No. 8 USC escaped with a narrow 48–41 win in Boulder on Saturday afternoon against Colorado, but nearly blew a four touchdown lead, thanks in large part to another questionable defensive performance.
USC defensive coordinator Alex Grinch has been at the center of questions surrounding the ceiling of Lincoln Riley-coached teams, as his defenses have never quite held up their side of the bargain dating back to Riley’s teams at Oklahoma.
Saturday was yet another data point of Grinch’s defense potentially holding Riley and the Trojans back. USC allowed 564 yards of total offense and yielded a 50% conversion rate on third down to the Buffaloes, and that’s before even discussing the seven touchdowns allowed defensively.
