This is USC? These are the Trojans who fought through the Longhorns last year in double overtime? These are Trojans who battled the Longhorns to the last breath in the 2006 Rose Bowl? These are their ancient and storied rivals?
The Trojans were surrounded by a stadium record 103,507 fans screaming so loud, the sweltering concrete shook.
In many other years, this would be a column about a USC team that stormed to a 14-3 first-quarter lead over an inferior Texas team and continued to stampede.
On this night, however, it is a column about a USC team that took a 14-3 lead then lost its focus, its discipline, and most semblance of what it means to be a USC team.