Football | October 14, 2018
*USC journeys to Utah for another vital Pac-12 South Division battle, under the lights on Pac-12 Network.
*Although USC holds a decided edge in its series with Utah, the Trojans have lost their last 2 games in Salt Lake City, both on last-second TD passes.
*It is USC's sixth night game in 7 outings in 2018.
*It figures to be a hostile road environment for USC, as Utah has sold out its past 54 home games. But it is fitting that USC, which has produced more Olympians, medalists and gold medalists than any U.S. university, is playing in a stadium that hosted Olympic opening/closing ceremonies (Troy has played in 3 such stadiums).
*USC is on a 3-game winning streak after posting a key Pac-12 South home win over Colorado last week. Clay Helton has won 72% of his games as Troy's head coach, including going 15-1 against Pac-12 South foes. True freshman QB JT Daniels, who graduated a year early from high school, threw 3 touchdowns against the Buffaloes. WR Michael Pittman Jr., who came alive last week with a pair of TD grabs, is part of a quartet of talented Trojan wideouts, along with WRs Tyler Vaughns, frosh Amon-Ra St. Brown (Daniels' prep teammate) and Velus Jones Jr. (they have 85 receptions between them). But the Trojans will be looking to re-ignite their ground game, which has had some productive outings this season (including 2 games ago at Arizona) but was quieted against the Buffs. USC's defense put together its best showing of 2018 in shutting down a potent Colorado offense last week (16 tackles for loss) and hopes to continue playing like that, but it will have to do so without OLB Porter Gustin, among the national leaders in sacks and tackles for loss, who is done for the season with an ankle injury. Troy is hoping for the return of ILB Cameron Smith, its tackle leader the past 2 years (and again in 2018) who was sidelined last week with an injury. CB Ajene Harris put the Colorado game out of reach with his second half scoring interception return (the third of his career to tie a USC record).
*Utah, under head coach Kyle Whittingham (the dean of Pac-12 coaches), beat down Arizona last Friday at home. QB Tyler Huntley is a threat passing and running. RB Zack Moss, a 2,000-yard career rusher, and WR Britain Covey rank high in the nation in rushing and receptions, respectively. Utah's defense is especially staunch, as it is in the Top 20 nationally and Top 2 in the Pac-12 in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense, pass efficiency defense, red zone defense and first downs defense. Tackle leaders are LBs Chase Hansen, who is seventh nationally in tackles for loss, and Cody Barton. PK Matt Gay is a 2-time (2016-17) All-American who won the 2016 Ray Guy Award and P Mitch Wishnowsky is a 2017 All-American when he won the Lou Groza Award.
*Incidentally, 2018 is the 70th anniversary of USC's first regular season telecast, which occurred in 1948 against Utah in the Coliseum.
*USC and Utah both had Harvey Holmes serve as head coach at various times in the early 1900s.
*The USC women's swimming team will compete at Utah the day before the football team.
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