USC Schools Ohio State and Wins...Nothing

The No. 1 ranked University of Southern California Trojans, before a national television audience, took the Ohio State University Buckeyes to school, administrating several harsh lessons which resulted in a 35-3 final score.

What is the net result for the Trojans from this exercise? Nothing of consequence. 

Sure, this victory is a far sight better than a loss would have been. However; they did not secure a spot in the BCS championship game, nor a New Year's day bowl, not even clinch a conference championship.

In spite of the wall-to-wall coverage those fine folks at ESPN provided, this game came nowhere close to being a collision, more resembling a hit and run.

This  beatdown was celebrated by Trojan fans, horrified Buckeye fans, and bored the rest of the nation.  The Arizona State vs. University of Nevada, Las Vegas matchup was a far more competitive tilt.

Now we have some wanting to start conversations about where this year's Trojan team ranks with the all time best. Please! They haven't even started their conference schedule and we have folks wanting to anoint them among the best who ever played.

What agendas do these folks hold?

Other than the Oregon schools and USC, last weekend for the Pac-10 was a chamber of horrors. Cal did come back against a Maryland squad they should have thrashed, but fell short.

Arizona St. blew a lead late at home against UNLV. Arizona was cornered by a pack of wolfs in New Mexico. UCLA lost their dignity and a game at BYU.  TCU showed Stanford a Texas two-step.

The less said about the Washington schools the better.

It must be pointed out last week will not mean squat when the rest of the Pac-10 play against the Trojans. Each team will throw everything they have against USC, knowing an upset will make their season. It would be a bright shiny trophy to be used as the centerpiece in the next year's recruiting wars.

Having coached USC to a one loss AP national championship, a perfect season ending with the BSC championship, and a perfect regular season which ended in a last second loss in the championship game; Pete Carroll knows what pitfalls are in the road before his squad.

Game planning and execution are the variables USC can control. Injuries, opponents who plays the game of their lives, and referees with their heads lodged in dark cavities are uncontrollable variables.

There are ten more scheduled games the Trojans must get through without stumbles, plus a bowl to cap the run.

Only after finishing this slate in a victorious manner, will USC have won anything significant. Not before. Then credible conversations can start about all-time teams. Only then.