USC Fires Defensive Coordinator Alex Grinch Ahead of Oregon Matchup

Grinch is out in Los Angeles after less than two full seasons with the Trojans.

On Sunday, the USC Trojans fired defensive coordinator Alex Grinch. 

The move was fired reported by Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports.

USC has dismissed defensive coordinator Alex Grinch, sources tell @YahooSports.

— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) November 5, 2023

Head coach Lincoln Riley's move to part ways with his defensive coordinator comes a day after the Trojans fell in a 52-42 loss to the No. 5 Washington Huskies at home in Loss Angeles. 

The decision also comes just six days before the Trojans are set to travel north to Eugene for a matchup with the No. 6 Oregon Ducks--one of the most balanced and efficient offenses in all of college football.

Grinch's time in Los Angeles is up after less than two full seasons at the helm of the USC defense. 

Through 10 games in 2023, USC opponents are averaging 34.5 points, 436 yards of total offense per game and 6.1 yards per play.

Conversely, quarterback Caleb Williams and the USC offense are averaging 45.5 points per game, but the defense hasn't been able to whole up its end of the bargain. 

Just two weeks ago the Trojans needed 50 points to outlast the Cal Bears 50-49 and squeaked out a 48-41 win over a now 4-5 Colorado team, which has one of the most one-dimensional offenses in the conference.

Whoever is calling the defense next week, things won't get any easier for the Trojans when they face the Ducks, who boast both a rushing and passing offense ranked inside the top-10 nationally. Will Stein's group is also one of just four teams in the country rushing for more than 200 yards per game.

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