Six things we learned in USC’s 42-24 victory over No. 3 Utah

USC defeated third-ranked Utah, 42-24, Saturday at the Coliseum. Here are six things we learned in the Trojans’ victory.

Smith leads the way

Freshman linebacker Cameron Smith is the future of the defense.

Smith intercepted quarterback Travis Wilson three times — twice in the second quarter and once in the fourth quarter.

He returned his second interception 54 yards for a touchdown.

It was the first three-interception game of his career.

The last USC player to intercept three passes in a game was Jason Oliver in 1991 against Penn State.

Smith also made nine tackles to add to his team-best 62 tackles this season.

Defense comes alive

The defense stifled Utah after allowing a first-quarter touchdown.

The Trojans struggled to defend the run in losses to Stanford and Notre Dame but held the Utes to 99 rushing yards. Utah was averaging 192 rushing yards per game.

USC made seven tackles for losses, and the defensive line appeared to play its most aggressive game.

Lineman Delvon Simmons sacked the Utes’ Wilson twice, and Greg Townsend Jr. made a tackle for a loss.

Linebacker Su’a Cravens also sacked Wilson and intercepted a pass in the fourth quarter.

Offensive line patched together

Quarterback Cody Kessler took a few hits and was sacked four times, but the offensive line made the most of a difficult situation against one of the most physical defenses in the Pac-12.

Right tackle Zach Banner started at left tackle in place of Chad Wheeler, who was sidelined because of a concussion.

Freshman Chuma Edoga started at right tackle.

Toa Lobendahn started at center, with Max Tuerk sidelined for the season, but Lobendahn suffered a knee injury in the first and was replaced by Khaliel Rodgers.

USC rushed for 116 yards and passed for 264 yards.

The line committed five penalties last week against Notre Dame, but was called only for a false start against Utah.

Finishing, finally

There’s no need to hope for USC to finish anymore.

Cravens put an exclamation point on the victory when he made an end-zone interception as the clock ticked down.

USC was once plagued by its inability to maintain a fourth-quarter lead — so much so, that last season, T-shirts were made that said “Finish.”

Coaches and players have continued to emphasize the need to play four quarters this season.

USC took a 28-17 lead into halftime, scored 14 second-half points and the defense held the Utes to one fourth-quarter touchdown.

Resilient team

USC could have called it a season.

The Trojans were 3-3 overall, 1-2 in the Pac-12 Conference and were coming off consecutive losses to Washington and Notre Dame.

Not to mention, their head coach was fired.

But the Trojans proved against third-ranked Utah that the season isn’t lost and that a trip to the Pac-12 title game is still within reach.

The question that remains is whether they can maintain this new style of play — physical through four quarters — through the remaining five games against California, Arizona, Colorado, Oregon and UCLA.

Penalties improved

A sixth thing we learned, for good measure.

USC committed 10 penalties for 105 yards last week against Notre Dame.

Against Utah, considered perhaps the most physical team in the Pac-12, the Trojans committed five penalties for 49 yards.

Interim Coach Clay Helton said last week at practice that an emphasis was put on hand placement in an effort to minimize penalties.

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