As I noted, below, USC under Pete Carroll wins these kind of games. Non-conference games in general, against prominent opposition in particular, versus Big Ten teams, in specific.

But the Trojans cut this one awfully close.

And it was mostly about the curious decision by Carroll and his coaches to commit to a 19-year-old freshman, Matt Barkley, at quarterback.

It almost cost them the game … and one defeat likely will cost the Trojans a chance to play for the national championship — which is the raison d’etre for USC football in the Carroll Era.

Barkley likely will be hailed as a hero, and the coaches as geniuses, and he showed moxie in the final drive … but the Trojans under Barkley appear so limited that it seems only a matter of time before he costs them a game.

Barkley led USC 86 yards in 14 plays, covering 6 minutes and 10 seconds, the touchdown coming on a 3-yard run by Stafon Johnson with 65 seconds to play, Saturday night in Columbus. USC actually went 95 yards, after a sack and a false start,

Barkley made a couple of nice, clutch throws, but the real heroes of the drive were Joe McKnight, who finally got the ball in space, and the offensive line, who gave Barkley time and McKnight room to run.

Despite the Trojans’ giddiness at the end, and fixation with the final drive, USC probably should keep a few things in mind:

–The Barkley-led offense generated 11 points. E-l-e-v-e-n. USC’s first touchdown came on a 2-yard,  four-play “drive” after an interception by linebacker Chris Galippo. Those points belong to the defense. Meanwhile, yes, Ohio State has a nice defense, but the Buckeyes jammed the box with eight players, daring the Trojans (and Barkley) to pass down the field, and they never did it with any success. Didn’t really try. And that is about who the Trojans had at quarterback, and how the coaching staff’s safety-first gameplan limited their ability to stretch the field and take advantage of their athletes on the edges.

Until Barkley has more experience than a few months in the program, a romp against San Jose State and one drive against Ohio State … everyone on the schedule will crowd the USC offense, dare Barkley to pass and wait for Barkley to make the kind of mistake he made with a second-quarter interception.

–At least as significant to the final score was the ineptitude of Ohio State’s own young quarterback, sophomore Terrelle Pryor. He was 11-for-25 for 177 yards,  that disastrous early interception and lots and lots of nervous-time mistakes. USC’s defense is good. Not as good as last year’s defense, though, and it will run up against opponents who will score more than 15 points. Perhaps as early as next week, at Washington.

USC, then, has put its 2009 season in the hands of a kid who was playing for Mater Dei High School last December. Which seemed crazy before they started playing games, and now looks like an invitation to disaster.

Why Carroll & Co. felt the need to jump Barkley over Aaron Corp in the quarterback pecking order isn’t clear. But it doesn’t follow with the recent history of the program (this one, or just about any other), which featured quarterbacks putting in two or three years waiting for their shot — and delivering once it arrived.  After years of learning the system and some time in mop-up situations.

Short term, expect to see rave reviews for Barkley, and fawning recollections of the decisive drive in an important game. But those will overlook the three quarters of USC’s offense struggling to get first downs, never mind touchdowns.

Maybe Aaron Corp or Mitch Mustain aren’t up to leading this team. We may never find out. What I’m fairly certain of, after tonight, is that it isn’t fair to run a freshman teenager out there to lead USC’s offense. It is too much to ask of him or anyone else with his credentials. It is too much pressure and too much responsibility in a program with such high expectations.

There is only one satisfactory season for a USC quarterback, and that is a national championship. The kid playing quarterback for USC tonight may be able to make that delivery, somewhere down the line. But not this season. I am convinced of it.