Stanford Football: 3 takeaways from loss to USC in Pac-12 Title Game

SANTA CLARA, CA - DECEMBER 01: Jack Jones #25 of the USC Trojans is called for pass interference on JJ Arcega-Whiteside #19 of the Stanford Cardinal during the Pac-12 Football Championship Game at Levi's Stadium on December 1, 2017 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

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(Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

2. The Pac-12 is the most entertaining when USC is at the top

Few players are more fun to watch than sophomore USC quarterback Sam Darnold. Expectations were a little too high for Darnold coming into the season, as most people wrote him in as the Heisman winner before any games were played.

The USC offense is starting to look like the fine tuned machine that it was supposed to the entire year. Darnold, Jones II, and freshman running back Stephen Carr were hard to stop for any Pac-12 defense. Wide receiver Michael Pittman Jr. came alive as well with 146 yards and one touchdown.

When the Pac-12 is at its peak, it seems to be when the Trojans are hot. USC is the most recognizable brand name in the conference and also the most fun to watch. Darnold runs an offense with a ton of talent at the skill positions that can burn almost any defense.

We’ll have to wait and see what happens in the rest of the Power Five conference title games on Dec. 2 to figure out if USC has a chance to get into the Playoff. It would take some chaos and favorable looks from the Selection Committee. However, USC probably needed to beat Stanford by more than they actually did for that to happen.

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