The USC Trojans entered 2012 as the No. 1 team in the country and had high expectations as quarterback Matt Barkley returned for his senior season.
Things did not turn out as expected for USC after going just 7-5, but the Trojans can end the year on a positive note with a win on Monday against the Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets in the Sun Bowl from El Paso Texas. The Trojans are playing in a bowl game for the first time in two years after dealing with the Reggie Bush scandal, which resulted in a postseason ban for USC.
"Especially after two years of sitting at home and not being able to go to a bowl game, we're excited," coach Lane Kiffin said. "We're excited about a very good bowl and a great matchup."
The Trojans were loaded with talent for the 2012 season with Barkley and 18 other starters returning along with running back Silas Redd, who transferred from Penn State before the season started. USC started off 2-0, but slipped up on the road against Stanford, losing 21-14. The team won the next four games, but fell apart after reaching 6-1.
USC lost back-to-back games to Arizona and Oregon, giving up a combined 101 points before winning against Arizona State. The Trojans ended the year with two straight losses, including a 22-13 defeat against Notre Dame in the regular season finale.
"In a five-week span we went 1-4 ... and it was obviously a very depressing way to finish the season," Kiffin said.
The Trojans will be without their starting quarterback for the game after Barkley hurt his shoulder against UCLA in a 38-28 loss on Nov. 17. Since he is a senior, he will miss the final game of his college career.
"I've worked as hard as I could to get back for this game, and nature is not allowing it," Barkley told the program's official website. "And, doctors are not allowing it which is the most important thing."
Barkley entered the year as a Heisman candidate, but he fell out of the race as USC struggled and he also threw a Pac-12 high 15 interceptions. Even with the losses, Barkley still put up great numbers, throwing for 3,273 yards and 36 touchdowns, averaging 3.3 scores per game, which was ranked second in the nation.
"It didn't turn out the way I planned," Barkley said of his decision to return to school. "But I think over these last four years, and especially this year, I've learned so much. (I've) grown, matured a lot since last year I really think, and that will prepare me for the next level and for later in life. I don't regret it one bit."
Redshirt freshman Max Wittek will make his second career start in Barkley's place after playing against Notre Dame. Wittek went 14 of 23 for 186 yards with one touchdown and two interceptions in the loss and will now face a Georgia Tech team that gives up nearly 30 points per game.
Wittek has a pair of talented wide receivers to throw to in Marqise Lee and Robert Woods, but it's possible that Lee will miss the game for the Trojans after suffering a knee injury in practice on Saturday.
The loss of Lee would be huge for the Trojans. The wide receiver was one of the most dynamic in all of football, finished the season with a FBS-high 112 catches, 1,680 yards and 14 touchdowns while winning the Biletnikoff Award and being named as an All-America selection and Pac-12 offensive player of the year.
If Lee cannot play, Woods will offer Wittek some solid production as well after making 73 receptions for 813 yards and 11 touchdowns, which is second behind Lee in the Pac-12.
The Trojans offense is one of the best in the nation and is averaging over 400 total yards per game while scoring just under 35 points. USC should be favored against a Georgia Tech team that went 6-7 this season, but the Yellow Jackets are excellent at rushing the ball, something that the Trojans have trouble with.
Georgia Tech won the ACC Coastal Division this year, but almost didn't make the postseason after losing the championship game 21-15 to Florida State. If a team falls under .500, they become ineligible for the college postseason. But since the loss came in a championship game, Georgia Tech asked for a waiver from the NCAA and received it.
"When we found out that we were coming back to the Sun Bowl and we were going to be playing the Trojans of Southern Cal, I don't know what I did to become so lucky to get the University of Georgia, Florida State and Southern Cal all in a row," head coach Paul Johnson said.
The Yellow Jackets will offer an interesting test for the Trojans, as they are a one-dimensional team, but a very successful one. Georgia Tech is one of only two teams in the nation to rush for over 4,000 yards and will play in their second-consecutive Sun Bowl and 16th consecutive bowl game overall.
"We knew that the championship runner-up could not go past the Sun Bowl, and that was pretty much it," Sun Bowl executive director Bernie Olivas said. "I don't think we ever had a discussion about moving down at all. ... We're very pleased to have them back."
The USC defense has been one of the weaknesses for the team this year, including during the 1-4 slide down the final stretch of the season when the Trojans gave up over 1,300 yards of offense in two losses to Oregon and Arizona.
"Although things didn't always go as well as we would have liked this year from a defensive and win-loss standpoint ... I see great things ahead for the USC football program," Monte Kiffin said.
The Trojans will have to find a way to counter the triple-option attack of Georgia Tech, which has six players who have rushed for over 400 yards this season. The biggest focus will be on quarterback Tevin Washington, who has 19 touchdowns on the year. The senior has rushed for 638 yards and has thrown seven passing touchdowns.
PREDICTION: USC 38, Georgia Tech 25. This score is based on the fact that Marqise Lee will be playing for the Trojans. Although the team has a redshirt freshman at quarterback, the Trojans simply have more playmakers than the Yellow Jackets and will be looking to end the season on a high note after faltering down the stretch. The Yellow Jackets have yet to win a game under Johnson and Georgia Tech can become predictable running the ball. The Yellow Jackets defense is ranked in the bottom of the ACC and has given up 40 points six times this year, giving USC the chance to put up some points on Monday. If Lee cannot play, look out for a big game from Robert Woods, who should have a favorable matchup against the corners of the Yellow Jackets.
