Saturday, November 3
Corvallis, Ore.
7:00 PM
USC
at
Oregon State
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
CB
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
S
/ Football
CB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
DL
/ Football
QB
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
S
/ Football
WR
/ Football
TB
/ Football
Photo by: John McGillen
USC Goes to Oregon State to Start November Games
October 28, 2018 | Football, Features
*USC--looking to bounce back from its second 2-game losing skid of 2018--begins November play by going to resurgent Oregon State for the Trojans' first game in Corvallis since 2013. The game will air on FS1.Â
*Although USC has won more than 80% of its games versus Oregon State, 4 of the Trojans' 5 losses in Corvallis have come since 2000.
*It is USC's seventh night contest of 2018.
*Head coach Clay Helton's Trojans had their 19-game Coliseum win streak snapped in last week's close loss to Arizona State. USC needs to resolve some uncertainties at several key starting spots: at quarterback (No. 3 QB Jack Sears filled in admirably last week for a concussed QB JT Daniels), inside linebacker (ILB Cameron Smith has missed most of the last 3 games with a hamstring strain) and both safeties (SS Talanoa Hufanga broke his collarbone late in the ASU contest, becoming the third starter at the position to be lost for the season, and FS Marvell Tell III sat out last game with a stinger). USC's wideouts have showed well of late, particularly WRs Michael Pittman Jr., who has had 5 TD grabs in the past 3 games, and Tyler Vaughns, who against ASU became the first Trojan in at least 47 years to have a TD catch, TD pass and punt return TD in a game. USC's running game perked up last week, led by TB Aca'Cedric Ware, a 1,000-yard career rusher. The Trojans' defense--featuring the likes of CB Iman Marshall, DL Christian Rector (who is filling in at outside linebacker now that OLB Porter Gustin is sidelined), CB Ajene Harris (who started last week at free safety for Tell) and ILB John Houston Jr.--will look to get back to its stingy ways this week after surrendering nearly 1,000 total yards the past 2 games.
*Oregon State, under new head coach (and ex-Beaver quarterback) Jonathan Smith, had struggled in 2018 before posting an overtime upset win at Colorado last Saturday to break not only a 5-game losing streak but a 22-game road losing skid. True freshman RB Jermar Jefferson is having a stellar year, leading the Pac-12 in rushing (he has 5 100-yard rushing efforts in 2018, including a pair of 200-yarders). He is ranked in the national Top 20 in rushing, rushing TDs, scoring and all-purpose running. QB Conor Blount has been the primary starting signalcaller with WRs Timmy Hernandez, Trevon Bradford and Isaiah Hodgins the featured targets. S Jalen Moore and ILB Shemar Smith are the top tacklers on a Beaver defense that sits in the nation's Bottom 6 in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense.
*USC's women's volleyball team will play at Oregon State the day after the football game.
Click Here for Full Game Notes (PDF)
Â
*Although USC has won more than 80% of its games versus Oregon State, 4 of the Trojans' 5 losses in Corvallis have come since 2000.
*It is USC's seventh night contest of 2018.
*Head coach Clay Helton's Trojans had their 19-game Coliseum win streak snapped in last week's close loss to Arizona State. USC needs to resolve some uncertainties at several key starting spots: at quarterback (No. 3 QB Jack Sears filled in admirably last week for a concussed QB JT Daniels), inside linebacker (ILB Cameron Smith has missed most of the last 3 games with a hamstring strain) and both safeties (SS Talanoa Hufanga broke his collarbone late in the ASU contest, becoming the third starter at the position to be lost for the season, and FS Marvell Tell III sat out last game with a stinger). USC's wideouts have showed well of late, particularly WRs Michael Pittman Jr., who has had 5 TD grabs in the past 3 games, and Tyler Vaughns, who against ASU became the first Trojan in at least 47 years to have a TD catch, TD pass and punt return TD in a game. USC's running game perked up last week, led by TB Aca'Cedric Ware, a 1,000-yard career rusher. The Trojans' defense--featuring the likes of CB Iman Marshall, DL Christian Rector (who is filling in at outside linebacker now that OLB Porter Gustin is sidelined), CB Ajene Harris (who started last week at free safety for Tell) and ILB John Houston Jr.--will look to get back to its stingy ways this week after surrendering nearly 1,000 total yards the past 2 games.
*Oregon State, under new head coach (and ex-Beaver quarterback) Jonathan Smith, had struggled in 2018 before posting an overtime upset win at Colorado last Saturday to break not only a 5-game losing streak but a 22-game road losing skid. True freshman RB Jermar Jefferson is having a stellar year, leading the Pac-12 in rushing (he has 5 100-yard rushing efforts in 2018, including a pair of 200-yarders). He is ranked in the national Top 20 in rushing, rushing TDs, scoring and all-purpose running. QB Conor Blount has been the primary starting signalcaller with WRs Timmy Hernandez, Trevon Bradford and Isaiah Hodgins the featured targets. S Jalen Moore and ILB Shemar Smith are the top tacklers on a Beaver defense that sits in the nation's Bottom 6 in total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and pass efficiency defense.
*USC's women's volleyball team will play at Oregon State the day after the football game.
Click Here for Full Game Notes (PDF)
Â
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