USC competed for national championships during LenDale White’s collegiate career.
Now they can’t even defeat TCU in the Alamo Bowl.
The former Trojans running back was among the program’s former players who were not happy with Tuesday’s 30-27 overtime loss to the Horned Frogs. The lack of tackling on Jeremy Payne’s game-winning touchdown in particular stood out, and White took to social media to express his thoughts:
Had USC won, it would have reached double-digit victories for just the second time since the 2017 season. That stands in stark contrast to the Pete Carroll era when the program reached double-digit wins seven years in a row from 2002 through 2008.
The Trojans were the gold standard of college football for much of that stretch and took home national championships when White was on the roster in 2003 (Associated Press) and 2004 (BCS and AP).
They also lost to Texas in the BCS national championship game during the 2005 campaign.
It’s safe to say the BCS era was better for USC than the College Football Playoff one.
It has never qualified for the CFP since its inception in 2014 and is part of a crowded Big Ten with Ohio State, Oregon, Indiana, Michigan, Penn State and more. Instead of competing for championships, Lincoln Riley has led USC to the Alamo Bowl, Las Vegas Bowl and Holiday Bowl during the last three seasons.
Defense has largely been the issue during his tenure, and that was on full display once again during Tuesday’s loss. TCU overcame a 10-point deficit in the final five minutes of the fourth quarter with a touchdown and field-goal drive and then scored the winning touchdown in overtime.
Had any of the defenders who had a chance to tackle Payne on the game’s winning touchdown made a play, the Horned Frogs could have been looking at a long field goal to force a second overtime.
Instead, they were celebrating while former Trojans players were left asking what has happened to the program.
