Lynn Swann thinks USC should be 7-0

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USC’s Ajene Harris #27, and Iman Marshall #8, stop Utah running back Troy Williams short of the goal line on the two-point play which preserve the USC victory.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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USC’s Ajene Harris #27, and Iman Marshall #8, stops Utah running back Troy Williams short of the goal line on the extra-point play in the fourth quarter.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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LOS ANGELES, CALIF. -- SATURDAY, OCT. 14, 2017: USC wide receiver Michael Pittman, left, watches tailback Ronald Jones II flip over Utah free safety Marquise Blair for a touchdown to put USC ahead in the fourth quarter at the Coliseum Saturday, Oct. 14, 2017. USC won 27-28. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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LUSC’s Deontay Burnett leaps in the air while celebrating with Daniel Imatorbhebhe after USC beat Utah 28-27.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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USC wide receiver Steven Mitchell Jr. eyes a pass from quaterback Sam Darnold, but couldn’t come up the reception during the first half of a game against Utah.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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USC defense struggles to bring down Utah quarterback Troy Williiams in the second half.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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USC wide receiver Deontay Burnett hauls in a pass from Sam Darnold for a first down as Utah strong safety Corrion Ballard makes the tackle in the fourth quarter.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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USC outside linebacker Uchenna Nwosu, #42, tries to stop Utah running back Zack Moss during the second half.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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USC running back Ronald Jones II and Utah defensive end Nick Heninger chase a loose ball during the second quarter.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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USC tight end Tyler Petite scores on a 53 yard catch-and-run against Utah during the first quarter of a game at the Coliseum.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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USC receiver Steven Mitchell Jr. runs past Utah’s Kavika Luafatasaga during the second quarter of a game at the Coliseum.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

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USC linebacker Cameron Smith (35) celebrates with his coaches after picking off a Troy Williams pass in the first quarter of a game at the Coliseum.

(Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times)

By Zach Helfand

Oct. 14, 2017 9:30 PM PT

USC athletic director Lynn Swann was less than thrilled about the first half of USC’s football season.

Swann said USC’s first six games left him “a little disappointed we’re not undefeated.”

Swann spoke Friday, a day before USC played Utah, during a ceremony when he was presented with a plaque by the Pro Football Hall of Fame as part of their Hometown Hall of Famer program. USC, he noted, had its best game of the season in a blowout win over Stanford but slogged through several close victories and one loss on the road to Washington State.

Swann said that USC “played a couple games pretty close to the vest and got bit.”

Swann said he was pleased with how USC has navigated heavy numbers of injuries in its first six games. And, Swann said, his primary goal for the team was still alive: A Pac-12 Conference South title.

“Our goal is to always win the Pac-12 championship and if you have aspirations for a national championship or anything else, you’ve got to first win the Pac-12,” Swann said. “That’s the only guaranteed path. You can’t expect that you’re going to have what we had last year where we didn’t play for the Pac-12 championship and yet we’ve got a chance to be in the Rose Bowl. That’s not gonna happen every year. It’s gonna get tougher and tougher.”

Imatorbhebhe returns briefly

Tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe entered the game at the end of USC’s second possession and quarterback Sam Darnold immediately threw in his direction.

It was an overthrow but a welcome sight for USC. Imatorbhebhe, USC’s most lethal receiving tight end, had not played since the first game of the season. He played only a few snaps before he left the game with a reaggravated hip flexor injury.

Coach Clay Helton had identified next week’s game against Notre Dame as the target for Imatorbhebhe’s return. But the sophomore showed in practice that he was healthy enough for limited play against Utah.

Saturday marked a new season high for receiving yards by USC’s tight ends. The previous high was 74 yards against Oregon State.

USC’s tight ends finished with 99 yards, 79 by Tyler Petite and 20 by Josh Falo.

Defense yields

USC’s offense is one of the worst in the country at protecting the football. But its defense is one of the best in the country at limiting the damage after a turnover.

Entering the game, USC’s defense had given up only a field goal after a USC giveaway this season.

The Trojans finally gave up a touchdown in the second quarter, when Utah turned a USC fumble into a seven-play, 54-yard scoring drive.

Smith intercepts

Entering Saturday’s game, linebacker Cameron Smith had three interceptions in his career. All came against Utah in a game two seasons ago.

He intercepted another Utah pass in the first quarter.

With Utah in easy field-goal range, Troy Williams fired a pass right at Smith. Smith smothered it to end the drive.

Scholarship?

Swann was noncommittal about a scholarship for USC’s starting kicker Chase McGrath.

“I think that’s a possibility,” Swann said.

McGrath, a walk-on freshman, won the job in training camp over Mike Brown, who has a scholarship and is out for the season because of a torn knee ligament.

USC has one scholarship remaining to give.

Quick hits

Running back Stephen Carr (foot injury) did not play for the second week in a row. … Right tackle Chuma Edoga (high ankle sprain) did not play. Clayton Johnston and Austin Jackson played in his absence.

zach.helfand@latimes.com

Follow Zach Helfand on Twitter @zhelfand