USC's Sam Darnold goes deep downfield, where De'Quan Hampton out-jumps his defender and makes the catch to put the Trojans up 20-14. (0:56)

PASADENA, Calif. -- There was no one open, the pocket was collapsing, and one of the nation’s best pass-rushers, UCLA defensive end Takkarist McKinley, was in hot pursuit. For most quarterbacks, it would have been an impressive accomplishment just to avoid a sack.

But on third-and-9, avoiding a sack doesn’t count for much. This is where USC freshman quarterback Sam Darnold is at his best.

He ducked out of one tackle and kept his eyes downfield, and as he was running toward the sideline, he threw across his body for a 12-yard completion to Deontay Burnett. In No. 13 USC’s 36-14 win over UCLA on Saturday, the first down wasn’t significant -- it came in the first quarter, and the Trojans didn’t score on the possession -- but the vanishing act further showcased Darnold’s ability to awe.

“That's what makes him special," UCLA coach Jim Mora said. "He can elude the rush, keep his eyes up and find receivers down the field. I've seen him on film and on TV, and I had a lot of respect for him coming into the game. In person, he's truly a special one.”

Regardless of whether USC gets to play for the Pac-12 title, what has happened in the two months since Darnold took over the starting job has been transformational for USC football. The Trojans, who have won seven straight, are fun, and it has been a long time since that was the case. Not since former coach Pete Carroll was on campus have the Trojans fielded a team that was appointment viewing. Darnold has that type of appeal.

In 2017, perhaps we'll get a Sam Darnold vs. Josh Rosen showdown in November. AP Photo/Mark J. Terrill

With coach Clay Helton, a genuinely good guy, as the face of the program, the Trojans have a likable quality to them that hasn’t existed for a long time, either.

This is a team whose do-it-all junior Adoree’ Jackson is celebrating one minute with a back-flip ...

That feeling when you knock off the No. 4 team in the country. #SidelineCam https://t.co/YCFD23ZtWw — College GameDay (@CollegeGameDay) November 13, 2016

... and wishing the best for an injured opponent the next.

Prayers out to @azeem_vic36 . Praying for a speedy recovery. God got you fam 🙏🏾 — Adoree' Jackson (@AdoreeKnows) November 13, 2016

There will always be college football fans who root against USC for the sport of it, but this group is making it harder to do so.

Hours before USC took the field Saturday, Darnold was huddled around a laptop at the team hotel with teammates Cam Smith and Matt Lopes, watching an online stream of the Utah-Oregon game. The Trojans needed a loss from either Utah or Colorado to remain in contention in the Pac-12 South, so there was some nervous energy in the room as the Ducks, trailing 28-24, drove deep into Utah territory with under a minute to play.

The Trojans were disappointed when Oregon receiver Darren Carrington II was ruled out of bounds on a catch in the end zone with two seconds left, and they were only slightly relieved when the officiating crew decided to take another look. Then they heard the screams. Their feed of the game was delayed, and there were other teammates watching in nearby rooms.

“Everyone started freaking out before we could even see the touchdown call,” Darnold said. “So we kind of knew right then it was a touchdown. They reversed the call.”

USC’s title hopes were still alive.

“It’s always good to be a part of the college football experience, and it’s really cool how the system works now with the playoff system and the conference championship,” Darnold said. “It’s always fun, and it gives us a little something extra to play for.”

Later that night, in his first game against UCLA, the Orange County native completed 25 of 36 passes for 267 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions. Both picks came in the first half and are plays he would want back, but his freewheeling style has been much more boom than bust. Consider this: USC's 326 yards of offense in the first half were the most UCLA has given up in a half since 2014, a span of 32 games.

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It has been a while since the Folsom faithful have enjoyed a good field-storming. Colorado savored its win over Washington State and the Buffaloes were rewarded with a promotion to the top spot.

Darnold's coaches know that for all the plays he leaves them slack-jawed, there will be a couple after which they have to question, ‘What were you thinking?’ They're good with that.

Quarterbacks coach Tyson Helton likened Darnold's style to Brett Favre. Offensive coordinator Tee Martin was more creative.

“Like in the jungle, certain animals are born certain animals, and you can’t change it,” Martin said. “I like that about him, I really do. He’s going to push the envelope. He’s going to push the defense and see how much he can get.

“Like a kid, he’s going to play around that stove until he gets burned. He’ll kind of pull his hand back, but he’s that kid who is going to put his hand as close as he can again the next time. He’s young. He’s still a freshman. He’s still a freshman, and I like that part about our future.”

The Trojans host rival Notre Dame on Saturday, which won't affect their conference-title hopes, but it could make a difference in a possible Rose Bowl berth.

If Colorado beats Utah on Saturday, the Trojans will not play for the Pac-12 title. However, if Washington or Colorado win the conference and are included in the College Football Playoff, the Rose Bowl is obligated to select the next-highest-ranked team from the Pac-12. That could be USC. If the Trojans lose to Notre Dame, they will likely be out of the equation for that theoretical Rose Bowl spot.