USC
Rutgers
Players Mentioned
USC Football Hosts Rutgers For Friday Night Lights Game On FOX
October 22, 2024 | Football
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
*USC gears up for a Friday night game against Rutgers on Friday, Oct. 25 at 8 p.m. PT in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
*It will be the first time in USC football history that the Trojans have played the Scarlet Knights.
BACK-TO-BACK
*This is the first time since 2004 that USC has played two opponents back-to-back that it hasn't played before. To open the 2004 season, the Trojans faced new opponents Virginia Tech and Colorado State back-to-back.
MARYLAND GAME RECAP
*It will be the first time in USC football history that the Trojans have played the Scarlett Knights.
*USC fell 28-29 to Maryland in a heartbreaking last minute loss on the road at SECU Stadium.
*QB Miller Moss went 34-of-50 (.680) for 336 yards with 3 TDs and 1 INT.
*It was the fourth-career 300 yard passing game for Moss and the third game this season with 3 TDs.
*This also marked the second time this season Moss has recorded at least 50 passing attempts (he tallied 51 passing attempts versus Michigan).
*RB Woody Marks led the Trojans with 17 carries for 82 yards (4.8 avg.) and 1 TD.
*WR Makai Lemon led the Trojan receivers with 8 catches for 89 yards (11.1 avg.).
*WR Kyron Hudson put USC on the board first with a 22-yard TD pass from Moss.
*Maryland evened out the score as Terp QB Billy Edwards Jr. tossed a 16-yard TD pass to WR Octavian Smith Jr.
*Using his 5XL gloved hands, WR Ja'Kobi Lane made a spectacular left hand one-handed catch to score a TD off a 15-yard pass from Moss, and Marks increased USC's lead to 21-7 with a 5-yard rushing TD to close out the first half of play.
*Moss threw an unfortunate INT in the fourth quarter when he was picked off by Maryland DB Lavain Scruggs who returned the pick for 51 yards, and on the next play, Maryland scored.
*USC went three-and-out on its next offensive drive, and Maryland drove 62 yards down the field to the USC 4-yard line where USC CB Jaylin Smith (who led the team with 11 tackles on the night) made a huge play at the goal line, intercepting a fourth-down pass.
*WR Duce Robinson made an early statement in the fourth quarter scoring on a 26-yard pass from Moss, and USC led 28-14.
*Maryland then drove 80 yards on a TD drive and successfully executed a two-point conversion.
*After Maryland blocked a potentially game-clinching FG attempt from K Michael Lantz, the Terps had great field position on the USC 47 and scored a TD to claim the win 29-28.
OTHER STATS OF NOTE
*USC WRs have 7 receptions for 20 or more yards in close and late situations (a lead of less than or equal to 16 points during the 4th quarter with over 5 minutes to play, or a lead of less than or equal to 8 points with under 5 minutes to play) this season, which is most among FBS Teams.
*WR Ja'Kobi Lane has 6 first down receptions in close and late situations a lead of less than or equal to 16 points during the 4th quarter with over 5 minutes to play, or a lead of less than or equal to 8 points with under 5 minutes to play) this season, which is tied for most among FBS Receivers.
MAKING HIS MARK
*With his 4 receptions against Maryland, RB Woody Marks extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 52, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
*Marks surpassed his single-season career-high rushing record by collecting 661 rushing yards thisseason (former record was 582 yards at Mississippi State in 2022).
*His 661 rushing yards are ranked No. 24 in the nation, and he ranks No. 4 in the Big Ten for all-purpose yards (121.00).
*Through the last two games, Marks is tied for No. 1 in the Big Ten for explosive rushing plays (10+ yards) among all positions with 9.
