USC Trojans Football: College Football Analyst Believes Season Still Alive Despite Recent Stumble

Is the Trojans season over?

Your USC Trojans are nowhere near the position any of us would have thought they'd be in. The Trojans captured a much-needed win against the California Golden Bears on Saturday, 50-49, ending a two-game skid. However, that two-game losing streak possibly put them out of the college football playoff contention and maybe the Pac-12 title contention.

This is a surprise for the Trojans as they had college football playoff aspirations, but that has seemed to slip away. Even though they remain in the top 25, the Trojans are not the team any of us expected them to be. 

Many USC fans and the team are upset with the way things are going this season, but others, including pundits, are still optimistic about what they can accomplish, in college football analyst Kirk Herbstreit. 

Herbstreit still sees life in the USC Trojan season, and while it may not be for the playoffs, he could see a path to the Pac-12 title game. He gave his thoughts on the state of the men of Troy on ESPN's College Gameday. 

“A lot of negativity now swirling around this program. Someone said, hey,

Caleb should take off the year

, get ready for the NFL. When those kinda thoughts come around your program, this is a test of the moxie and maturity of Lincoln Riley and this team,” Herbstreit said Saturday on the set of ESPN’s College GameDay.

“They still can make it to the Pac-12 championship. They still can get hot. They still have the talent to do that. I’m just saying. It’s not like the season is over.”

(per Kirk Herbstreit via Saturday out West)

USC’s confidence is being tested as we head into week 9 of the season

How will they respond? 🤔#CollegeGameDay pic.twitter.com/bpFLRQKx4R

— Kirk Herbstreit (@KirkHerbstreit) October 28, 2023

The win over Cal definitely kept them alive, as they now hold a record of 5-1 in the Pac-12, second in the conference. 

However, things won't get easier as they face arguably two of the best teams in the conference in Washington and Oregon in back-to-back weekends.

A big performance against their two upcoming opponents could speak volumes about who this team really is, and a loss can do the same, just in a different light. 

It'll be a great measuring stick games for the Trojans, and we'll see if Herbstreit's words hold to be true. 

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