REPLY: Personally, I don't believe that USC is warranted in this situation. However, I'm sure I saw a hold right there at the point of attack.
In all seriousness, this situation does warrant advice to both teams: "The game is not over. Continue to protect yourselves and be very aware when the ball becomes dead." I would prefer that the offense
not tell me when they're taking a knee. If I see the offense line up in a formation where the tail back is about twenty yards back, I'll tighten up. But I will never tell the defense that he's taking a knee. If the QB tells me he's taking a knee, I tell him to do it immediately.