USC’s Cody Kessler still has chances to gain national recognition

Cody Kessler knows the equation.

Most quarterbacks and coaches consider a 3-to-1, touchdown-to-interception ratio at season’s end a solid performance.

Through nine games, Kessler is at more than 12-to-1.

The junior has passed for 25 touchdowns, with only two interceptions.

“I wish there wasn’t two on there,” Kessler said Sunday as the Trojans continued preparations for Thursday night’s game against California.

Kessler reiterated that the absence of his name from discussion surrounding postseason honors such as the Heisman Trophy was “irrelevant to me,” and that his main goal was winning games.

He appears to have benefited from the week off from practices that Coach Steve Sarkisian gave the Trojans after their Nov. 1 victory at Washington State.

Kessler passed for a career-best 400 yards and five touchdowns in the 44-17 victory.

“My arm got a little rest,” he said. “I had some bumps and bruises…. It was nice to recover all week.”

Last season, under former coaches Lane Kiffin and Ed Orgeron, Kessler passed for 20 touchdowns, with seven interceptions.

This season, he established a USC record with seven touchdown passes against Colorado and is on pace to possibly establish more school marks.

“When you start going at the clip he’s going at right now,” Sarkisian said of Kessler’s touchdown-to-interception ratio, “it’s a pretty astounding number.”

Kessler’s chance for national recognition could improve in the final three games, especially in rivalry games against UCLA and Notre Dame.

“He’s going to have some real cool opportunities here in this last month of the season in November to have a couple of those maybe defining-type moments,” Sarkisian said. “And the key for us, and the key for Cody, is to capitalize on them.”

Plattenburg injured

Freshman John Plattenburg, who has started the last three games at safety, was injured during a practice and was carted from the field.

Plattenburg lay prone on the field for several minutes before he was assisted onto a cart and taken to the locker room.

Sarkisian said it appeared Plattenburg suffered a thigh bruise, but that he would undergo X-rays.

Plattenburg has played in seven games and made 14 tackles.

Receiver JuJu Smith was sidelined early in practice because of an apparent eye issue. He left with a physician after about 45 minutes.

Sarkisian said Smith got something in his eye.

“Don’t think it’s serious at all,” Sarkisian said.

Sarkisian reacts to Orgeron comments

Orgeron told The Times’ Bill Plaschke that in his mind, “the door is always open to come back” to USC, where he served as a longtime assistant and then interim head coach before abruptly leaving last December when Athletic Director Pat Haden hired Sarkisian.

On Sunday, Haden deferred questions about Orgeron to Sarkisian.

Could Sarkisian see Orgeron returning to USC?

“Ed’s a terrific football coach,” Sarkisian said. “He’s a friend of mine. I have a great deal of respect for Ed, but quite honestly, we play Cal Thursday night at 6 o’clock.”

Asked whether it was unsettling for current assistants to read a former assistant wanted to return, Sarkisian said, “I’m sure there’s a lot of guys that want to come back to USC as an assistant coach. This is a great place. This is an unbelievable place to be at.”

Could Sarkisian see Orgeron working on his staff at some point?

“Honestly, we play Cal Thursday night at 6 o’clock,” Sarkisian repeated. “I don’t speak about hypothetical scenarios.”

Quick hits

After practicing in the afternoon the last two days, the Trojans revert to morning workouts starting Monday.