PLAYERS WITH A CATCH IN AT LEAST 25 CONSECUTIVE GAMES
| NAME | POS | SCHOOL | CATCHES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woody Marks | RB | USC | 52 |
| LaJohntay Wester | WR | Colorado | 44 |
| Kyle Williams | WR | Wash. St. | 44 |
| Brant Kuithe | TE | Utah | 39 |
| Jaylin Noel | WR | Iowa St. | 39 |
| Brennan Presley | WR | Ok. St. | 37 |
| Andrew Armstrong | WR | Arkansas | 34 |
| JP Richardson | WR | TCU | 34 |
| Derwin Burgess Jr. | WR | Ga. Southern | 34 |
| Jordan Moore | WR | Duke | 33 |
| Raylen Sharpe | WR | Fresno State | 33 |
| Elijhah Badger | WR | Florida | 33 |
| Elijah Sarratt | WR | Indiana | 32 |
| Corey Dyches | TE | California | 31 |
| Kaedin Robinson | WR | App. State | 31 |
| Money Parks | WR | Utah | 31 |
| Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State | 30 |
| Joey Hobert | WR | Texas State | 30 |
| Donavon Greene | WR | Wake Forest | 29 |
| Luther Burden III | WR | Ohio State | 29 |
| Robert Lewis | WR | Auburn | 27 |
| Harold Fannin Jr. | TE | Bowling Green | 25 |
| Noah Smith | WR | Sam Houston | 25 |
MILLER TIME
*QB Miller Moss ranks sixth in the nation (and No. 2 in the Big Ten) in completions per game with 26.14.
*Moss also ranks No. 12 in the nation (and third in the Big Ten) in passing yards (1,954) and No. 14 in the nation (and third in the Big Ten) in passing yards per game (279.1).
*Moss is No. 4 in the Big Ten in passing TDs (14).
*Per PFF, Moss is tied for No. 2 among Big Ten QBs in big time throws with 11.
*Moss is ranked second among Big Ten QBs for first downs (108).
POWERFUL PUNTING
*P Eddie Czaplicki continues to be a game-changer for the Trojans.
*Czaplicki ranks No. 1 in the nation with a 45.8-yard punting average among punters with a minimum of 15 attempts.
*USC is No. 2 in the nation in net punting (46.24 yards).
*14 of his 25 punts have been over 50 yards, including a season-long of 62 yards against Minnesota.
*12 of his punts have pinned opponents inside the 20.
NATIONAL DEFENSIVE STATS
*USC ranks No. 3 in the nation (and No. 1 in the Big Ten) in third down conversion percentage defense (0.253).
*Through USC's last two games, S Kamari Ramsey is tied for fourth in the Big Ten in tackles with 19.
*USC has allowed just 3.6 yards per attempt on third-and-long this season (104 yards/29 attempts), which is second-best in the FBS.
RANKINGS
*Neither USC nor Rutgers are ranked in either poll.
BIG TEN COMPETITION
*USC has won 36 of its last 51 games (.706) against Big Ten foes.
IN OCTOBER
*USC has a 318-130-19 (.701) record while playing in the month of October (not including 5 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; revised record: 323-130-19, .704).
*USC has a 467-150-27 (.746) all-time record in the Coliseum since the stadium opened in 1923 (not including 6 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 473-150-27, .749).
*USC's 650 games played in the Coliseum (including 6 wins vacated by NCAA penalty) are the third most that any school has played in its home stadium, behind Georgia Tech's 727 in Bobby Dodd Stadium and Tennessee's 654 in Neyland Stadium.
NIGHT TIME
*USC's first night game (5 p.m. or later) was on Oct. 14, 1944 against St. Mary's Pre-Flight in Fresno.
*The first USC night game in the Coliseum was Oct. 23, 1944 versus Washington.
*USC's 10 night games in 2010 and 2017 are a school record.
*USC opened a season with 6 consecutive night games for the first time in 2015.
*USC is 194-81-4 (.703) at night, including 115-35-4 (.755) in the Coliseum. (Does not include 5 wins and 1 loss vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 199-82-4, .705 overall; 118-35-4 in the Coliseum including 3 home wins).
*USC had a school-record 32-game win streak at home at night from 1997 to 2010.)
*USC's most night foes: Oregon State (27), Notre Dame (18) and Washington State (16).
FRIDAY GAMES
*USC has played 15 Friday games since 1990: vs. Syracuse in the 1990 Kickoff Classic in East Rutherford, N.J., vs. Louisiana Tech in 1999 in the Coliseum, at Colorado in 2011, at Oregon State in 2013, at Colorado in 2015, at Utah in 2016, 3 times in 2017 (at Washington State, against Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship Game and against Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl), vs. Washington State in 2018 in the Coliseum, 3 times in 2019 (Utah in the Coliseum, at Colorado, vs. Iowa in the Holiday Bowl) and 2 times in 2022 (Colorado in the Coliseum and vs. Utah in the Pac-12 Championship).
