UPDATE: Clay Helton is back!

Here is our full @latimes story on USC’s decision to stick with the status quo and bring back Clay Helton: https://t.co/TE7ZjZ3eEE https://t.co/JDGUAKfusI — Ryan Kartje (@Ryan_Kartje) December 4, 2019

The official announcement from athletic director Mike Bohn.

I am pleased to let you know Coach Helton will continue to be our head coach.



His commitment to our student-athletes and to leading with integrity is vital to restoring our championship program, which is the goal for all of our teams. — Mike Bohn (@USC_mikebohn) December 4, 2019

Original post below:

The Pac-12 coaching carousel always provides unique surprises. Somehow, Clay Helton appears to be set to outlast Chris Petersen. Football Scoop had the initial story. Bruce Feldman appears to have confirmed it as well.

Sources inside #USC are optimistic that head coach Clay Helton will get retained I'm told. — Bruce Feldman (@BruceFeldmanCFB) December 4, 2019

Joel Klatt of Fox Sports expects coaching changes to happen, but on the USC assistant staff. Keep an eye out for that.

Expect USC to keep Clay Helton and announce some staff changes very soon — Joel Klatt (@joelklatt) December 4, 2019

It appears Helton beat off the hot seat rumors. Beating up Cal and UCLA also probably helped. Everyone chipped in!

Helton putting USC in position to win the Pac-12 South right until the final weekend of the regular season likely helped save his job. USC figures to be ready to contend for another Pac-12 title next year, as the offense seemed to be humming extremely well by end-of-year.

The focus probably turns to retaining offensive coordinator Graham Harrell, who seemed to finally have things clicking by end of year. Harrell is being circulated in connection with the vacancy at Texas.