Inside The Vikings

Sam Darnold returns to alma mater Southern Cal during bye week break

Darnold was back on campus for the first time in seven years to watch the Trojans play Penn State.
Nolan O'Hara|
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws the ball against the New York Jets in the first half at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Oct. 6, 2024.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold (14) throws the ball against the New York Jets in the first half at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on Oct. 6, 2024. | Kirby Lee-Imagn Images

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Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold is spending some time during the bye week in Los Angeles, returning to his alma mater Southern Cal for Saturday’s big game against fourth-ranked Penn State. 

Darnold played two seasons with the Trojans from 2016-17 and threw for 7,229 yards, 57 touchdowns and 22 interceptions while completing 64.9% of his passes across those two years there. Darnold led the country in passing with 4,143 yards seven years ago in 2017, and he said that he hasn’t been back to the Southern Cal campus in seven years. 

That changed Saturday. 

“It’s unbelievable, man,” Darnold on USC’s Countdown to Kickoff pregame show. “Just being able to step into this place and feel the energy. I know when gametime starts rolling around and there’s a ton of fans here it’s going to come back. It is special being back.” 

Darnold said he’s looking forward to just being able to soak it all in. His tenure with the Trojans led to him being selected with the No. 3 overall pick in the 2018 NFL draft by the New York Jets. Darnold never caught on with the Jets and became a journeyman before signing with the Vikings this offseason and establishing himself as a surefire starter this season. 

In his first five games with the Vikings, Darnold has thrown for 1,111 yards, 11 touchdowns and just four interceptions while completing 63.5% of his passes while leading the team to a perfect 5-0 start.

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Nolan O'Hara
NOLAN O'HARA

Nolan O'Hara covers all things Minnesota sports, primarily the Timberwolves, for Bring Me The News and Sports Illustrated's On SI network. He previously worked as a copy editor at the St. Paul Pioneer Press and is a graduate of the University of Minnesota's Hubbard School of Journalism. His work has appeared in the Pioneer Press, Ratchet & Wrench magazine, the Minnesota Daily and a number of local newspapers in Minnesota, among other publications.

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