USC v Minnesota

Following a sub-par performance against Virginia last week, the USC offense stepped it up against Minnesota on Saturday, racking up 408 total yards en route to a 32-21 win in TCF Bank Stadium.

Allen Bradford rushed for 129 yards, including a 56-yard touchdown run, and Matt Barkley threw for 192 yards and two touchdowns to lead the offense. But it was Robert Woods who shone brightest for No. 18 USC.

The freshman receiver showed off his incredible speed in returning a third quarter kickoff 97 yards for a touchdown, a play that turned the tide in favor of the Trojans and ultimately spurred them to victory. 

The offensive line was also a bright spot for USC. Kris O'Dowd and Co. paved the way for 216 yards on the ground, nearly doubling the Trojans' mediocre rushing total from the previous week.

Starting running back Marc Tyler struggled a bit (9 carries, 40 yards), but he did pick up USC's first touchdown of the game on a bull-like three-yard run in the first quarter. Freshman Dillon Baxter added six carries for 21 yards.

USC's passing game wasn't clicking quite as well as its ground attack, but Ronald Johnson had a good day. The heralded senior caught three passes for 61 yards, including a 53-yard touchdown catch on a beautiful play action bomb from Barkley. It was the same play that RoJo and Barkley executed for a touchdown in the Virginia game, except that one got called back on account of a holding penalty.

The USC secondary struggled to keep receivers MarQueis Gray (4 catches for 98 yards and a touchdown) and Da'Jon McKnight (3 catches, 53 yards and a touchdown) under wraps but the Trojans' defense played well otherwise.

USC limited Minnesota to 305 yards of total offense, 69 of which came on the final drive with the game out of reach, and forced three turnovers (interceptions by Jawanza Starling and Chris Galippo and a fumble recovered by Michael Morgan).

The defensive line was particularly impressive, holding the Golden Gophers to just 81 yards rushing and pressuring quarterback Andrew Weber into two interceptions. Defensive tackle Jurrell Casey had his way with the Minnesota offensive line. He seemed to be in the Golden Gophers' backfield on every play.

As you would expect from the most penalized team in the country, penalties were again a problem for the Trojans against Minnesota. They racked up seven of them for 72 yards -- not as bad as the Virginia game but still pretty lousy.

USC also turned the ball over three times, including an uncharacteristic two interceptions from Matt Barkley. The first pick came on a mistimed route by tight end Rhett Ellison but the second was unforgivable. Barkley simply floated a pass into the waiting hands of James Manuel.

Lane Kiffin will take heat this week too.

The first-year coach decided to try a two-point conversion on USC's second touchdown. Mitch Mustain's rush attempt failed, setting up a series of two point tries later in the game that ultimately led to an 11-point win when the spread was - 11.5 (meaning anyone who picked USC plus the points lost their bet).

Regardless of their mistakes, the Trojans were good enough to beat Minnesota (1-2) and they remain undefeated in the Lane Kiffin era.

Next week they take on their first Pac-10 opponent as they travel to Pullman to play Washington State (1-2).

To reach editor Patrick Crawley, click here.

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