USC isn’t treating this stretch like a bye week. Not officially, anyway.
Inside the program, it’s being framed as a “standard week,” a label that fits the Trojans’ mindset after learning the hard way that time off can cut both ways. Safety Christian Pierce put it simply: “We call it a ‘standard week,’” Christian Pierce said.
“Attack it the same way as it we attack any week. No real difference besides the mindset and how we attack every single day.”
That shift in language comes with a shift in approach. Head coach Lincoln Riley said this week looks different in just about every way from the last time USC had a break, when the Trojans came off a huge road win at Penn State in a “White Out” game and then stumbled badly at Wisconsin, losing to the unranked Badgers 24-7.
“We’re doing a lot different,” Lincoln Riley said, “regardless of how the games had went, and regardless of who we’re playing next. There’s quite a bit about this week that’ll be different in terms of really everything.
“The schedule, how long we get the guys off at the end of the week, what we do during the week. The content of the practices. There’s a lot more differences than there are similarities between the two.”
The point, as USC sees it, is to keep the bar where it is and not let anything slip. Running back King Miller described that standard as something the whole program understands.
“Nothing can go below that,” King Miller said. “I can’t even put it in other words.
I think we all as a program really know what that (standard) is, so we all know we can’t go below that. Just keep improving at whatever that is, regardless of if it’s school, outside of this building, in this building, just improving that standard.”
This time around, the Trojans are entering the week with momentum instead of a hangover. USC upset No.
11 Ohio State on Saturday, knocking off the Buckeyes when they were ranked No. 2, and now the focus turns quickly to a road trip to face defending national champion No. 6 Indiana.
The preparation is already underway. On Wednesday afternoon, the practice field carried the sounds of AC/DC’s “Thunderstruck” - Indiana’s entrance music - along with crowd noise and chants of “Hoo Hoo Hoo Hoosiers.” USC is 7-2 overall and 4-2 in the Big Ten, and the next stretch of the schedule leaves no room to coast.
The Trojans were ranked No. 20 in the initial College Football Playoff rankings, which makes every remaining game carry weight. After Indiana, USC still has Maryland and then a road game at No. 5 UCLA, which was No. 8 in the CFP rankings.
“Every game is the same importance to us,” Pierce said, “but I feel like just the atmosphere could change a little bit. That just brings excitement to the players, that brings excitement to me and my teammates, the coaches. So to go out and to play the sport we love in front of the fans we love - man, it’s a blessing.”
USC also had individual recognition to go with the team’s place in the standings. Receiver Trent Mosley and defensive end Luke Wafle were both named semifinalists for the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award.
The semifinalist pool includes 14 players, with three finalists set to be announced on Dec. 3.
The winner will be revealed on Dec. 28.
Mosley has been selected as an all-purpose player and has produced 512 yards on 32 catches while leading USC with six touchdowns, even though he missed three games because of injury. He has also handled eight punt returns for 212 yards, including an 86-yard return against Louisiana.
Wafle has been just as disruptive on defense, leading all freshmen in the FBS with 23 quarterback pressures. He has added 36 tackles, 8½ tackles for loss and three sacks.
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