Ryan Kartje

D'Anton Lynn has improved USC's defense in his first year with the Trojans, but his successor at UCLA also has had success ahead of their rivalry game.

When Lindsay Gottlieb thinks back to the start, before USC was about to become the biggest thing in women's college basketball — and maybe college

LOS ANGELES — When Lindsay Gottlieb thinks back to the start, her mind travels to a phone call 3 1/2 years ago.

D'Anton Lynn has improved USC's defense in his first year with the Trojans, but his successor at UCLA also has had success ahead of their rivalry game.

LOS ANGELES — When Lindsay Gottlieb thinks back to the start, her mind travels to a phone call 3 1/2 years ago.

Their goals were long gone. Any delusions of grandeur had been dashed. The only consolation left, approaching the end of a frustrating campaign, was a bowl game and bragging rights.

USC quarterback Jayden Maiava struggles to find rhythm, but the Trojans capitalize on big plays in the fourth quarter to defeat UCLA 19-13 at the Rose Bowl.

Hello, everyone! I'm Ryan Kartje, your USC beat writer at the L.A. Times, coming to you loaded with caffeine and running on fumes after a very late, rainy night at the Rose Bowl.

After USC beat UCLA last weekend at the Rose Bowl, Times beat writers Ryan Kartje and Ben Bolch look at the state of each team and what finishing the season strong means for both.

A light rain fell over the Rose Bowl Saturday night as Eddie Czaplicki took his place just behind USC's 45-yard line.