*All were wins except the 2016 Utah, 2017 Washington State and Ohio State, 2019 Iowa and 2022 Utah (Pac-12 Championship) contests.
*In the 1940s, 1950s and 1960s, USC played occasional Friday night games in the Coliseum when sharing the stadium with UCLA.
NOT NEW TO NEW JERSEY
*USC has never played a school from the state of New Jersey, but it has played in the state of New Jersey 4 times:
*Aug. 31, 1990 versus Syracuse in the Kickoff Classic VIII at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (USC won 34-16)
*Aug. 25, 1996 versus Penn State in the Kickoff Classic XIV at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (USC lost 7-24)
*Aug. 27, 2000 versus Penn State in the Kickoff Classic XVIII at Giants Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. (USC won 29-5)
*Sept. 8 2012 versus Syracuse in the Inaugural New York's College Classic at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford N.J. (USC won 42-29)
SUPER BOWL SITES
*Just 3 teams in the nation are scheduled to play at 3 different Super Bowl sites:
*USC – All home games are at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; USC defeated LSU 27-20 at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 1; USC will play UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 23
*Notre Dame – The Irish will play Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 19; Notre Dame will face Navy at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 26; The Irish will challenge the Trojans in the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 30
*Navy – The Midshipmen will play Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 26; Navy will face Rice at Rice Stadium on Nov. 2; The Midshipmen will challenge South Florida at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 9.
OLYMPIC RECORD
*USC is 206-74-10 (.728) in seasons that the Summer Olympics have been held (including this season). The Trojans won 4 national titles (1928, 1932, 1972, 2004) and played in 11 bowls (winning 8) during those Olympic seasons. (Does not include 2 wins--including 1 bowl appearance and 1 bowl win--vacated by NCAA penalty; original record: 208-74-10, .730.)
*USC is 224-74-14 (.740) during presidential election years (including this season). (Does not include 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 225-74-14, .741).
PRESIDENTIAL RECORD
*To be determined later this season, but the Trojans are 127-29-5 (.804) in years when Republicans won the White House and 94-41-9 (.684) when Democrats won. (Does not include 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 128-29-5, .806 with Republicans.)
*USC has won 4 national championships (1928-32-72-2004) during presidential election years.
TV OUTLETS
*USC has appeared live on 35 different television broadcasting outlets. The Trojans have won on the air of all but 3 of those outlets (KTLA, Innovative and a local Memphis station).
*USC has appeared on live national, regional or local telecasts 586 times.
HOME SWEET HOME
*Just 13 players across the nation returned to their previous school after spending one or more seasons at another NCAA institution.
| NAME | SCHOOL | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|
| Beau Allen | Kentucky | Ga. Southern & Tarleton State |
| Jori Benson | Utah | UConn |
| Tyler Buchner | Notre Dame | Alabama |
| Vita Calvaruso | Arkansas | Wisconsin |
| Duce Chestnut | Syracuse | LSU |
| Omarion Cooper | Florida State | Colorado |
| Gilber Edmond | South Carolina | Florida State |
| Kyle Ford | USC | UCLA |
| Jam Griffin | Oregon State | Ole Miss |
| Henry Ikahihifo | Nevada | California |
| Lorando Johnson | Baylor | Arkansas |
| Christian Rorie | Duke | Texas State |
| Corey Rucker | Arkansas St. | South Carolina |
USC-RUTGERS CONNECTIONS
*USC does not have players from the state of New Jersey, while Rutgers has one player from the state of California (WR Gunnison Bloodgood).
*USC QB Miller Moss, USC WR Xavier Jordan, USC QB Dylan Gebbia, USC LB Ryan Quintanar and Rutgers WR Gunnison Bloodgood are all from Los Angeles, Calif.
*USC LB Eric Gentry and Rutgers RB Samuel Brown are both from Philadelphia, Pa.
*USC OL Hayden Treter and Rutgers OL Gus Zilinskas both prepped at Cherry Creek High School.
*USC CB Greedy Vance Jr. and Rutgers DL Malcolm Ray were teammates at Florida State from 2022-23.
