Clay Helton
FILE - This Sept. 31, 2019 photo shows Southern California quarterback JT Daniels in an NCAA football game against Fresno State in Los Angeles. Daniels has entered the transfer portal. He announced his plan Thursday, April 16, 2020. Coach Clay Helton says the door is still open for Daniels to stay at USC, where Kedon Slovis took advantage of Daniels' knee injury to become the Trojans' starting quarterback last season. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
USC's Daniels heading to Georgia to compete for QB job

By Paul Newberry May. 28, 2020 06:36 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 3, 2019, file photo, Washington NCAA college football defensive coordinator Jimmy Lake speaks during a news conference about taking over the head coaching position, in Seattle. Just when it seemed like things were up and rolling, the COVID-19 pandemic hit. The ensuring national shutdown hurt coaches across college football as they prepare for next season, but it was particularly difficult on programs with first-year coaches trying to build something from the ground up. (AP Photo/Elaine Thompson, File)
Pac-12 football coaches pitch uniform start to season

By Ralph D. Russo May. 12, 2020 06:27 PM EDT

FILE - In this Dec. 1, 2018, file photo, Stanford coach David Shaw watches during the team's NCAA college football game against California in Berkeley, Calif. The Pac-12 has discussed the possibility of moving to an 11-game, all-conference schedule this year amid the unprecedented uncertainty of the coronavirus pandemic, Southern California's Clay Helton says. Shaw also says he doesn't necessarily agree with NCAA President Mark Emmert's belief that college campuses should be open for college sports to resume. (AP Photo/John Hefti, File)
Pac-12 has discussed all-conference football regular season

By Greg Beacham May. 11, 2020 07:50 PM EDT

FILE - This Sept. 31, 2019 photo shows Southern California quarterback JT Daniels in an NCAA football game against Fresno State in Los Angeles. Daniels has entered the transfer portal. He announced his plan Thursday, April 16, 2020. Coach Clay Helton says the door is still open for Daniels to stay at USC, where Kedon Slovis took advantage of Daniels' knee injury to become the Trojans' starting quarterback last season. (AP Photo/Kyusung Gong)
USC QB Daniels enters transfer portal; lost job to Slovis

By Greg Beacham Apr. 16, 2020 04:11 PM EDT

FILE - In this Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, file photo, Southern California head coach Clay Helton, left, shakes hands with athletic director Mike Bohn at an NCAA college football game against UCLA in Los Angeles. Helton is 40-22 in four full seasons as USC coach. (AP Photo/Marcio Jose Sanchez, File)
USC invests in supporting Helton rather than replacing him

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 09, 2020 03:05 PM EDT

FILE - In this Friday, Oct. 25, 2019, file photo, Mater Dei quarterback Bryce Young is tackled after scrambling out of the pocket during a high school football game against St. John Bosco in Bellflower, Calif. Aside from being 2,000 miles away from his home in Southern California, the most challenging part of Alabama freshman quarterback Bryce Young's transition to college was dealing with two straight weeks of rainy weather in Tuscaloosa this winter. They don't get that in Pasadena, California. Otherwise, he's been too busy to be homesick. (Scott Varley/The Orange County Register via AP, File)
Alabama's 5-star freshman QB getting acclimated to college

By Ralph D. Russo Mar. 06, 2020 04:10 PM EST

USC hires lauded assistants Sean Snyder, Donte Williams

Feb. 12, 2020 10:39 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Southern California has hired Sean Snyder as its special teams coordinator and Donte Williams as its cornerbacks coach and defensive pass...

Oregon head coach Mario Cristobal reacts during second half of the Rose Bowl NCAA college football game against Wisconsin Wednesday, Jan. 1, 2020, in Pasadena, Calif. (AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill)
Oregon gets boost to recruiting class by adding Jones

By John Marshall Feb. 05, 2020 07:28 PM EST

USC hires Todd Orlando to be Helton's defensive coordinator

By Greg Beacham Jan. 24, 2020 04:30 PM EST
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Todd Orlando has been named Southern California's defensive coordinator. Clay Helton announced the hiring Friday of the...

