During halftime of USC’s loss to Stanford on Saturday, Coach Clay Helton said, the coaching staff challenged the team. The staff offered its adjustments, a plan for how it would defeat Stanford.
Then, Helton said, the team took the field and mounted an inspired touchdown drive to start the half.
Helton’s account was at odds with two USC players, who said they believed some players had given up at halftime, when USC trailed by 14 points.
Outside USC’s locker room on Saturday, quarterback Sam Darnold said "it looked like the game was over.