USC AT STANFORD
Records: USC 1-0, Stanford 1-0. Pac-12 opener for both teams
Kickoff: 4:30 p.m., Stanford Stadium
Radio: KNBR 1050 AM
Television: ABC
Series history: The Trojans are the Cardinal’s second-most common opponent (100 games played) behind Cal (124). Stanford is 10-6 in the last 16 meetings and has won 4 of the last 5 at home, dating to 2010, including a major shocker last season when the Cardinal, a 17-point underdog, routed the then-14th-ranked Trojans 42-28 in Los Angeles. This is USC’s first visit to The Farm since 2018 – the teams didn’t play during the COVID-shortened 2020 season.
Storylines: Ranked in the Top 10 for the first time since 2017, No. 10 USC’s stock skyrocketed after bringing in coach Lincoln Riley and QB Caleb Williams from Oklahoma, and 2021 Biletnikoff Award winner Jordan Addison from Pitt. The Trojans lived up to the hype in Week 1, beating Rice 66-14 and scoring their most points in a season opener since 2008. … Stanford is unranked when hosting USC for the first time since 2008. It did beat Colgate 41-10 in Week 1, but committed four turnovers and will need to play much better to have a chance on Saturday. Tanner McKee threw for 308 passing yards against the Raiders and E.J. Smith had an 87-yard TD run on his first carry of the season.
Matchup to watch: USC WR Jordan Addison vs. Stanford CB Kyu Blu Kelly. Addison had a school-record 100 receptions for 1,593 yards (the fourth most in the FBS) and 17 TDs (tied for the most in the FBS) last season as a sophomore at Pitt, and he added two TD receptions against Rice in his USC debut. Kelly, who helped hold USC star receiver Drake London to a season-low four catches last year, led the Pac-12 and ranked 20th nationally with 12 passes defended last season.
Stats that matter: David Bailey started at edge last week, the first true freshman to start in a season opener for Stanford since 2007 (FB Owen Marecic) and the first defensive player to start in this century. … Stanford transfer Austin Jones ran for two TDs on four carries against Rice. … USC returned three interceptions for scores against the Owls, tying their own Pac-12 record. … Stanford is 7-5 against USC under David Shaw, with four of those victories coming when the Trojans have been ranked. … With a win, Shaw will tie USC legend Howard Jones for 5th most conference wins in Pac-12 history (65).
— HAROLD GUTMANN
Source: www.mercurynews.com