Iowa defensive end A.J. Epenesa, left, is blocked by Southern California offensive tackle Austin Jackson (73) during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)
USC offensive lineman Austin Jackson will enter NFL draft

Jan. 15, 2020 09:29 PM EST

Southern California head football coach Clay Helton speaks to members of the media about the 2019 Holiday Bowl during a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, in San Diego, Calif. (Bryon Houlgrave/The Des Moines Register via AP)
USC DC Clancy Pendergast, special teams coach Baxter out

By Greg Beacham Dec. 28, 2019 07:38 PM EST

Iowa tight end Sam LaPorta (84) runs with the ball while defended by Southern California cornerback Greg Johnson (9) during the first half of the Holiday Bowl NCAA college football game Friday, Dec. 27, 2019, in San Diego. (AP Photo/Orlando Ramirez)
Smith-Marsette has 3 TDs, Iowa beats USC in Holiday Bowl

By Bernie Wilson Dec. 27, 2019 11:56 PM EST

Southern California head football coach Clay Helton speaks to members of the media about the 2019 Holiday Bowl during a press conference on Thursday, Dec. 26, 2019, in San Diego, Calif. (Bryon Houlgrave/The Des Moines Register via AP)
Iowa to honor Hayden Fry while facing USC in Holiday Bowl

By Bernie Wilson Dec. 26, 2019 07:19 PM EST

No. 19 Iowa, No. 22 USC meeting in Holiday Bowl

By The Associated Press Dec. 26, 2019 05:36 PM EST
Holiday Bowl: No. 22 USC (8-4) vs. No. 18 Iowa (9-3), Friday at 8 p.m. EST (FS1). Line: Iowa by 2½. Series record: USC...

This undated photo provided by ESPN images shows ESPN college football reporter Edward Aschoff. The sports network announced Aschoff died Tuesday, Dec. 24, 2019 after a brief illness. Aschoff joined ESPN in 2011 as part of the SEC blog network, which covers the NCAA Southeastern Conference. During the past three seasons, Aschoff reported from college campuses across the U.S. for ESPN.com, SportsCenter, SEC Network and ESPN radio, ESPN reported. He was both a television and radio sideline reporter during games. (Rich Arden/ESPN Images via AP)
ESPN college football reporter Edward Aschoff dies at 34

Dec. 25, 2019 10:17 AM EST

Georgia coach Kirby Smart speaks with the media on National Signing Day in Athens, Ga, on Wednesday, Dec. 18, 2019. (Joshua L. Jones/Athens Banner-Herald via AP)
All-star games could shake up team recruiting rankings

By Steve Megargee Dec. 20, 2019 08:36 PM EST

Huskies and Ducks duel for Pac-12's best signing day

The Associated Press Dec. 18, 2019 09:16 PM EST
CONFERENCE: Pac-12 BEST IN CLASS (based on 247 Sports composite rankings through Wednesday afternoon): The heated rivalry between...

Clemson head coach Dabo Swinney speaks during a news conference ahead for the College Football playoffs Thursday, Dec. 12, 2019, in Atlanta. Ryan Day of Ohio State was unable to attend. (AP Photo/John Bazemore)
Playoff participants also contend for team recruiting title

By Steve Megargee Dec. 18, 2019 06:45 PM EST

Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin poses alongside showgirl Jennifer Autry ahead of the Las Vegas Bowl NCAA college football game in Las Vegas, Tuesday, Dec. 17, 2019. (Chase Stevens/Las Vegas Review-Journal via AP)
Watch every bowl? Yes! Here's why they are all must-see TV

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 18, 2019 02:17 PM EST

AP Top 25 Podcast: Time to sign for football recruits

By Ralph D. Russo Dec. 18, 2019 12:59 PM EST
Time to sign for college football recruits. The early signing period is three years old and it's already become The signing period in...