USC Trojans (1-1, 0-1) at Washington State Cougars (1-1, 0-0)
Martin Stadium in Pullman, Washington, at 12:30 p.m. PT will air nationally on FOX and streaming on the FOX Sports app at 12:30 pm PT. Check your local listings for channel information. If you are unable to get the game on TV or Cable you can stream the game for free by clicking on this link: Watch the Game
Here is a new feature: You can click on the following link and be able to get updated official game stats: GAME STATS
Joe Davis (play-by-play announcer) and Brock Huard (color commentator) will call the game.
THEMES
*USC visits the Palouse for the first time since 2017 when it plays its 2021 road opener against
Washington State on FOX this Saturday afternoon. *Offensively, it will be a battle of versions of the Air Raid (USC) versus Run-n-Shoot (WSU).
*WSU only has beaten USC 10 times in 74 overall tries (and its past 3 wins came on late field goals).
The Trojans have lost just 4 times in Pullman.
*USC, coming off a loss to Stanford, previously has lost its Pac-12 opener 40% of the time in the past
20 seasons, but historically has rebounded well, including winning 3 Rose Bowls and a national title and
averaging 9 victories in those seasons.
*Several USC coaches once coached at WSU, and several Cougar assistants once were at USC
*USC leads its series with Washington State, which dates back to 1921, 60-10-4 (not including 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 61-10-4). The Trojans have won 37 of the last 43 meetings (and
43 of the past 50). *Playing against the Cougars in the state of Washington (Pullman, Spokane and Seattle), USC is 19- 4-2, with the losses (1930, 1986, 2002 and 2017) and ties (1937 and 1950) coming in Pullman. In Pullman
games, USC is 15-4-2, with wins in 11 of its last 13 trips there. However, the Trojans lost 30-27 in 2017 in the
most recent Pullman meeting when Cougar PK Erik Powell hit a 32-yard field goal with 1:40 to play
Cougar to Watch: Sophomore QB Jayden de Laura
De Laura burst on to the Pac-12 scene last season with two impressive games against Oregon and Oregon State, but then plummeted back to earth at the Coliseum with a 134-yard, two-interception performance against the Trojans. But, he is coming off an outstanding effort last Saturday, albeit against Portland State, and looks ready to show USC what he can really do.
Pack a Poncho and a Run Game
The game time weather is expected to be wet and wild with a 90% chance of rain, so while this matchup pits the Air Raid against the Run-And-Shoot, two historically pass-heavy offenses, the ground game may win the day. USC is averaging 5.15 yards per carry through two games which is a huge improvement over 3.17 yards per carry last season. Vavae Malepeai (5.48 ypc) and Keaontay Ingram (5.20 ypc) have both been solid, so expect OC Graham Harrell to ride his horses through the slick conditions.
Turn the Heat Up
Through two games, USC has zero sacks. That’s a surprising stat given the talent the Trojans have upfront. Last season, USC was one of the best teams in the nation at getting pressure without having to blitz, but DC Todd Orlando may need to do something to spark this pass rush. The Trojans sacked de Laura four times in the 2020 meeting, which tied USC’s season high. They cannot afford to let this Wazzu offense get comfortable because the receivers and backs are legitimate playmakers if they do.
Interim Coach Bump
In all sports, hitting the reset button in the middle of the season usually leads to the team rallying together around the interim head coach and that’s what the Trojans need to do. Donte Williams is the perfect man for the job because he brings a different type of energy than Clay Helton, and he is known for his ability to connect with his players. In poor weather conditions and on the road for the first time, the Trojans will be forced to band together and fight off the elements if they want to get this season back on track.
Information provided by the USC Athletic Department in their Game Day Notes.
Wow, San Diego St is manhandling Utah 24-10 with 6 minutes left, after beating Arizona soundly last week. They would be 2-0 in the PAC south. What happened to Utah. They lost to BYU last week
Final Score
Washington 52
Arkansas St 3
Huskies cover the points.
Wow. I promised myself that I would not come back to USC football until Clay Helton was gone. I could no longer say anything positive about the program. What a massive difference one guy (or lack there of) can make!
This win was awesome! I haven’t had so much fun watching a USC game in over half a decade. I love how Donte Williams was yelling at his players and inspiring them. He even made them all get up and pay attention on that final defensive drive. The whole team got to see that last interception. Great stuff! 😃
Yes, indeedy. Wins like this don’t come along often. Pure treasure.
USC Radio post game mentioning game changing moments …..Just talked about that goal line stand .
That WAS huge. It came out of nowhere. But it was the beginning of the change in USC football that we all witnessed today.
