Arizona Wildcats (0-7, 0-4) at USC Trojans (3-4, 2-4)
Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on ESPNU at 4 p.m. PT
*USC returns to Pac-12 competition when it welcomes South Division opponent Arizona to the Coliseum on Homecoming/Reunion Weekend. The game will be shown on ESPNU.
*Troy has captured more than 80% of its games against the Wildcats, with just 2 losses since 2001. The Trojans have won their past 8 meetings versus UA; another victory would equal Troy’s longest winning streak in the series. Arizona has only beaten USC 4 times in Los Angeles (and not since 2009). Nearly half of the games in the series have been decided by 8 points or less.
*USC, coming off a loss at intersectional rival Notre Dame in a contest that saw Troy pull within a touchdown in the fourth quarter, will be trying to snap a 3-game Coliseum losing skid.
*USC interim head coach Donte Williams once coached at Arizona, while several Wildcat assistants once were on Trojan staffs (including Pete Carroll’s son).
*The Trojans have one of the nation’s premier players in All-American nominee WR Drake London, the top candidate for the Biletnikoff Award (he appears on some Heisman Trophy listings, too). London’s 79 receptions and 1,002 receiving yards, both second best in the nation, are on pace to surpass Biletnikoff
winner Marqise Lee’s 2012 school records, while his catches are the most ever by an FBS player through 7 games.
*Also impressive on offense for USC has been hard-charging TB Keaontay Ingram, who ran for 138 yards at Notre Dame (his second 100-yard outing of the season). QB Kedon Slovis is a 68% career passer (above the USC record) who is in USC’s all-time Top 8 for completions and total offense. Kana’i Mauga (ILB) and Chase Williams (S) are Troy’s leading tacklers on a defense that has 8 interceptins. OLB Drake Jackson has 11.5 career sacks, including 5 this year. Aussie P Ben Griffiths is averaging 46.0-plus yards per punt for the second consecutive season.
*Arizona, under new head coach Jedd Fisch–has lost all 7 of its games this season, including a home to Washington this past week. That extended the Wildcats’ losing skid to 19 in a row (dating to mid-2019). Arizona’s offense is averaging just 2 TDs per outing. QB Will Plummer has re-assumed the starting job now that QBs Gunner Cruz and Jordan McCloud are sidelined with injuries. WR Stanley Berryhill III, who is eighth nationally in receptions, is on pace to equal UA’s season receptions record. RBs Drake Anderson, Michael Wiley and Jalen John handle the rushing attack. UA’s pass defense is ranked 13th in the nation. Top Wildcat tacklers are LBs Anthony Pandy and Treshaun Hayward along with S Jaxen Turner and LB-S Christian Young. P Kyle Ostendorp is sixth nationally in punting, while PK Lucas Havrisik has 33 career field goals.
Wildcat to Watch: RS Junior WR Stanley Berryhill III, Arizona has clearly struggled on offense this season, but Berryhill has been a legitimate bright spot. He ranks second in the Pac-12 in catches and third in yards per game. His numbers have tailed off a bit lately as the Wildcats quarterback situation devolved, but he put up big stats against BYU, San Diego State and Oregon, arguably the three best opponents Arizona has faced so far.
A Nice Glass of Keaontay: The Trojans have greatly improved on the ground this season, moving up from 3.17 yards per carry to 4.39. Keaontay Ingram has been the key difference maker, rushing for 5.68 yards per touch and picking up a first down on a third of his runs (top 10 in the country). However, the Trojans are still only 125th in the nation in rushing attempts (out of 130 teams). USC has often ditched the running game this season because they have been playing catch up, but the Trojans should remain patient on Saturday against the second worst rush defense in the Pac-12.
Rev Up the Rush: USC took a conservative approach defensively in South Bend, electing to bend without breaking, but it cost the Trojans any semblance of a pass rush. They finished with one sack on the night, giving them 11 for the season, which ranks second to last in the Pac-12. Expect USC to be much more aggressive on Saturday against an Arizona offense which is on its third quarterback. Drake Jackson and the Trojans took advantage of a similarly dysfunctional Colorado offense for 5 sacks in Boulder.
