The USC Trojans on Saturday night delivered the third most lopsided beatdown in the 81-game history of their rivalry with the UCLA Bruins. The 50-0 win, aside from being a record-breaking showcase of Matt Barkley, Robert Woods, and Marqise Lee, also provided several opportunities to take a shot at the now 6-6 Bruins.
Earlier in the week, Bruins head coach Rick Neuheisel said UCLA had "closed the gap" with the Trojans, though after the game Barkley had other ideas. In a postgame interview with Petros Papadakis on Prime Ticket, Barkley said, "We heard that someone was trying to close the gap so we tried not to let that happen."
That could be the understatement of the year.
Neuheisel's status with the Bruins could be in doubt, and the speculation is out in the open. After the game, USC tailback Marc Tyler told reporters when asked about UCLA, "I wish their next coach much success."
Speaking of uncertain status, Barkley might have played his final game as a Trojan on Saturday. The junior quarterback said after the game he would take all of December to decide his future, whether or not to declare for the NFL draft. Former UCLA bruin basketballer and current Los Angeles Lakers forward Matt Barnes had a more sinister plan to get Barkley to leave school:
Lol. I'm also gonna make sure I pick up the check when @mattbarkley & I go to dinner.. Just doing my part to help the #BruinsOut
For more UCLA football news and analysis, be sure to read Bruins Nation. For USC football information, be sure to read Conquest Chronicles.