USC Football: 3 takeaways from Week 5 loss at Washington State

PULLMAN, WA - SEPTEMBER 29: Renard Bell #81 of the Washington State Cougars carries the ball against Aiene Harris #27 and Iman Marshall #8 of the USC Trojans in the first half at Martin Stadium on September 29, 2017 in Pullman, Washington. (Photo by William Mancebo/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Jason O. Watson/Getty Images) /

3. Sam Darnold is no Heisman candidate after another flat performance

On the opening drive of the game, Sam Darnold looked nearly unbeatable for USC. The Trojans quarterback completed four of his five passes on the drive for 34 yards and two first downs. He also ran twice for 13 yards, including the four-yard touchdown run that put the Trojans up 7-3 early in the game.

Then injuries on the offensive line began to take their toll. Washington State’s defensive front began to pressure the quarterback and force him to scramble around for dear life. By the end of the third quarter, Darnold was just 10-of-22 for 100 passing yards.

USC, though, has been a fourth quarter team all year. And Darnold looked like he might respond as he completed five of his seven attempts for 64 yards. The game was tied several times in the last 15 minutes, but the Cougars defense continued to fluster the quarterback.

Ultimately, Darnold had one final chance with the ball inside two minutes and down by a field goal. Instead of producing another Heisman moment, though, Darnold coughed up the ball on a strip-sack fumble that gave Washington State the ball and the win. With it, the USC quarterback’s Heisman hopes went up in flames.

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