The number is real and difficult to ignore but also not an absolute bellwether. Two of those losses belong to struggling UCLA, home and away, and two belong to USC in the Midwest, whose coach Lincoln Riley believes his team is but a few plays from being unbeaten.

LB Mason Cobb: It appears unlikely that USC will have linebacker Eric Gentry, who missed the Minnesota game as well. Gentry was the most impactful playmaker for the Trojans defense, and USC needs someone to step up and make more plays in his absence. Cobb can’t produce those sorts of plays in the same way, but he’s capable of making some.

The important matchup between No. 4 Penn State (5-0) and USC (3-2) is being overshadowed by the game in Eugene, but this game is very important. Penn State has a chance to show it is a legit Big Ten contender this season,