Alex Grinch recaps game-losing two-point conversion

In a back-and-forth game against Utah, USC lost its first game of the season. Late in the game, Utah scored a touchdown and made the decision to go for a two-point conversion to win in regulation, rather than kicking the extra point and taking their chances in overtime. It worked. Alex Grinch and his defense failed to stop the Utes. With very little time to respond USC lost in regulation.

While speaking to the media, Alex Grinch explained what happened on that two-point conversion play.

“You do a good job in coverage, that’s what you’re gonna buy,” Alex Grinch said. “That can’t surprise us, you know?”

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On the two-point play, USC covered all of Utah’s options in the passing game. However, when Cameron Rising stepped up into the pocket a hole opened in the middle. So, he scrambled. The Trojans were in man coverage underneath and only a safety halfway back in the end zone had eyes on Rising. USC didn’t have a chance to stop him.

“One of the things we talked about on the defensive front, and this isn’t new, is you can’t rush past the quarterback,” Alex Grinch continued. “So, that’s part of it. You’ve got to decide to cover people or not cover people. I’m gonna get you covered and do a nice job that way, and then you get some–and then, obviously, once he breaks the line of scrimmage then it’s all hands on deck. Eleven guys going to him. Missed an opportunity there.”

Alex Grinch then praised Rising and emphasized that it’s hard to stop a player like him from going three yards.

Alex Grinch and the USC defense are looking to bounce back with a bye week before taking on Arizona.

USC still has championship aspirations

A conference loss is always going to make things more difficult to win a championship. However, USC still has its aspirations. Head coach Lincoln Riley explained why.

“I’ve been here. I know what this looks like. I’ve been a part of teams four different times where we suffered a loss at some point in the year and we ended up with a ring on our finger and in the College Football Playoff,” Lincoln Riley said.

“How can you not be excited about what we’ve done up to this point and, in a lot of ways, the position we put ourselves in Saturday night against the defending conference champion in probably their biggest home game of the year? One play at the end of the game is not going to change how you feel about your football team.”