Of course, geographic sense only matters so much in college football when there’s millions to be made from broadcast rights. Fox had the third choice this week among the networks and chose the best available game. That’s why USC  and Michigan State will kick off at 8 p.m. Saturday. Which means, in East Lansing, Mich., the game should wrap somewhere around 2:30-3 a.m.

There were two such kickoffs in the Big Ten last season, and only one that included a team hopping three time zones to the west. USC won that 8 p.m. game against Rutgers in quarterback Jayden Maiava’s debut.

The Spartans arrived in L.A. on Thursday to give them plenty of time to acclimate. Jonathan Smith, who previously coached at Oregon State, understands what such a late kickoff requires. Still, you could understand why Michigan State might not be thrilled at the prospect of playing so late.

USC will have its own time-zone trouble to deal with next week, when it kicks off at 9 a.m. PDT in a road matchup with Illinois. This weekend, the bigger question for USC will be if the fans arrive well-rested — or at all.

“Both teams gotta deal with it,” coach Lincoln Riley said. “We gotta handle it well, our crowd needs to handle it well. At the end of the day, it’s a game, it’s being played, it’s being played in the Coliseum, and we expect to win and we expect to have a really good crowd behind us. We’re not going to make excuses about it.”

The Spartans will likely be missing multiple key players for Saturday due to injury, allowing the Trojans an opportunity to shore up any concerns ahead of next week’s big matchup against No. 9 Illinois  —  their first ranked team of the season.

Michigan State injuries: QUESTIONABLE: OL Luka Vincic (undisclosed), RB Makhi Frazier (undisclosed), DL Stone Chaney (undisclosed), CB Andrew Brinson (undisclosed), OL Charlton Luniewski (foot), CB Caleb Gash (undisclosed), K Tarik Ahmetbasic (undisclosed), G Ashton Lepo (undisclosed), LS Kaden Schickel (undisclosed), DL Jalen Satchell (undisclosed)

As big favorites, the Trojans will likely preserve their unbeaten record on the Coliseum home turf, while Illinois goes to Indiana in what should prove to be a bigger test for Bret Bielema’s crew. Trojan fans have been pointing to the matchup in Champaign for months now and USC needs to be mindful of overlooking the Spartans, who don’t have a quality win in their three victories so far.

USC has shown its potential to win on the road, unlike last season. Now it can show its ability to win after dark.

1) Trojans take to the air; Spartans tough against the run.

Few quarterbacks in college football have started the season at the breakneck pace that Jayden Maiava has managed through three weeks. Maiava is averaging more than 14 yards per attempt — the most of any quarterback in the nation by three full yards — while completing 68% of his passes, almost a 10% improvement from last season.

There’s no reason to think that trend won’t continue against Michigan State.

The Spartans rank 118th in the nation — and worst in the Big Ten — in pass defense, and that’s after playing teams like Youngstown State and Western Michigan. They’re allowing roughly 273 passing yards per game.

They haven’t seen anything yet like USC’s passing offense, and especially receiver Makai Lemon, who ranks behind only Ohio State’s Jeremiah Smith in receiving yards (315-311) this season in the Big Ten.

Michigan State has been stingy this season against the run, so it could be tough to find much of a rhythm on the ground. That means a potential big game for Maiava.

Michigan State’s linebacking group is one of the strongest parts of its defense. The Spartans’ 195 total tackles rank them fourth in the Big Ten and linebacker Jordan Hall is the team’s best tackler with 27 total tackles. Wayne Matthews III is right behind him with 24.

Good tackling is helping Michigan State contain running backs as the Spartans are giving up only 64.3 rushing yards per game.

2) Will USC’s pass rush keep rolling? Aidan Chiles could be a challenge.

Through three games, USC’s rejuvenated pass rush actually leads the nation in sacks with 14. Michigan State, meanwhile, has allowed the second-most sacks of any Big Ten team this season.

That formula could mean a long afternoon for Spartan quarterback Aidan Chiles (6-3, 225), who Riley said this week poses “the biggest challenge we’ve faced up to this point” at the position. The Long Beach native from Downey HS appears to be putting it all together as a passer, but it’s Chiles’ dual threat ability that could be especially dangerous against a front four that’s been aggressive early in the season..

He’s tied for the conference lead in rush attempts among quarterbacks at 10 per game.

“When you add in Chiles’ athleticism, that definitely adds an entirely new element,” Riley said. “So it’ll be a big focus point for us to be able to keep him in the pocket, to contain him in there.”

When under heavy pressure, Chiles has been much less effective. His completion percentage drops from 79% in a clean pocket to 48% in a pressured one.

3) Stud receiver status

Both teams could be without their most dynamic pass catcher on Saturday.

USC wideout Ja’Kobi Lane, last year’s Big Ten leader in touchdown receptions, is questionable after he sat out practice on Wednesday. Riley wouldn’t comment on whether he’d be available for the game.

Similarly, the status of Spartan receiver Nick Marsh was up in the air as of Friday. Marsh made the trip to L.A., in spite of dealing with a lower leg injury and he reportedly will play. Same with RB Makhi Frazier (lower body). Marsh is by far Michigan State’s most dynamic weapon on offense and his absence would be significant, if he’s unable to go.

4) Tanook Hines breakout game incoming?

With Lane hobbled, keep a close eye on freshman Tanook Hines (6-0, 195), who pulled down a stunning acrobatic catch last Saturday at Purdue.

Riley raved about the freshman earlier this week.

“He goes after the ball with a unique mindset for a freshman,” Riley said. “You talk about a guy who really attacks the ball. He’s played physical. He’s a really good blocker. He’s done a good job of picking up our system. … He’s an all-ball guy. There’s no fluff to this guy. He’s an edgy, tough competitor.”

Prediction: USC 42, Michigan State 17. The Trojans get one final tune-up before heading to Champaign for their first true test of the season.

latimes.com

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