Is Lane Kiffin's USC future in doubt?

USC coach Lane Kiffin has been the center of some controversy this season. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images) The Pac-12 Conference's reprimand and fine of the USC

USC coach Lane Kiffin has been the center of some controversy this season. (Jeff Gross/Getty Images)

The Pac-12 Conference's reprimand and fine of the USC Trojans football team after a student manager intentionally deflated several footballs during the Trojans' 62-51 loss to Oregon on Saturday may be the last straw for coach Lane Kiffin, according to Bill Plaschke of the Los Angeles Times.

On the field, this team with unbeaten talent is 6-3 while gaining national recognition mostly for reckless penalties and questionable play-calling.

Off the field, Kiffin has dragged the team through an array of distractions and ethics dilemmas that have tarnished the athletic department's sterling post-probation image cultivated by Athletic Director Pat Haden.

Kiffin was not hired by Haden, and there is now real doubt about his ability to keep his job beyond this season as the department sinks deeper into embarrassment. Kiffin was a Mike Garrett guy, and there are indications that Haden is ready to rid the program of the last traces of that legacy. As always, winning solves everything, and it appears Kiffin is going to have to do plenty of it in these final three regular-season games.

Like, maybe, win all of them?

banning visiting teams from Coliseum walk-throughs

temporarily banning a reporter from writing about injuries

Kiffin changed jersey numbers on USC players