USC's defense wasnt known for being lights out great. There's talent, but they also have given up yards and points. The defense just faced an awesome talent who they had trouble stopping all night. VY is 6'-5" 235 and shakes tacklers. DB's couldnt handle him and LB's had trouble holding him. 'SC stopped Texas on the first two downs on that last drive and was called for incidental face mask on third down. They might very well have stopped him if Texas didnt get the automatic first down from that penalty. Texas had to score on 4th and 5 with :19 seconds left. The USC Defense did what they could, but VY made a huge play like he'd done all game.

If you want to win, don't blow a lead. Get your opponent down and keep your boot on his windpipe. When you let your opponent get the slightest bit of breathing room, bad things can happen to you. USC did not, and Texas took advantage. I would. Give me any hope, and I will get my rally on.

I hate USC more than most and it's true that they did give up 15 unanswered in the last 6 minutes, but Numbah... was anyone really arguing their defense was dominant? I mean, yeah people argued that they'd be able to slow Vince Young down- which obviously he proved to be completely false- but most people argued their defense would do just enough to put their offense in position to win the game.

Let's not go overboard here. I'm from L.A. but I'm no huge SC fan. Nonetheless, Southern Cal DID NOT have a vaunted defense this season. People had been carping about it endlessly (on sports radio and the like) as it being weaker than it had been during the previous two years. In fact, the Trojans were only ranked 32nd or 36th nationally on defense among Div. I teams this season. What was the big (alright, moderate) surprise was how much yardage Texas allowed. Lendale White, the BACKUP tailback scampered for over 120 yards and Reggie Bush averaged 6.2 yards per carry. And Leinart was 29 of 40 for the game and 16 OF 19 in the second half. In all, USC racked up over 550 yards on offense. Numbah, that is an unheard of thing to happen against the team that everyone considered to have the best college football D in the nation. It was a great game and the better team won, but I think your inborn hatred of all things SC is coloring your observations a bit.

Aha! A clue! On those two scores it didn't even look like Vince Young was working hard.