I also thought it was a really bad call by WSU. Too much bravado. Not enough common sense. And the Cougs paid big in the end, though they may have paid huge anyway with the way Jaxson Dart and his array of receivers took the game over.
I thought the WSU coach made a mistake on that play. No reason to give SC a chance for momentum. I thought it was the turning point of the first half.
You could not write a better script to the day. Even the early 14-0 hole made what came after, that much sweeter. Momentum is a wonderful thing if you can build on it.
LawyerJohn wins big today!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Way to go you are in the black!
Didn’t LJ rescind his bet? That’s what I read.
No he did not cancel his bet, he wanted to but it was past the deadline. So he won big.
YES!
I don’t see it. I hope he didn’t. What’s the official call John?
LJ was a winner! It was past the deadline so his bet stood! Good for him!
Great come back win, shows a lot of character by the players and adjustments by the coaches. Who would have thought SC wins big and Alabama doesn’t cover. Now the horror, I have to hope UCLA wins and covers. John, your contest is a killer. I love it!
nice win for you at 10K
Rooting for ucla is a tough way to win a buck! 

I can’t root for the ruins for any reason, that is why I did not partake in these festivities.
just kidding, I have learned I am horrible at betting games so I save myself the agony.
Totally understand.
I’ll bet against them every week no matter what. I will never put myself in a situation where I am pulling for them. A bRuin beat down is almost as fun as a Trojan win.
Final Score
Alabama 31
Florida 29
Bama does not cover!
Donte also pulls in Ephesians Prysock commitment today. Good day for Donte a d the Trojans. Fight on!!!
6-3, 170 lb 4-star 2022 CB from Mission Hills Bishop Alemany
Allen,
this is a pretty solid day for him. Wow.
I’ve seen a lot of good things happen. The sidelines looked like football team for the first time in a long time time. The head coach coaching players after a mistake. Players taking responsibility for mistakes. First touchdown in the third quarter in forever. First sack, second sack whole bunch of sacks.
the thing I didn’t like was Slovis brooding on the sidelines. I know he was hurt, but no emotion while his backup was saving the game.
I don’t think he was brooding. He is a pretty calm guy. He doesn’t show much emotion . If I am wrong and he was brooding, that attitude won’t fly with Dontae. Guys that don’t buy into Dontae’s way will soon find themselves way down the depth chart.
I must admit, Slovis looked a little worried and blank to me. I don’t blame him. It must have been concerning for him to see a talented true frosh take over despite injuring his own knee/leg. Slovis did it to Daniels. He knows he could be next.
I agree, I thought he was brooding as well. He still has not recovered mentally. Until he does he will not be as good as his freshman year.
Thank you coaches and players .,….FIGHT ON !!!!!
The only thing that could make this day sweeter, is if Fresno St can upset the Bruins. Wow! 45 unanswered points. Can’t remember the last time that happened
I think the 1974 Notre Dame thriller 55-24 was the last time when we spotted a team a comfortable team and then ran the table for the rest of the game.
Well well well. Our first blowout in a long time comes in the first game without Clay. A tale of two games. When we started rolling, I stayed off here because whatever “jinxing” I can do was going in the right direction! I like what I saw from Dart for sure. He had some pretty god pass protection, so I am not doing cartwheels for our tougher games ahead — but I like what I saw! London was a beast, too.
Turn out the lights! What a difference one week makes!
I just don’t think this team in the 2nd half would lose many games no matter who they played. I hope this is a turning point for them.
They would not have lost to Stanford
Love that shot of him yelling to players to get off their butts .
Bama got a first down and should be able to run out the clock. about a minute left.
Go Tulsa!! Ohio St losing people money also.
Donte’s inferno!
LA Times will steal your headline for sure! Ha!
Good for Donte! Good for USC! Great to see the USC players having so much fun on the sidelines.
This really has the shades of Darnold taking over for Browne and never looking back. I know it’s just one game, and WSU is not a true measure, but Dart fits this offense better with the poor line play. Kind of like Slovis first year. I like the way he seems to have enough time to see his progressions and get every receiver involved. Especially with zero threat of run. Hope they don’t screw him up
Some QBs just have “IT”. It’s awful early, but I think Dart just may be one of those guys.
A great reason for someone to want to coach at USC: Jaxson Dart.
Unfortunately for Slovis, he has been “Wally Pipped” by Jaxon Dart. Like JT Daniels was done to by Kedon Slovis. CFB is fun, but more brutal than HS ball, obviously.
The safety from Texas looks great.
So the starter at QB may just very well be on the field right now. I really like Slovis but #2 is putting on a clinic.
Bama/ Gator game is going to be an exciting finish.