Happy Homecoming: It’s been a tough year at the Coliseum for the home fans, watching the Trojans lose three straight in blowout fashion. With a hearty group of alums expected for Homecoming, including nearly 1,000 band members, USC has a chance to put on a show against a struggling opponent. The Trojans must seize the day, get back to .500 on the season, and make a final push for bowl eligibility.
Credit: USC Athletic Department
When London suffered his horrendous injury, I felt gut-punched. (The slo-mo looked like he could have broken a fibula—or a dislocation—months of healing and rehab. So sad for this fine young man.). I realized at that moment, that the weekly performance of THE Drake was the only thing worth watching USC football in 2021 since the gutting of the Cat. I agree with others who have posted that is our last win of the season, barring a significant upset….😩
I was joking when I told some colleagues that I thought Williams saw Helton being rewarded for being mediocre, so he has pushed the mediocre level beyond limits to keep his position.
I cannot explain some of the stupid penalties I saw today. Penalties that erased excellent running efforts. Penalties that
almost gave away the game.
I’m with the people predicting we’ve seen the last win of the season, unless someone gets hold of him and tells him his fired mentor is not one to emulate.
Pretty sure we just got our last win of the season. It’s pretty pathetic that we barely hang on vs. a team that has lost 20 straight.
We score 35 in the first half, 6 in the second.
I can’t wait for this miserable season to finally end./
Dart did not impress me tonight, he looked like a freshman. Slovis looked like Slovis, completing 71% with one pick. Dart completed 70%, no picks. Both had 2 TD’s. Slovis remains the starter, but it is good to get Dart the pt.
Looks like I am glad I missed this game.
People talk about our talent not being there, and that’s true at some positions, and certainly depth, but you can’t tell me that teams like Baylor and Michigan St, which both are coming off losing seasons, have more talent, and that all of the other teams across the nation who can’t even break the top 30-40 in recruiting ratings, yet have better records and performances, have more talent. It is all coaching and culture. The only comfort I have is that when you see how quickly coaches like Mel Tucker and Dave Aranda can turn a program around, as well… Read more »
I’m people, it’s me.
Me too.
USC has some talent but is critically lacking in the speed department.
It is to be seen whether the 3-star laden linemen Helton recruited can become physically punishing like MSU and for that matter, PSU, Georgia & Alabama linemen in the matter of a short transition period. Of course it takes know how position coaches to push & teach how to execute. This is why whoever Bohn hires, he needs to be a HC that can bring in the position coaches that can create such linemen.
We need defense!!!! Can’t remember 3 and out this year!!
How much for a Defensive coach that can teach tackling????? We can pay right???
Another week gone in this miserable season.
7 point victory over a 0-7 team?? Hope we never play San Diego State…..
Wow, we cannot even due the victory formation from under center.
My wife recorded the game for me, but forgot to add on the 30-minute extension time. Thanks to the massive number of infractions called on these two inept teams, I missed what happened during the last 5:00 minutes of the game clock. John, can you explain what happened to our victory formation? Did Neilon, our center, pull a Toa out of his butt and sent the snap over the QB’s head? Or were you lamenting the fact that our OC, the Geeeeenious Graham “Crackers” Harrell, still cannot coach this 80-year-old basic of forward-pass-era football? Either view is just as damning… Read more »
@ATL D.D.S. Lamenting the fact we couldn’t take a snap from under center, even knowing the opponent D-Line was not going to rush our O-Line. I was thinking that we are only a leading by 7 and the higher risk long snap is errant and we lose the game.
I see us finishing 4-8 ……………. Night all .
I’m convinced it’s more than culture a d coaching, this team lacks talent. We have some guys that can really play, but certainly not across the board. I do not have high hopes for next year even if Saban were here, I don’t think we have enough talent to win consistently.
if Mike Bohn hires a HC that can bring in position coaches that know how to develop big physical linemen, teach them discipline and detail, and started recruiting the right athletes, this program could become formidable in two years. This program already has good enough skill players. Same with the defense.The only way Donte Williams can help this program when the new HC comes, is being just the director of recruiting.
Anyone else notice Donte has two assistants to tell him what is going on.