*USC QB Jake Jensen and Rutgers LS Austin Riggs were teammates at BYU in the spring of 2021.
*USC K Michael Lantz and Rutgers DB Flip Dixon were teammates at Minnesota in 2020.
*USC Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance Caesar Martinez held a similar position at Rutgers in 2018.
*USC Assistant Director of Sports Performance Drew Smith served as a strength and conditioning intern in 2017 at Rutgers.
*USC Executive Senior Associate Athletic Director Paul Perrier served as Senior Associate Athletic Director / Chief Compliance Officer at Rutgers from 2015-19.
*USC Lacrosse Assistant Coach Cassidy Spilis played lacrosse at Rutgers from 2020-23.
*Rutgers Rowing Assistant Coach Katherine McFetridge rowed for USC from 2007-11, leading the Trojans to two top 10 finishes at the NCAA Championships in 2010 and 2011.
*Rutgers Diving Coach Natasha Chikina graduated from USC in 1999 and was on the diving team. Chikina also served as an undergraduate assistant coach in 1998-99.
*Rutgers Assistant Director of Academic Services Darrick Brown served as Assistant Athletic Director/Director of Student Support at USC from 2014-17.
*Rutgers Director of Athletic Training Services David Borchardt previously served as an assistant athletic trainer at USC from 2005- 2013.
*USC Chief Creative Officer Jordan Moore is from Short Hills, N.J.
*USC women's lacrosse Head Coach Lindsey Munday is from Mountain Lakes, N.J.
*USC Ticket Office Director Lauren Krug Ranieri is from Wall, N.J.
*USC Director of Player Personnel Weston Zernechel served as Assistant Director of Player Personnel at Ohio State from 2017-18, while Rutgers head football coach Greg Schiano served as Associate Head Coach / Defensive Coordinator / Safeties at Ohio State. Rutgers Senior Coaching Assistant Bob Fraser also served at Ohio State at the same time as a quality control assistant.
*USC Women's Volleyball Director of Operations Julian Welsh- White served as a volunteer assistant coach in 2017 at South Carolina while Rutgers Director of Integrating High-Performance Chad Dodd served as a strength and conditioning coach at South Carolina. Rutgers Accounting Assistant Anthony Steenvoorden also earned his bachelor's degree from South Carolina in 2017.
*USC Track and Field Coach Assistant Coach Brenton Emmanuel served as an assistant coach for sprints, hurdles, and relays at Nebraska, USC Women's Volleyball Associate Head Coach Tyler Hildebrand served as an assistant coach for women's volleyball at Nebraska, all while Rutgers Assistant Wrestling Coach Mikey Labriola wrestled for Nebraska from 2019-21.
*USC Head Football Coach Lincoln Riley served as Oklahoma's head football coach while Rutgers Women's Basketball Coach Coquese Washington served as associate head coach at Oklahoma from 2019- 20.
*USC Defensive Coordinator D'Anton Lynn served as Secondary Coach for the Houston Texans while Rutgers Assistant Coach John Perry coached tight ends and wide receivers from 2018-20.
*USC Rowing Assistant Coach Larkin Brown rowed for Virginia while Rutgers Assistant Swim Coach Kevin Steel served as a volunteer assistant swim coach at Virginia from 2022-23.
*USC Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics Jennifer Cohen served as athletic director at Washington while Rutgers Assistant Director of Communications Griffin Whitmer served in a similar capacity at Washington from 2020-22.
*USC Senior Associate Athletic Director for Football / General Manager Dave Emerick served in a similar role at Mississippi State, while Rutgers Senior Associate AD / Senior Director of Development Ben Rodriguez served as assistant athletics Director, Student-Athlete Development in 2020.
*USC Men's Volleyball Director of Operations / Women's & Men's Volleyball Technical Coordinator Virginia Pham served as Director of Operations for women's volleyball at Penn State while Rutgers Senior Associate Athletic Director: Marketing, Game Presentation & Fan Experience PJ Mullen served as Director of Marketing at Penn State from 2018-19.
*USC Baseball Director of Player Development Sergio Brown served on the Arizona baseball staff in 2019, while Rutgers Director of Football Recruiting Operations Cassie Petty served in a similar role at Arizona.
