Paul Finebaum Calls Out Major College Football Program for 2024 Collapse.| paul finebaum on college football
when ESPN analyst Paul Finebaum speaks, the university soccer global listens. recognized for his sharp opinions and deep information of the game, Finebaum these days stirred the pot by naming the college football powerhouse he believes had the most stunning collapse final season. His choice? The USC Trojans — a application with championship expectancies that fell flat whilst it mattered most.
expectations had been Sky excessive for USC
entering the 2024 season, the Trojans have been driving a wave of optimism. With Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams returning, Lincoln Riley coming into his second season as head coach, and a stacked offense filled with NFL skills, USC wasn’t only a percent-12 preferred — they have been regarded as a legitimate college soccer Playoff contender.
Preseason polls positioned USC within the pinnacle 10, and Las Vegas oddsmakers had them a number of the top five teams expected to win the country wide title. but the season didn’t pass as scripted.
The fall apart Unfolds
USC began robust, but purple flags were flying early. Their protection struggled even against lesser combatants, giving up huge plays and failing to prevent the run — troubles that had haunted them inside the previous season.
Then came the October gauntlet. The Trojans misplaced three of 4 games, consisting of:
A forty eight–20 blowout loss to Notre Dame
A heartbreaker towards Utah, 34–32
A gut-punch fifty two–42 loss to Washington at home
by the point they confronted Oregon, USC turned into out of playoff competition. They completed the regular season with a 7–five record, some distance below expectations.
Paul Finebaum didn’t maintain again.
“This group had the whole thing — the quarterback, the train, the hype — and they flat-out imploded. USC didn’t just fall brief. They collapsed in remarkable style.”
where Did It cross incorrect?
in line with Finebaum and different analysts, USC’s downfall boiled right down to one component: protection. regardless of returning key starters and adding transfers, protecting coordinator Alex Grinch’s unit gave up over 34 factors in keeping with recreation, ranking some of the worst in the electricity 5.
additionally, the offense — while electric — couldn’t deliver the group each week. Caleb Williams still dazzled, throwing for over three,600 yards and 30+ touchdowns, but he often needed to play hero, protecting deeper problems on the roster.
The locker room dynamics additionally raised questions. Rumors swirled approximately player frustration, and Lincoln Riley faced criticism for poor in-sport adjustments and shielding workforce loyalty.
What’s next for USC?
Finebaum’s complaint wasn’t only for display. He known as on USC to make bold modifications if they want to compete in the massive Ten starting in 2025. quickly after the season ended, Riley fired DC Alex Grinch, signaling a shift in philosophy.
The strain is now sky-excessive for 2025, specially because the Trojans transition to a more physical huge Ten agenda. With a new crop of recruits and personnel modifications underway, the concentration is going to once more be on los angeles — but this time, with a far shorter leash.
final mind
university football is unforgiving. USC's 2024 crumble is a reminder that megastar energy isn’t sufficient — stability, discipline, and intensity remember.
As Finebaum rightly pointed out, “USC didn’t simply disappoint — they defined what it means to underachieve.” The actual query now is whether or not they’ve found out from it, query now is whether or not they’ve found out from it, or whether or not another collapse is ready across the nook.
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