Five takeaways from USC football's rainy 26-21 victory over Iowa at the Coliseum

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On Saturday, the USC football team defeated Iowa 26-21 at the Coliseum. With the victory, the Trojans improved to 8-2 and 6-1 in Big Ten play.

What did we learn from the game? Here are five takeaways:

Tale of two halves

The first and second halves of this game were completely different stories. For the first 30 minutes, Iowa dominated virtually every aspect of the game. The second half, however, was the complete opposite, with the Trojans looking like far and away the superior football team.

Resilient group

While the first half was certainly a struggle, USC deserves a ton of credit for its resilience. The Trojans did not let their poor start define them, and bounced back in a big way after the break.

Another Lemon masterclass

Makai Lemon legitimately looks like the best wide receiver in the country. He had another massive game against Iowa, catching 10 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown—including several more spectacular grabs.

Lemon is now over 1,000 yards receiving on the season. He should legitimately be one of the leading candidates—if not the favorite—for the Biletnikoff Award.

Second half shutout

Perhaps the most alarming part of USC’s first half struggles was that the Trojans allowed 21 points to an Iowa team that is not exactly known for its offensive firepower. For the third week in a row, however, D’Anton Lynn’s halftime adjustments came up massive, as the Trojans did not allow a single point over the final 30 minutes.

Next week means everything

With USC avoiding a slip-up against a dangerous Iowa team, next week’s game at Oregon now means everything. If the Trojans can find a way to knock off the Ducks in Eugene, they will have a great shot to reach the College Football Playoff.

This article originally appeared on Trojans Wire: USC football defeats Iowa: Five takeaways

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