Zach Helfand
Zach Helfand is a former sports reporter for the Los Angeles Times. He is a proud New Jerseyan and Michigan graduate and previously interned with The Times, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Baltimore Sun, USA Today and the Trentonian (N.J.).
USC to play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl
USC won the Pac-12. Ohio State won the Big Ten. It was not enough for the College Football Playoff selection committee, which left both teams out of the playoff. The Trojans and Buckeyes will, at least, combine to make the most compelling non-playoff bowl of the season in the Cotton Bowl.
USC's Chris Hawkins overcomes grandmother's death to play best game of his career
In the moments before the Pac-12 championship game began on Friday, USC safety Chris Hawkins journeyed toward the end zone alone, kneeled and put his head down. Hawkins had hardly slept the night before. At around midnight, he received word that his grandmother had died of breast cancer.
