The worst Alex Grinch moments at USC, ranked in order
Alex Grinch’s first 22 games at USC — 14 in the 2022 season, eight in 2023 — have had enough bad games to last a full career. Grinch had a lot on his plate in 2022 in the first year of an attempted makeover, so it was reasonable (albeit debatable) to give him another season in 2023. This prove-it season, however, has not gone according to plan, which leaves Grinch without any leverage.
He is rapidly running out of time to make one more convincing argument — to Lincoln Riley, to the USC fan base, and most of all, to himself — that he deserves to be the defensive coordinator for the Trojans in 2024 when the school moves to the Big Ten.
His tenure isn’t officially over, but it seems the walls are closing in on him. Here are Alex Grinch’s worst moments as USC defensive coordinator. There are certainly a lot to choose from. We’ll rank these moments in addition to listing them.
The envelope, please:
2023 VS COLORADO
The Trojans had a massive lead in this game, but the Buffs scored 27 second-half points. The only reason it’s this low is that the Trojans got the win in spite of the second-half collapse.
2023 VS ARIZONA
On paper, this score looks really bad for Alex Grinch. The Trojans just barely beat the Wildcats and gave up 41 points to Arizona backup QB Noah Fifita. However, Fifita has thrown for nearly 1,000 yards and eight scores in three games for Arizona, and he looks like the real deal.
2022 VS ARIZONA
The Trojans got the victory in this one, although it was too close for comfort. The defense gave up 543 yards to Arizona.
2022 VS UTAH, REGULAR SEASON
There are going to be a lot of USC-Utah games here, and the Utes have owned them. Playing in Salt Lake City isn’t easy, but the Trojans giving up 562 yards and two fourth-quarter touchdowns surely didn’t help their case. Dalton Kincaid caught 16 passes for 234 yards. Utah has no elite downfield receiver, but USC got torched by Utah’s tight end.
2022 PAC-12 TITLE GAME VS UTAH
This game could be more toward the top, but it’s so tough to rank the next few games. USC gave up 533 yards to Utah and 23 fourth-quarter points in this game. But, after the gut-wrenching injury to Caleb Williams, the entire Trojan team had a lump in its collective throat, so take it as you will.
2022 VS CAL
Cal just did not have a good season in 2022, but the Golden Bears managed to put up 469 yards against USC. Jack Plummer threw for 406 yards with three touchdowns. Yikes.
COTTON BOWL VS TULANE
Tulane’s offense was on a surge all season long, so that’s something to note. Still, how do you give up 46 points in three quarters after shutting them out in the first? Then, USC gave up 16 fourth-quarter points and a last-second touchdown to lose the game. Big, big yikes.
2023 VS UTAH
Is this recency bias? Absolutely not. Utah played with its backup quarterback again. Bryson Barnes traveled to Los Angeles and still put up 482 yards against USC. The Utes thrived in both aspects of offense, compiling 235 yards passing and 247 yards rushing, so USC had no answers for a team without Cam Rising. That’s really bad. After the game, fans were lining up waiting for Grinch to be fired.
This game ranks No. 1 because it certainly feels like the final nail in the coffin for Grinch’s USC tenure.
