(Photo Credit: John McGillen/USC Athletics)
Key Players Returning:
QB Kedon Slovis, RB Vavae Malepeai, WR Drake London, OC Brett Neilon, OG Andrew Vorhees, OG Justin Dedich, OT Courtland Ford, OT Jalen McKenzie, DE Nick Figueroa, DE Tuli Tuipulotu, LB Hunter Echols, LB Ralen Goforth, LB Drake Jackson, LB Kana’i Mauga, CB Chris Steele, NB/PR Greg Johnson, FS Isaiah Pola-Mao, KR/PR Gary Bryant, PK Parker Lewis, and PT Ben Griffiths.
Key Players Departing:
WR/PR Amon-Ra St. Brown, WR Tyler Vaughns, OT Alijah Vera-Tucker, NT Marlon Tuipulotu, CB Olaijah Griffin, and SS Talanoa Hufanga.
Top 10 Recruits:
Blue Chip Recruits: DE Korey Foreman (Corona, California).
4 Star Recruits: LB Raesjon Davis Santa Ana, California), QB Jaxson Dart (Draper, Utah), QB Miller Moss (Mission Hills, California), CB Ceyair Wright (Los Angeles, California), LB Julien Simon (Tacoma, Washington), WR Kyron Ware-Hudson (Santa Ana, California), TE Michael Trigg (Tampa, Florida), CB Prophet Brown (Elk Grove, California), and DL Jay Toia (Simi Valley, California).
2020 Results:
G01 ARIZONA STATE W 28-27
G02 at Arizona W 34-30
G03 at Utah W 33-17
G04 WASHINGTON STATE W 38-13
G05 at UCLA W 43-38
P12 OREGON L 24-31
Team Info:
2020 Overall: 5-1 (1st in PAC-12 South)
Home: 2-0
Away: 3-0
Neutral: 0-1
P12: 5-0
Non-P12: 0-1
Head Coach: Clay Helton
USC: 45-23
Career: 45-23
Bowl: 2-3
Returning Statistical Leaders:
Passing: Kedon Slovis (177-264, 1921 yards, 67.0%, 7.3 avg., 17 TD, 7 INT)
Rushing: Vavae Malepeai (54 car., 238 yards, 4.4 avg., 3 TD)
Receiving: Drake London (33 rec., 502 yards, 15.2 avg., 3 TD)
TD’s Scored: Drake London/Vavae Malepeai (3)
Sacks: Nick Figueroa (3.5)
Tackles: Kana’i Muaga (41)
Interceptions: Kana’I Mauga/Isaiah Pola-Moa/Chris Steele (1)
Pass Deflections: Isaiah Pola-Mao (5)
Tackles For Loss: Nick Figueroa (7)
Forced Fumbles: None
Kick Returns: Gary Bryant (8 ret., 210 yards, 26.3 avg., 0 TD)
Punt Returns: None
Kicking: Parker Lewis (9-13 fg/fga., 69%, 23-23 xp/xpa., 50 pts.)
Punting: Ben Griffiths (18 punts, 835 yards, 46.4 avg., 9 in20)
Projected Offensive Starters:
QB: 9 Kedon Slovis (JR)
RB: 28 Keaontay Kngram (SR/TR)
WR: 15 Drake London (JR)
WR: 16 Tahj Washington (RS FR/TR)
WR: 1 Gary Bryant (SO)
WR: 81 Kyle Ford (RS SO)
LT: 74 Courtland Ford (RS FR)
LG: 72 Andrew Vorhees (RS SR)
OC: 62 Brett Neilon (RS SR)
RG: 71 Liam Jimmons (RS SR)
RT: 70 Jalen McKenzie (RS SR)
KR: 16 Tahj Washington (RS FR/TR)
PK: 48 Parker Lewis (SO)
Projected Defensive Starters:
DE: 50 Nick Figueroa (RS SR/TR)
NT: 77 Jamar Sekona (RS FR)
DE: 49 Tuli Tuipulptu (SO)
LB: 99 Drake Jackson (JR)
LB: 10 Ralen Goforth (JR)
LB: 26 Kana’i Mauga (SR)
NB: 1 Greg Johnson (RS SR)
CB: 8 Chris Steele (JR/TR)
CB: 6 Isaac Taylor-Stuart (RS JR)
FS: 21 Isaiah Pola-Mao (RS SR)
SS: 7 Chase Williams (RS JR)
PR: 1 Gary Bryant (SO)
PT: 24 Ben Griffiths (RS JR)
Team Grades:
Offense
Quarterbacks: A
Running Backs: C
Wide Receivers: B
Offensive Line: C
Defense
Defensive Line: B
Linebackers: B
Secondary: B
Special Teams
Kick Returners: B
Punt Returners: C
Kickers: B
Punters: A
Schedule:
09/04 SAN JOSE STATE SPARTANS | USC leads the series 4-0. The Trojans won (56-3) the last meeting between schools in 2009.
09/11 STANFORD CARDINAL | USC leads the series 64-33-3. The Trojans are 6-5 since 2011, and they won (45-20) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
09/18 at Washington State Cougars | USC leads the series 60-10-4. The Trojans are 2-2 since renewing the series in 2013, and they won (39-36) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
09/25 OREGON STATE BEAVERS | USC leads the series 63-11-4. The Trojans are 4-0 since renewing the series in 2013, and they won (38-21) the last meeting between schools in 2018.
10/02 at Colorado Buffaloes | USC leads the series 14-0. The Trojans are 9-0 since 2011, and they won (35-31) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/09 UTAH UTES | USC leads the series 13-6. The Trojans are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (28-41) was in 2018.
10/23 at Notre Dame Fighting Irish | USC trails the series 37-49-5. The Trojans are 3-6 since 2011, and they lost (27-30) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
10/30 ARIZONA WILDCATS | USC leads the series 36-8. The Trojans are 9-1 since 2011, and their last series loss (36-39) was in 2012.
11/06 at Arizona State Sun Devils | USC leads the series 24-13. The Trojans are 7-3 since 2011, and their last series loss (35-38) was in 2018.
11/13 at California Golden Bears | USC leads the series 71-32-6. The Trojans are 8-1 since 2011, and they won (41-17) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
11/20 UCLA BRUINS | USC leads the series 51-32-7. The Trojans are 6-4 since 2011, and their last series loss (2-734) was in 2018.
11/27 BYU COUGARS | USC leads the series 2-1. The Trojans lost (27-30 OT) the last meeting between schools in 2019.
Predictions:
Home: 6-1
Away: 4-1
Neutral: 0-0
P12: 7-2
Non-P12: 3-0
Overall: 10-2 (2nd in PAC-12 South)
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