at USC.

• Ezra Frech, a Paralympian high jumper and long jumper who was on the USC track team in 2025, is one of the guest dancers on the new season of “Dancing With The Stars.”

• And now for some history:

USC-FRESNO STATE 2005

Will any USC-Fresno State game ever top this?

Even though Fresno State was ranked No. 16, this game was considered another routine victory.

But Fresno State led 21-13 at halftime. USC then looked like it put the game away with 21 straight points to start the second half for a 34-21 advantage. Fresno State then came back and led 42-41 with nine minutes left.

But this was perhaps the greatest individual performance in NCAA history as Reggie Bush accounted for 513 all-purpose yards, rushing for 294. USC won, 50-42.

“That game went 15 rounds,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. “That was a 15-rounder. It wasn’t a TKO in the first round.”

The craziest aspect was the impact of the game on Fresno State, which nearly record its biggest win ever. Instead the Bulldogs lost nine of the their next 10 games.

USC-FRESNO STATE 1992

If the 2005 game was a near-disaster, the 1992 Freedom Bowl was a disaster.

USC took a 7-0 lead before Fresno State scored 24 straight points before a robust crowd (50,xxx) at Anaheim Stadium.

“Names and logos don’t mean anything,” USC coach Larry Smith said. “You don’t beat someone just because of your name and logo.”

Three days later, Smith was fired.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Barbara Bouchet

Sharon Tate with young model named Tom Selleck.

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

The big USC Associates booster group pre-game picnic on campus drew less than 400 people at the San Jose State game. Usually, the smallest crowd of the season for the picnic is between 800-900.

• A Saturday noon kickoff in boiling heat and a Friday night kickoff in Week 2. Is this the most fan unfriendly start to a USC season? Not to mention the opponents.

• USC women’s volleyball opened the season with an impressive sweep of No. 12-ranked Arizona State but has since lost to No. 13-ranked Creighton and No. 9-ranked Texas. Unlike Lincoln Riley, these Trojans play a tough non-conference schedule.

• Presley Kiffin, the daughter of Lane Kiffin, is not listed on the current USC women’s volleyball roster.

• Fresno State features two former USC players — defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte and offensive lineman Gino Quinones.

Believe it or not, this is Quinones’ eighth season of college football. His USC recruiting class including Drake London, Drake Jackson and Kedon Slovis. London is about to begin his fifth year in the NFL.

You know who the special teams coach is at Fresno State? The infamous John Baxter, who had two stints at USC. And then there is Fresno State coach Matt Entz, who was linebackers coach at USC.

• Ezra Frech, a Paralympian high jumper and long jumper who was on the USC track team in 2025, is one of the guest dancers on the new season of “Dancing With The Stars.”

• And now for some history:

USC-FRESNO STATE 2005

Will any USC-Fresno State game ever top this?

Even though Fresno State was ranked No. 16, this game was considered another routine victory.

But Fresno State led 21-13 at halftime. USC then looked like it put the game away with 21 straight points to start the second half for a 34-21 advantage. Fresno State then came back and led 42-41 with nine minutes left.

But this was perhaps the greatest individual performance in NCAA history as Reggie Bush accounted for 513 all-purpose yards, rushing for 294. USC won, 50-42.

“That game went 15 rounds,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. “That was a 15-rounder. It wasn’t a TKO in the first round.”

The craziest aspect was the impact of the game on Fresno State, which nearly record its biggest win ever. Instead the Bulldogs lost nine of the their next 10 games.

USC-FRESNO STATE 1992

If the 2005 game was a near-disaster, the 1992 Freedom Bowl was a disaster.

USC took a 7-0 lead before Fresno State scored 24 straight points before a robust crowd (50,xxx) at Anaheim Stadium.

“Names and logos don’t mean anything,” USC coach Larry Smith said. “You don’t beat someone just because of your name and logo.”

Three days later, Smith was fired.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Barbara Bouchet

Sharon Tate with young model named Tom Selleck.

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

The big USC Associates booster group pre-game picnic on campus drew less than 400 people at the San Jose State game. Usually, the smallest crowd of the season for the picnic is between 800-900.

• A Saturday noon kickoff in boiling heat and a Friday night kickoff in Week 2. Is this the most fan unfriendly start to a USC season? Not to mention the opponents.

• USC women’s volleyball opened the season with an impressive sweep of No. 12-ranked Arizona State but has since lost to No. 13-ranked Creighton and No. 9-ranked Texas. Unlike Lincoln Riley, these Trojans play a tough non-conference schedule.

• Presley Kiffin, the daughter of Lane Kiffin, is not listed on the current USC women’s volleyball roster.

• Fresno State features two former USC players — defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte and offensive lineman Gino Quinones.

Believe it or not, this is Quinones’ eighth season of college football. His USC recruiting class including Drake London, Drake Jackson and Kedon Slovis. London is about to begin his fifth year in the NFL.

You know who the special teams coach is at Fresno State? The infamous John Baxter, who had two stints at USC. And then there is Fresno State coach Matt Entz, who was linebackers coach at USC.