Just like the inscription on the Statue of Liberty, there should be a plaque at the Coli that reads” Bring your poor, your tired, your huddled masses “ to the Coli this year, and we will inflate your pathetic numbers on offense and defense, and you can drive another stake into the heart of what used to be a home field advantage. I have never seen so much ineptitude by a Trojan team, at home, ever. Even the worse teams of past years didn’t lack this kind of effort this consistently.
If Plummer was this good all game USC would be behind. Fortunately the stupid coach from AZ wants to change QB’s through the game which helped the USC defense.
You mean no flag on Ingram’s run? That poor guy would be over 200 yards already
AZ has not scored more than 19 before TO’s D.
Maybe he will resign in shame
Boy ain’t it gonna be fun …….Losing to Cal !!!!!
Well, got this one wrong. SC may win but it will not cover.
Which unit has played better this season; the offense or the defense?
Equally putrid.
I give a slight edge to the defense mostly because I expected them to be the better unit at the start of the season.
Stats say offense, my heart says neither
3rd and 5 for a first down, and the ball is just casually thrown up for grabs down field? If you are telling me that was the only option that Dart felt he had, then that’s his inexperience and/or horrible communication and play calling from Harrell. If Arizona comes back to win this, then every other humiliation we’ve seen this season pales in comparison. Just the fact that it is this close is so embarrassing.
Question, is Donte really coaching or is it still Clay? This looks suspiciously like the last 50 or so games.
The same amount of stupid penalties and mistakes. No drive to win. Helton could be running this game for sure.
This game feels like a preseason game; you want to win but ultimately it doesn’t matter.
Almost up to 200 yards in combined penalties in this game …..SMH .
Keontay would easily be over 200 yards, but he has stupid teammates.
71 makes a worthless illegal block and stays in the game.
My Gut looks at this and gets an 4-8 season feel ………………….
untouched
Uh SC Defense ..Can you stop them just a little bit ? …………….PLEASE ?
USC should win this but will they be able to cover the 21.5 point spread?
Arizona will make this interesting, I guarantee it.
USC defense will make sure of that
Half Time Score
Ohio St 17
Penn St 10
We have three running backs playing really hard and being very productive tonight, which is a great sign, but does anyone really think our defense is capable of stopping any one of the better teams left on our schedule? Look how much better they are making pathetic Arizona look.
My thought tonight was the offense sure looks better than the defense, which looks not so good.
Down goes London. Down goes London.
Ooohh…that hurts!
Keontay has had two huge runs called back tonight
Typical USC.
He should have about 75 more yards than he does, plus a score.
117yds at the end of the 3rd
These peaks and valleys by Slovis drive me nuts !
So they send Slovis back in.
Slovis telegraphed that pass. Bet Dart comes in next.
Slovis with the stare down pick 6.
One thing is obvious, Slovis does not like watching from the sideline. He came back in with a spot on drive for the td. Dart looks good but anxious still. Perhaps he will look calmer in the 2nd half.
I didn’t see the Drake London injury. Did it look brutal, like he’s out for the year?
He was my only hope against UCLA.
It was his ankle, guy rolled over it.
Too bad. Sounds very serious.
“London had an air cast around his leg, which was hurt while he was tackled in the end zone after catching a 6-yard pass from Jaxson Dart late in the first half. London briefly hid his face in his jersey while being carted to the locker room, but he threw up USC’s signature V to the cheering fans.”
Anyone else besides me going to buy one of those ID police things?
The what?
I bought something just like it on Amazon, for a cheaper price and there we no shipping charges. I use this all the time!
Off-football subject : >>>> A tip-of-the-hat to Dr. Arthur Charles Bartner Director of the USC Band. You where THE BEST ……FIGHT ON !!!!!
Well……………………..Nice 1st half (but that injury to Drake is a MAJOR bummer )…..but …..But we ARE playing a WINLESS team !
Half Time Score
Cal 17
Oregon St 10
Half Time score
Auburn 28
Ole Miss 17
Slovis and the offense executed that drive to perfection.
Gorgeous pass by Slovis there !
Can you imagine how good Ingram would be if the Oline was just a little better.