Records: USC 3-1 (1-1 Big Ten), Minnesota 2-3 (0-2 Big Ten)

Line: USC by 8.5

Notable injuries

USC: OUT: TE Lake McRee (leg), DL Bear Alexander (redshirt); QUESTIONABLE: LB Eric Gentry (undisclosed), S Akili Arnold (undisclosed); PROBABLE: WR Makai Lemon (undisclosed)

Minnesota: QUESTIONABLE: TE Jameson Geers (undisclosed)

What’s at stake? Eh. There’s little obvious narrative that jumps out from USC vs. Minnesota, or massive weight that rests upon the outcome Saturday in Minneapolis, which makes this somewhat of a trap game on USC’s schedule. Arguably the Trojans’ biggest matchup of the season, Penn State, looms at home the following week; a loss to Minnesota would be fairly devastating to USC’s College Football Playoff hopes at this point in the season, already sitting with a loss to Michigan.

Speaking of Michigan, though, it’ll be interesting to see how USC attacks a Minnesota team that just played Michigan plenty gritty last week in a 27-24 loss that saw the Golden Gophers down 21-0 at one point. USC and Minnesota have established themselves as programs capable of responding to early deficits, which could present a new type of challenge for a dominant second-half Trojans team.

Who’s better? USC. Outside of that surge against Michigan, none of the results on Minnesota’s schedule has been remotely imposing: a 27-0 win over Mountain West program Nevada (which USC beat 66-14 in their 2023 opener), a season-opening 19-17 loss to a North Carolina program that had James Madison hang 70 on them a couple weeks back, and a 31-14 loss to Iowa.

USC defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn heaped praise this week on Minnesota senior quarterback Max Brosmer’s ability to “make every throw,” but Brosmer doesn’t exactly have a wealth of weapons at his disposal. Wide receiver Daniel Jackson, who has 326 yards through five games this season, is a name to watch, as is star running back Darius Taylor. Minnesota’s defense has been stout as well, ranking fifth in the FBS in yards per game, but hasn’t faced an offense as high-powered as USC’s.

Matchup to watch: USC’s Ja’Kobi Lane (left) and Duce Robinson vs. Minnesota’s cornerbacks. The Golden Gophers’ secondary has been lockdown through the early part of the season. Bucknell transfer standout Ethan Robinson has three pass deflections and two interceptions. Fellow cornerback Za’Quan Bryan has allowed only three catches on eight targets, according to Pro Football Focus.

Lane and Robinson seemed to grow into their lengthy frames, meanwhile, in real time last week, the sophomores making key second-half plays against Wisconsin. Lane, in particular, established himself last week as quarterback Miller Moss’s go-to downfield target. They’ll need to generate consistent separation Saturday to keep USC’s offense humming.

USC wins if: The Trojans buck a trend of slow offensive starts and hang at least a couple first-half touchdowns on Minnesota … they limit Taylor to less than 100 yards … they don’t turn the ball over more than once.

Prediction: USC 34, Minnesota 24. It’s easy to see USC taking an early lead and the Golden Gophers managing to hang around, but if USC and Moss execute well in the fourth quarter, this one shouldn’t feel truly in doubt.

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