• Ezra Frech, a Paralympian high jumper and long jumper who was on the USC track team in 2025, is one of the guest dancers on the new season of “Dancing With The Stars.”

• And now for some history:

USC-FRESNO STATE 2005

Will any USC-Fresno State game ever top this?

Even though Fresno State was ranked No. 16, this game was considered another routine victory.

But Fresno State led 21-13 at halftime. USC then looked like it put the game away with 21 straight points to start the second half for a 34-21 advantage. Fresno State then came back and led 42-41 with nine minutes left.

But this was perhaps the greatest individual performance in NCAA history as Reggie Bush accounted for 513 all-purpose yards, rushing for 294. USC won, 50-42.

“That game went 15 rounds,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. “That was a 15-rounder. It wasn’t a TKO in the first round.”

The craziest aspect was the impact of the game on Fresno State, which nearly record its biggest win ever. Instead the Bulldogs lost nine of the their next 10 games.

USC-FRESNO STATE 1992

If the 2005 game was a near-disaster, the 1992 Freedom Bowl was a disaster.

USC took a 7-0 lead before Fresno State scored 24 straight points before a robust crowd (50,xxx) at Anaheim Stadium.

“Names and logos don’t mean anything,” USC coach Larry Smith said. “You don’t beat someone just because of your name and logo.”

Three days later, Smith was fired.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Barbara Bouchet

Sharon Tate with young model named Tom Selleck.

If It’s Friday, It’s Time For A USC Notes Column

The big USC Associates booster group pre-game picnic on campus drew less than 400 people at the San Jose State game. Usually, the smallest crowd of the season for the picnic is between 800-900.

• A Saturday noon kickoff in boiling heat and a Friday night kickoff in Week 2. Is this the most fan unfriendly start to a USC season? Not to mention the opponents.

• USC women’s volleyball opened the season with an impressive sweep of No. 12-ranked Arizona State but has since lost to No. 13-ranked Creighton and No. 9-ranked Texas. Unlike Lincoln Riley, these Trojans play a tough non-conference schedule.

• Presley Kiffin, the daughter of Lane Kiffin, is not listed on the current USC women’s volleyball roster.

• Fresno State features two former USC players — defensive lineman Deijon Laffitte and offensive lineman Gino Quinones.

Believe it or not, this is Quinones’ eighth season of college football. His USC recruiting class including Drake London, Drake Jackson and Kedon Slovis. London is about to begin his fifth year in the NFL.

You know who the special teams coach is at Fresno State? The infamous John Baxter, who had two stints at USC. And then there is Fresno State coach Matt Entz, who was linebackers coach at USC.

• Ezra Frech, a Paralympian high jumper and long jumper who was on the USC track team in 2025, is one of the guest dancers on the new season of “Dancing With The Stars.”

• And now for some history:

USC-FRESNO STATE 2005

Will any USC-Fresno State game ever top this?

Even though Fresno State was ranked No. 16, this game was considered another routine victory.

But Fresno State led 21-13 at halftime. USC then looked like it put the game away with 21 straight points to start the second half for a 34-21 advantage. Fresno State then came back and led 42-41 with nine minutes left.

But this was perhaps the greatest individual performance in NCAA history as Reggie Bush accounted for 513 all-purpose yards, rushing for 294. USC won, 50-42.

“That game went 15 rounds,” Fresno State coach Pat Hill said. “That was a 15-rounder. It wasn’t a TKO in the first round.”

The craziest aspect was the impact of the game on Fresno State, which nearly record its biggest win ever. Instead the Bulldogs lost nine of the their next 10 games.

USC-FRESNO STATE 1992

If the 2005 game was a near-disaster, the 1992 Freedom Bowl was a disaster.

USC took a 7-0 lead before Fresno State scored 24 straight points before a robust crowd (50,xxx) at Anaheim Stadium.

“Names and logos don’t mean anything,” USC coach Larry Smith said. “You don’t beat someone just because of your name and logo.”

Three days later, Smith was fired.

PICTURES OF THE WEEK

Barbara Bouchet

Sharon Tate with young model named Tom Selleck.

USC Morning Buzz: A “Reality” Check For The Boss

I’m disappointed USC did not have Gary Patterson available to speak to the media this week. He’s the one guy worth talking to, especially since Lincoln Riley was so clear about the defense playing well the first three quarters and falling apart in the fourth.

“I know he’s pissed right now about the fourth quarter, as you can imagine, because the guy’s standards are so high,” Riley said about Patterson.

• Does anyone ever check what Lincoln Riley says for accuracy?

“Reality is that during my years here, attendance has gone up every year,” Riley said this week

Well, let’s check out that statement:

USC in 2024: 71,571 fans per game
USC in 2025: 67,783 fans per game

Does that look like USC’s attendance has gone up? So why did Riley say it? Because he’s always spinning..

• USC’s new depth chart includes defensive end Braylan Shelby, defensive tackle Jahkeem Stewart and safety Kendarius Reddick, which means they should be available to play vs. Fresno State.