LOS ANGELES – The question whether USC is one of the nation’s better teams remains open for debate 10 games into the season, which means the Trojans are not, especially based on Saturday night.

Good teams put games away when they have the chance. USC had many chances to put Arizona away at the Coliseum. Instead, the Trojans did their usual two-steps-forward, one-step backward routine to give the Wildcats every opportunity to make it a suspenseful contest.

“I think that we like close games,” USC wide receiver Michael Pittman said. “We like to make it a thriller. I don’t know why it happens but it does.”

It doesn’t matter that USC defeated Arizona, 49-35. The Trojans are simply not a team to be feared and never were this season. USC committed 14 penalties Saturday night for 123 yards. To do that in Game 10 is a sign of a poorly coached team.

So is messing around in a nail-biter with Arizona. USC (8-2, 6-1) is going to win the Pac-12 South but it never inspired confidence with its fan base, which largely did not show up at the Coliseum for Homecoming despite an announced crowd of 70,225.

Why would they? USC’s played perhaps one complete game all season despite its array of stars and the continued insistence by Coach Clay Helton that players are improving.

Despite numerous opportunities to put Arizona away, the game was tied, 35-35, with 8:23 remaining. But quarterback Sam Darnold and tailback Ronald Jones delivered in the clutch to rescue the Trojans and Helton again.

Overwhelming talent prevailed against the team picked to finish last in the Pac-12 South. USC blew a 22-point lead (28-6) but won anyway.

“When you’re up like that, the natural thing to do is feel relaxed,” tight end Daniel Imatorbhebhe said. “You don’t want to be the team that blows the lead.”

How did the Trojans hurt themselves most? The head-scratching moment of the night was why USC decided to throw a pass on second-and-goal at the 1-yard line? Darnold rolled out and underthrew a pass that was easily intercepted.

“That’s one of the worst mistakes of my football career,” Darnold said.

Prior to that play, the running game worked masterfully. So why USC is even in a shotgun and then passing a yard from the goal line are natural questions. Not that it matters against Arizona. But what about when USC plays a good team?

And if you foolishly think the Pac-12 can compare to the SEC, ask yourself this question: Would USC go for it on fourth down at its own 42 against LSU? The Tigers’ record and ranking were about the same as Arizona entering Saturday’s games.

Safe to say Helton would not want to even test LSU’s defensive line in that situation. But this is life in the Pac-12 South.

For USC to be an elite team, it needs discipline. The Trojans had two sideline warnings in the first 22 minutes of the game. In the second half, cornerbacks Jack Jones and Ajene Harris got an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty on the same play.

Jones followed up by running offsides on the next play. His punishment for two straight penalties was to come off the field . . . for one play.

Perhaps it is fitting former All-American safety Troy Polamalu was at Saturday night’s game. Polamalu is so humble he declined an invitation to lead the Trojans out of the tunnel against Arizona because he wanted the focus to be on the team.

Troy Polamalu inducted into USC Athletics Hall of Fame pic.twitter.com/GHqChscrf6 — Jonathan Khamis (@JonathanKhamis) November 5, 2017

Then again, Helton got an unsportsmanlike-conduct penalty too so maybe the players are just following his lead.

“The refs don’t like us,” Pittman said. “I felt like there were a lot of false calls.”

At least the bowl situation is clearing up. USC looks headed to the Fiesta, Cotton or Alamo bowls depending on whether the Trojans can win the Pac-12 championship game. The Pac-12 champion does not go to the Rose Bowl this season because the game serves as a College Football Playoff semifinal contest.

All of those bowls are before New Year’s Day so the Trojans’ season appears as though it will end before Jan. 1. Did anyone expect that before the season?