The USC Trojans have had a subpar November, to put it mildly. With their 22-13 loss to the No. 1 Notre Dame Fighting Irish on Saturday night at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, USC lost for the fourth time in five games.
In their last five games, USC has alllowed 178 points, an average of 35.6 per contest.
The Trojans lost to both of their rivals this season, the Irish and the UCLA Bruins, for the first time in the same year since 1995. With a 3rd-and-goal and the Notre Dame 4-yard line with 9:29 left, freshman quarterback Max Wittek threw incomplete to Marqise Lee and USC had to settle for a field goal to pull within 19-13.
Kiffin, for all his supposed play-calling prowess, had two opportunities inside the 5-yard line in the fourth quarter, and came away with three total points, including a goal-line stand with 3:19 remaining.
The frustration shown by Kiffin above, alone with his laminated play sheet, is one of a coach on thin ice.