USC Head Coach Clay Helton Has Fired 4 Assistants

Even with that loss to the Wildcats, who went on to finish 10-2, the Cardinal still managed to beat 10 Power 5 teams, more than three of the playoff participants (Alabama, Oklahoma and Michigan State), which only defeated nine each.

Christian McCaffrey had 207 yards rushing, a rushing touchdown and a passing touchdown in the Pac 12 Championship Saturday night.

As for Troy, Saturday’s game was essentially a recap of their entire season.

“You get the opportunity to be the head coach of USC one time”, Helton said. The conference is sending a record 10 teams to bowl games, and five different members broke into the top 10 over the course of the season. Helton had been USC’s coordinator before Sarkisian’s firing, and called plays for the final eight games of the season. When USC is the underdog, he loses. However, in 2015, the Trojans ranked 70th nationally in total defense (401.3 yards allowed per game) and 57th in scoring (25.9 per game), allowing 41 points or more in four of their five losses. Stanford had a first-and goal at the USC 5 on that possession but had to settle for the field goal.

USC had too many missed tackles and missed assignments.

But, as good as USC’s defense looked, the offense looked equally as bad.

USC announced before Saturday’s showdown that Helton would serve as USC’s full-time coach.

“This was entirely my decision”, Helton said.

Despite being outplayed decisively in the first half, USC had reduced a 13-3 halftime deficit to 13-9 on Kessler’s 1-yard touchdown pass to fullback Jahleel Pinner on the Trojans first possession of the third quarter.

It was somewhat fantastic USC led 16-13 in the third quarter after being dominated by Stanford for the entire first half.

Just as the Trojans seemed to be hitting their stride, the wheels fell off. McCaffrey also threw an 11-yard TD pass to QB Kevin Hogan as the Cardinal pulled away for a 41-22 victory over USC and a Rose Bowl berth. Rodgers plays Knoxville Catholic High School, and won the Class 4A Tennessee Titan Mr. Football Award for best back. The third quarter ended with Stanford ahead, 27-16.

Kessler on the quarterback keeper, rushed for a 12-yard touchdown and the Trojans failed on the 2-point field goal in the fourth.

California vs. Air Force, Armed Forces Bowl (Fort Worth, Texas), Dec. 29, noon MST, ESPN • The air-it-out attack of Jared Goff and the Bears goes against one of the most potent option attacks in the country. Only one remaining Cal player has ever appeared in a bowl game before, so the postseason is a big step for Sonny Dykes – assuming that he stays at Cal next season.

Following the game, Cody Kessler and Su’a Craven gave strong words of support for Coach Helton.

“We were out of our element (emotionally)”, he said.

“Coach Helton has a vision and I respect that”.

Lineman Aziz Shittu said Thomas “will remember that play for the rest of his life”. He was the Trojan defensive coordinator in 2013 after serving as the coordinator at Cal for three seasons. They rebounded from a tumultuous situation with Steve Sarkisian and fought their way back into the PAC-12 title game when nobody gave them a chance.