Football | September 23, 2018
*USC, back on the winning track after a comeback victory over Washington State, closes out September play by going on the road for the third time this month when it visits Arizona under the lights on ESPN2.
*The Trojans, who are playing one of the nation's toughest schedules, are seeking their first road victory of 2018.
*Troy has captured 80% of its games against the Wildcats (including the past 5 meetings), with just 2 losses since 2001, and the Wildcats have only beaten USC 4 times in Tucson. However, nearly half of the games in the USC-UA series have been decided by 8 points or less.
*It's USC's fourth night game of 2018.
*After not having a bye week last season, the Trojans get a week off following the Arizona contest.
*Clay Helton, who has won 71% of his games as USC head coach and never has lost at home, saw improvement from his Trojans last week in all phases of the game. True freshman QB JT Daniels, who graduated a year early from high school, had 3 TD throws against WSU, including a pair in the second half to help USC overcome a 13-point deficit. So far this year, Daniels has distributed the ball well (at least 6 different receivers have caught passes in each game). WRs Tyler Vaughns, Amon-Ra St. Brown (Daniels' prep teammate) and Michael Pittman Jr. each have double digit receptions in 2018. TBs Vavae Malepeai (2 TD runs last week) and Stephen Carr have sparked the run game. The defense, although it is still without an interception this season, is getting inspired play out of ILB Cameron Smith, USC's tackle leader the past 2 years (and again in 2018), and sack-happy OLB Porter Gustin, and other seniors like S Marvell Tell III and CB Iman Marshall. DL Jay Tufele came up big against WSU when he a blocked a potential game-tying field goal. PK Michael Brown showed no dropoff last game in replacing injured PK Chase McGrath, a year after Brown's own knee surgery.
*Arizona, under new head coach Kevin Sumlin, has captured its past 2 games (including at Oregon State in its Pac-12 opener last weekend) after starting off 2018 at 0-2. The Wildcat offense, which leads the Pac-12 in total and rushing offense (and is in the Top 20 nationally), is led by dynamic QB Khalil Tate. UA's top rushers are RBs J.J. Taylor, the 2017 Pac-12 Co-Offensive Freshman of the Year who tops the Pac-12 in rushing and all-purpose yards, and Gary Brightwell. A trio of seniors are the leading pass catchers: WRs Shun Brown, Shawn Poindexter and Tony Ellison. Arizona's defense is surrendering 411 yards per contest. Top tacklers are ILBs Colin Schooler, a 2017 Freshman All-American and the Pac-12 Defensive Freshman of the Year who leads the nation in tackles for loss and is averaging 11 tackles per outing, and Tony Fields II, along with S Isaiah Hayes.
