Local College Football Roundup: USC's Coaching Vacancy Should Be Watched By All In Pac-12
Make no mistake about it. The USC coaching job carries some importance all throughout the Pac-12, as the right coaching hire can have a significant impact on not just the Trojans but the landscape of the Pac-12 for years to come.
USC terminated the contract of head coach Steve Sarkisian on Monday, a day after placing the coach on an indefinite leave of absence. Sarkisian's off-field demons with alcohol crossed over into his professional career and it cost him his job. Now USC is in the market for a brand new head coach, and the Trojans are likely to be the most high-profile coaching vacancy in the coaching carousel this year. The potential to win big is there for USC and the Trojans need a coach capable of handling the pressures that come with the job and has an established track record of winning and avoiding NCAA violations. The USC job should attract some of the best possible candidates out there, and some may even fall within the Pac-12.
Utah head coach Kyle Whittingham has been named a betting favorite this week by oddsmakers, and Washington head coach Chris Petersen has had his name dropped in the rumor mill as well. One former Pac-12 head coach, Chip Kelly, has also been a trendy name discussed by those following the Trojan coaching vacancy, although that may be unrealistic. Whoever it is that is ultimately named the head coach in Pasadena, they will take over a program that should be considered a sleeping giant.
Recruiting will never be an issue at USC, talent will always find its way to Los Angeles. If USC finds the coach with the right blend of talent development and on-field scheming, then the Trojans should waste little time in climbing back to the top of the Pac-12. The Trojans were tabbed a preseason favorite by the media this summer, but that was a premature assessment that has now blown up in spectacular fashion. If USC makes the best possible hire, then the rest of the conference will likely run out of time to capitalize on the Trojans being down.
USC will rise again, it is only a matter of time. When that time comes, USC will have the potential to carry the Pac-12 banner in the College Football Playoff for years to come.
On Tap This Weekend
With Stanford playing UCLA Thursday night and Cal off this week, the local FBS calendar is empty.
UC Davis (1-5, 1-2 Big Sky) at Northern Colorado (3-2, 1-2 Big Sky)
UC Davis picked up its first win of the year last week by upsetting Northern Arizona. Ben Scott passed for 289 yards and three touchdowns and now UC Davis looks for a second straight win. Northern Colorado won last year's meeting by a score of 27-21.
Sacramento State (1-5, 0-3 Big Sky) at Southern Utah (3-2, 2-0 Big Sky)
Sacramento State was no match for Montana State last week, so the Hornets will look to pick up its first Big Sky win of the year this week on the road at Southern Utah. Southern Utah is coming off a 44-0 victory and has allowed no more than seven points in the last three games.
Kevin McGuire is a Philadelphia area sports writer covering the Philadelphia Eagles and college football. McGuire is a member of the FWAA and National Football Foundation. Follow McGuire on Twitter @KevinOnCFB. His work can be found on Examiner.com.