[washingtonismoney]

I don't think anyone really thought SC was in control.  It was more like "SC 'hung with' Alabama through the second quarter"

...Alabama played up for USC because it was such a marquee match up and Lane Kiffin used to opportunity to pile on his former program, producing a dramatic scoreline which probably wouldn't have been so big if not for the personal connections. That the Trojans were actually in control of the game well into the second quarter.

To be fair, it's presented as an alternate potential view of the game (that the blogger doesn't necessarily believe), but it's a very aggressive view of the game. Your hypothetical view is, I think, the most plausible pro-SC argument possible.

[washingtonismoney]

I don't think anyone really thought SC was in control.  It was more like "SC 'hung with' Alabama through the second quarter"

...Alabama played up for USC because it was such a marquee match up and Lane Kiffin used to opportunity to pile on his former program, producing a dramatic scoreline which probably wouldn't have been so big if not for the personal connections. That the Trojans were actually in control of the game well into the second quarter.

To be fair, it's presented as an alternate potential view of the game (that the blogger doesn't necessarily believe), but it's a very aggressive view of the game. Your hypothetical view is, I think, the most plausible pro-SC argument possible.