Sam Darnold was in danger of becoming an afterthought, his early-season interceptions and USC’s two defeats diminishing the widespread enthusiasm over his breathtaking talent.
In the relative obscurity of what feels like an underwhelming season for the No. 11 Trojans, however, Darnold quietly reinvented himself.
The Sam Darnold who elevated USC to a 38-24 victory at Colorado on Saturday night wasn’t the same Sam Darnold who was the hero of the Rose Bowl last season. The Sam Darnold who secured the Pac-12 South division championship for the Trojans wasn’t the same Sam Darnold who outshined crosstown rival Josh Rosen last year.