Friday, September 21
Los Angeles, Calif.
7:30 PM
USC
vs
Washington State
Players Mentioned
QB
/ Football
OLB
/ Football
PK
/ Football
DL
/ Football
ILB
/ Football
WR
/ Football
Photo by: John McGillen
USC Football Hosts WSU In First Friday Home Game Since 1999
September 16, 2018 | Football, Features
*USC--looking to rebound from back-to-back early-season road losses--returns to the Coliseum to play its first Friday home game since 1999 when it
welcomes undefeated Washington State (with its aerial assault and stingy defense) live under the lights on ESPN.
*The Cougars are visiting the Coliseum, which is being renovated, for the first time in 5 years (when WSU posted a late upset).
*The Trojans have won their past 17 games in the Coliseum and also own a 12-game home winning streak over Pac-12 teams.
*WSU only has beaten USC 10 times in 72 overall tries (its past 3 wins came on late field goals).
*USC has played on a Friday just 9 times since 1990, but 3 of those were on the road last season, including a last-minute loss at Washington State.
*Because the game is on a school day, on-campus tailgating will not be allowed and parking will be restricted, but there are many alternatives available for fans (see USCTrojans.com/gameday).
*The Trojans are seeking more consistency in their overall performance, including finding a rhythm offensively (they scored just 3 points at Stanford and had minus 5 rushing yards at Texas) and clamping down on defense. The true freshman duo of QB JT Daniels and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, ex high school teammates, have risen above their youth so far, but Troy's offense aims for a more balanced attack and more consistency on third downs and in finishing drives. USC's defense has gotten strong play from 2-time team tackle leader ILB Cameron Smith (he just passed 300 career stops), OLB Porter Gustin, who is among the nation's leaders in sacks and tackles for loss (he must sit the first half versus WSU after getting a targeting penalty last week) and DL Christian Rector, who showed well at Texas. The defense could benefit from more turnovers (USC has no interceptions yet in 2018) to get off the field quicker. The Trojans also are looking for better showings in special teams, especially now that PK Chase McGrath, who was on track to break USC's season field goal record, is out with a knee injury.
*Head coach Mike Leach's Washington State team, coming off an easy home win over Eastern Washington, opens Pac-12 play this week after beginning 2018 with its second consecutive 3-0 start. QB Gardner Minshew II, a graduate transfer from East Carolina who leads the nation in total offense and passing yards, directs a Cougar offense that averages 500 total yards a game (with 421 coming through the air). RB James Williams tops the team in rushing and is in the national Top 10 in scoring, while WR Tay Martin is in the nation's Top 10 in receptions. WSU's defense is Top 25 ranked in 5 stat categories (pass efficiency defense, total defense, passing defense, scoring defense and rushing defense) behind the play of defenders like S Skyler Thomas and LB Jahad Woods. P Oscar Draguicevich is averaging nearly 50 yards per boot.
*USC's 2018 NCAA champion women's soccer team and Troy's 2018 NCAA individual champion men's and women's swimmers will be honored during the game.
Click here for full game notes
welcomes undefeated Washington State (with its aerial assault and stingy defense) live under the lights on ESPN.
*The Cougars are visiting the Coliseum, which is being renovated, for the first time in 5 years (when WSU posted a late upset).
*The Trojans have won their past 17 games in the Coliseum and also own a 12-game home winning streak over Pac-12 teams.
*WSU only has beaten USC 10 times in 72 overall tries (its past 3 wins came on late field goals).
*USC has played on a Friday just 9 times since 1990, but 3 of those were on the road last season, including a last-minute loss at Washington State.
*Because the game is on a school day, on-campus tailgating will not be allowed and parking will be restricted, but there are many alternatives available for fans (see USCTrojans.com/gameday).
*The Trojans are seeking more consistency in their overall performance, including finding a rhythm offensively (they scored just 3 points at Stanford and had minus 5 rushing yards at Texas) and clamping down on defense. The true freshman duo of QB JT Daniels and WR Amon-Ra St. Brown, ex high school teammates, have risen above their youth so far, but Troy's offense aims for a more balanced attack and more consistency on third downs and in finishing drives. USC's defense has gotten strong play from 2-time team tackle leader ILB Cameron Smith (he just passed 300 career stops), OLB Porter Gustin, who is among the nation's leaders in sacks and tackles for loss (he must sit the first half versus WSU after getting a targeting penalty last week) and DL Christian Rector, who showed well at Texas. The defense could benefit from more turnovers (USC has no interceptions yet in 2018) to get off the field quicker. The Trojans also are looking for better showings in special teams, especially now that PK Chase McGrath, who was on track to break USC's season field goal record, is out with a knee injury.
*Head coach Mike Leach's Washington State team, coming off an easy home win over Eastern Washington, opens Pac-12 play this week after beginning 2018 with its second consecutive 3-0 start. QB Gardner Minshew II, a graduate transfer from East Carolina who leads the nation in total offense and passing yards, directs a Cougar offense that averages 500 total yards a game (with 421 coming through the air). RB James Williams tops the team in rushing and is in the national Top 10 in scoring, while WR Tay Martin is in the nation's Top 10 in receptions. WSU's defense is Top 25 ranked in 5 stat categories (pass efficiency defense, total defense, passing defense, scoring defense and rushing defense) behind the play of defenders like S Skyler Thomas and LB Jahad Woods. P Oscar Draguicevich is averaging nearly 50 yards per boot.
*USC's 2018 NCAA champion women's soccer team and Troy's 2018 NCAA individual champion men's and women's swimmers will be honored during the game.
Click here for full game notes
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