Bama 31 Gators 29 – 3 minutes left.
I just switched to it, the USC game is in the refrigerator.
Good to see the players having fun. Now they need to remember how they got here.
And now Kyle Ford joins the party !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Local Los Angeles Media gonna really want to find out what went on in that locker room at halftime I’m thinking .
Is Slovis slower that Dart in getting the ball out? Leaving himself even less time to respond to the rush? Slowvis?
I don’t think so, but he has a little more velocity.
That has been the change in Slovis from his great freshman season. He is thinking too much and it is slowing him down. Game day is for playing instinctively with what you practiced during the week….
WSU has to be thinking, “WTF just happened?”
LOL
To borrow a line from the Monkeys, I’m a believer.
Running backs hesitate and dance too much. Just wish they would run straight ahead and try and break a tackle or two
problem with going straight ahead there has to be a hole.
I know, I know, I just miss the big bruisers like Buck Allen and others who would just run over people without a hole
Their usual experience is dodging opposing team’s players in the backfield. Our RB’s have to dance!
Maybe we should make sure they are enrolled in a dance class.
or get someone to coach-up our O-line….
Ha! A few Ballet and dance classes can’t hurt
We don;t have the speed to run to the sidelines, it has to be off the tackle
Bama up by 8 over FLA, 9:14 left on game
You can see Donte talking and actively coaching the players on the sideline. Addressing mistakes immediately. This is a good start.
Wouldn’t mind seeing moss in the rest of the way.
Agree, now is the time to get Moss some reps up 24 with 8 minutes left.
Agree Utah. The game is in the bag and we all see what Dart can do. Donte and Harrell are going to have a hard decision to make in the near future. Hopefully this motivates Slovis in a positive manor and helps him grow as a QB.
Those that think we were all Helton critics for no reason, only have to look at this half and see that all we expect is this kind of energy and consistency on both sides of the ball, every game. We know we aren’t going to win them all, but just play hard, be accountable, and strive to improve every week
Hey D there is a sound bite Lawrence Taylor is Miked up saying in a you tube video >>>>”Ok D Lets Go Out There and Play Like a Bunch of Crazed Dogs “.
Alabama is going to lose a lot of people a lot of money, or in our case units today
I like to see that reaction from my QB’s .
Being a true frosh even better.
Where there fans base in this Pac-12 that when they heard SC Fired Clay that had an immediate response of saying something like ………Dang SC might be tougher to beat now ?
Trojans came out the 2nd with the will to win. Would love to know what Donte said at the half.
I would too.
Donte brings more juice than Clay was ever capable of.
Now give Criston a shot on a sweep.
I suspect we will run the ball along with some short passes to burn the clock.
Agree, time to get him in the game to see what he can do
I heard he has not been at practice for two weeks.
Bummer. Is he sick or what do you know?
He’s a track guy who’s trying to play football. JMHO.
Donte needs a raise.
Now the discussion has to be, if Slovis is healthy next game, who starts?
Could be a defining moment for Donte.
Brutal decision. Slovis will get the nod, but we know we have a potential superstar in Dart. Ya, baby. Nice issue to have.
What an amazing game!
Shorter leash?
Dart just looks to me like he BELONGS. He knows he fits the role. That just seems to emanate from him, like with Darnold in my mind.
Slovis will get the nod but the hook will be quicker. We also need to remember we are beating up the Cougars who lost their starting QB
De Lauro is not the same player….
They both play, but Dart starts. He has earned it. Also time to light a fire under Slovis–get him out of his head to get him back to his freshman confidence
This got posted wrong place–should be a response to San Diego Trojan
I think the weakness of the O-line is in his head.
4 score 3rd quarter, never happened under the Cat
28 points in the 3rd. Totally different team.
Touchdown! This is really a tale of two halves! Nice to see a USC team that doesn’t deteriorate in the second half against a team with inferior talent. FTFO!
Dart has some vintage Sam Darnold in him
I was thinking the same thing. Need to get his knee healed up.
Here in NY Metro area know a fair amount of Jets fans borderline PRAYING that Sam does not do well with the Carolina Panthers ………………………Wonder why ?????
Time to get London out.
Agree, he took another shot to the head. He’s headed to concussion protocol if not careful. 21 point lead, let another receiver get reps
We have a genuine All American in London
This reminds me of the famous USC comeback against ND, 55-24. I’m exaggerating, of course, but I’m finally having fun watching USC football after a long drought.
THATS WHAT THIS FEELING IS as I watch this game ………………..FUN ! (I was experiencing something I was not used to )
We have not seen an SC team play with this much emotion and passion in a long time. Coming back from 14 down makes it even sweeter.