UCLA vs. USC: Game Grades, Analysis for Bruins and Trojans

The USC Trojans routed the UCLA Bruins 40-21 in one of the most important matchups in the storied rivalry's history, with both teams in a win-or-go-home scenario, minus the bowl season. 

Now with USC headed to the Pac-12 title game, a fractured, tumultuous season can be turned into a story of salvation and preservation. 

Cody Kessler was efficient, Justin Davis rushed the ball with tenacity and the USC defense was relentless in their pursuit of Josh Rosen. 

With that, let's check out each team's positional unit game grades. 

USC Trojans

Rush Offense: A

The Trojans completely dominated the ground, particularly in the second half when they needed to milk the clock and preserve an ever-growing lead. Justin Davis ran for 130 of USC's 235 total rushing yards, with Ronald Jones II adding 63. Kessler scored the Trojans' only rushing touchdown on a 1-yard sneak. 

Pass Offense: B

Kessler only had 175 yards through the air, but his performance was still elite caliber against a solid Bruins defense. He was 15-of-26 passing for two touchdowns with no picks. That type of efficiency is perfect when your rushing attack is firing on all cylinders. 

Rush Defense: B-

The Trojans allowed 140 yards and two scores on the ground, a respectable showing considering Paul Perkins and Nate Starks are both elite backs. Both players broke off a run of 30-plus yards, but outside of those two gains the Bruins were mostly limited in terms of their ability to rush the ball. 

Pass Defense: B+

Josh Rosen, one of the best freshmen quarterbacks—if not the best—in the country, had a streak of 245 pass attempts without a pick broken on Saturday, throwing two to the Trojans' Iman Marshall. The secondary as a whole gave up just 227 yards through the air and one score. 

Special Teams: A+

Adoree' Jackson scored on a punt return and Alex Wood was 2-for-2 on field goals. Kris Albarado also averaged 40 yards per punt. No complaints at all lobbed at the special teams unit. 

Coaching: A+

Clay Helton's lobbying campaign to become the permanent coach at USC just got a huge boost to its resume. The win was perfect, as USC limited what UCLA does best while controlling the nature of the affair. Plus, a berth into the Pac-12 Championship is always a plus. 

Jae C. Hong/Associated Press

UCLA Bruins

Rush Offense: B-

Perkins and Starks combined for 148 yards on the ground, with Perkins adding two scores. However, the Bruins ultimately couldn't set the tone of the game on the ground like they love to do with that two-headed monster in the backfield, which ended up being an insurmountable wrench in the Bruins' game plan. 

Pass Offense: C+

Rosen was pressured all afternoon and was forced into two picks against the Trojans. While saying a freshman didn't live up to expectations is a bit harsh, the gunslinger has looked far more competent throughout the season. 

Rush Defense: D

When the Bruins needed stops in the second half to try to get the ball back for a comeback attempt, they couldn't get them thanks to their atrocious run defense. The Trojans averaged four yards per carry, and that only grew in the second half as they burned precious time off the clock. 

Pass Defense: C-

Yes, the Bruins secondary held USC to just 175 yards through the air. But that was all complementary to the Trojans' rushing attack. USC still averaged 6.7 yards per pass attempt with Kessler completing 57 percent of his passes. 

Special Teams: D

Ka'imi Fairbairn missed his only field goal try, and the Bruins gave up a critical punt return for a touchdown to Adoree' Jackson. Both of those plays were huge momentum swings that ended up making too big a difference. 

Coaching: C

Jim Mora didn't exactly make any snafus on Saturday, he just got beat. The game plan clearly wasn't good enough to beat a tough USC team on the road, which squashed a Bruins' streak of three straight wins against their LA rivals.