... 21-17. With that defeat, the Trojans fell out of the Top 25 for the first time since 2001 (actually finishing No.24 in the final BCS rankings) and are just fortunate enough the USC name is big enough to keep them in a bowl game taking place after Christmas Day.

How did it get to this point?

How did a program, heralded as recently as early this season as possible the nation's greatest program, fall to the middle of the Pac-10?

Is it the inexperienced defense? The obsession of head coach Pete Carroll to start true freshman Matt Barkley? The rest of the conference closing the talent gap? The turnover in the coaching staff?

All of these answers have been put forth to rationalize the sudden mediocrity of the Trojans.

...

Read Complete Article at Bleacher Report - College Football