*USC Director of Marketing Jennifer Martinez served in a similar role at Texas, while Rutgers Wide Receivers Coach Dave Brock served as a senior analyst for offense at Texas in 2022.
*USC Defensive Coordinator D'Anton Lynn served as the safeties coach for the Baltimore Ravens while Rutgers athletic trainer Brian McCoy served in a similar position at the Ravens in 2022.
*USC Lacrosse Assistant Coach Lauren Gunning served in a similar role at UConn, while Rutgers Special Teams Assistant Coach Eddie Allen and Director of Football Equipment Mike Shapley both served in a similar role from 2018-2021 at UConn.
*Former Trojan-great WR Dwayne Jarrett is from New Brunswick, N.J. and attended New Brunswick HS, which is the same city that Rutgers is located in.
JERSEY BOYS
*In USC's history, 14 football lettermen claim New Jersey as their home state and attended school in the state before coming to Troy: RT Earl Audet (Seton Hall, N.J./Seton Hall HS); RG Al Bansavage (Union City, N.J. / Union City HS); LB Brian Cushing (Park Ridge, N.J. / Bergen Catholic); NG-DT Rich Dimler (Bayonne, N.J. / Boyonne HS); CB-TB Charles Hinton (East Orange, N.J. / East Orange HS); WR Dwayne Jarrett (New Brunswick, N.J. / New Brunswick HS); S Jeff Maree (Middlesex, N.J. / Middlesex HS); RB Brandon Outlaw (Moorestown, N.J. / Moorestown HS); S Antwine Perez (Westville Grove, N.J. / Woodrow Wilson HS); ILB Anthony Sarao (Atlantic City, N.J. / Holy Spirit HS); FL Lonnie White (South Belmar N.J. / Ashbury Park HS); WR Timmy White (South Belmar N.J. / Ashbury Park HS); ILB Richard Wood (Elizabeth, N.J. / Jefferson HS); PK Don Zachik (Linden, N.J. / Linden HS).
RUTGERS SCOUTING REPORT
*Rutgers lost to UCLA 32-35 on Saturday, Oct. 19 at home at SHI Stadium.
*The Scarlet Knights finished with 422 total yards of offense against UCLA, but surrendered 478 total yards of offense.
*QB Athan Kaliakmanis finished 18-of-30 for 287 yards and no TDs with 1 INT. On the season, he's 104-of-195 for 1,337 yards with 8 TDs and 5 INTs.
*RB Kyle Monangai finished the game with 106 rushing yards and 3 TDs on 19 carries.
*Saturday was the fourth time this season that Monangai has topped 100 rushing yards and the twelfth time in his collegiate career.
*Monangai, the defending conference rushing champion, moved into fifth place in rushing yards in program history after the UCLA game. He has 154 carries for 845 yards (5.5 avg.) with 10 TDs this season.
*Monangai has rushed for all 10 of his TDs in the Red Zone this season, which is tied for third-most among FBS RBs. He is No. 12 in the nation and second in the Big Ten in total TDs with 10.
*Monangai is No. 8 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in rushing yards (845), and No. 9 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in rushing yards per game (120.7).
*Monangai is No. 3 in the Big Ten in all-purpose yards (125.71).
*WR Dymere Miler leads the Scarlett Knights with 26 catches for 349 yards (13.4 avg.) and 1 TD.
*Starting TE Kenny Fletcher and second-string TE Victor Konopka will both miss the remainder of the season with injuries, the team announced prior to Saturday's game against UCLA.
*Fletcher and Konopka join LB Mohamed Toure, RB Sam Brown and and OL Bryan Felter as key players who suffered season-ending injuries either before or since the start of the season.
*Through 6 games, Fletcher caught 20 passes for 137 yards and 2 TDs.
*One of Rutgers' strengths is its defense, and it has given up 77 points in the past two games.
*Rutgers is No. 13 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in Red Zone defense (0.714).
*Rutgers is ranked No. 2 in the nation and No. 1 in the Big Ten in blocked punts (2).
*Rutgers is No. 4 in the nation and No. 2 in the Big Ten in fewest penalties (27) and fewest penalties per game (3.86). It is also ranked No. 4 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten in fewest penalty yards (214) and fewest penalty yards per game (30.57).
