Is The Seat Of Clay Helton Hotter After Loss To BYU?

USC Coach Clay Helton On The Sideline. Photo Credit: Daniel Hartwig | Under Creative Commons License
USC Coach Clay Helton On The Sideline. Photo Credit: Daniel Hartwig | Under Creative Commons License

The USC Trojans came into the game against the BYU Cougars 2-0 and looking to go 3-0 before a showdown against the Utah Utes. But that was not the case, BYU shocked the Trojans in a 30-27 overtime win last Saturday. The loss makes the seat of Clay Helton even hotter than it was before the season started.

Clay Helton Gone?

Clay Helton came into the season looking to save his job after a 5-7 record last season. In his first two seasons with USC, Helton has 21 wins and went to the Rose and Cotton Bowl. Sam Darnold was the Trojans quarterback during that time. In 2018, Darnold went to the NFL and USC struggled all season. Many people thought Helton would be gone after last season, but USC’s Athletic Director Lynn Swann retained him for another season.

Trap Game

USC beat Fresno State in a tight game but lost starting quarterback JT Daniels to a season-ending injury.

The next week against then ranked Stanford, USC pulled off an outstanding victory. USC beat Stanford 45-20, and freshman quarterback Kedon Slovis passed for 377 yards on 28 for 33 passing. Slovis also threw three touchdowns.

All was good at USC after that, but then came the BYU game. The BYU game could have been a trap game because the following game is against Utah, who is playing great football.

It proved to be just that, as BYU pulled the game out in overtime. There were a lot of questionable play calls for USC, such as running the ball on second and long in overtime.

Lynn Swann Steps Down

Last week USC athletic director Lynn Swan stepped down. Swann was one of Helton’s biggest supporters, and now he is gone. With Swann gone, the new athletic director is going to want to hire his guy. He will not want to keep a mediocre Helton unless he can turn this team into a title contender. Helton and the Trojans face No. 10 Utah, No. 22 Washington, and No. 7 Notre Dame in the coming weeks. If Helton can win all three those game and close the season strong, he could save his job. But it is unlikely that this will happen, Helton has proved he is not a great coach in close games.

With a new athletic director coming, he will want to make a big splash to get USC back on the map. Names like James Franklin, Urban Meyer, and maybe even Bob Stoops could be available for USC. Either way, sweeping changes will be coming to the USC Trojans football program next year.

USC Coach Clay Helton On The Sideline. Photo Credit: Daniel Hartwig | Under Creative Commons License

USC Coach Clay Helton On The Sideline. Photo Credit: Daniel Hartwig | Under Creative Commons License