- WR Ajene Harris strained his hamstring, but the severity of the injury is unknown at this time.
- In his place, Steven Mitchell will get an opportunity to work back into the mix. "I've been talking about Steven Mitchell now for a couple weeks," said head coach Steve Sarkisian. "He's a really good slot receiver. When he's at full speed, he's a dynamic athlete."
- The Trojans also got Aundrey Walker back into the game last week, and he could play a big role Saturday spelling Zach Banner at right tackle. "It was good to get him in the rotation and to kind of get his feet wet in the system and the tempo of it all, but we're going to need him to play better," said Sarkisian about Walker. "I think it will be beneficial to Zach, especially Saturday with the temperature we are anticipating."
- Two Trojans have friends on this week's foe. DT Antwaun Woods went to Taft High School with Mike Bercovici, the Sun Devils likely starting quarterback this week. "I'm super excited. I've been waiting for a long time since we left Taft High School so we finally get to play against each other," said Woods about playing against his buddy. "When I first met him the reason we became friends was because he was just so passionate about being a quarterback and football and leadership. He kind of rubbed off on me so we started hanging out every day, weekends. I'm close to his family and he's close to mine."
- Woods does not know how he'll celebrate if he gets to sack Bercovici, but he could not resist the temptation to FaceTime him this week despite vowing not to talk to him before the game.
- Senior safety Gerald Bowman goes way back with ASU WR Jaelen Strong. "It's going to be fun," Bowman said. "Especially seeing as though we grew up in the same neighborhood, same little league team, same junior college. We've always competed against each other."
- Bowman and Strong made no such pact not to talk. "We text and talk throughout the week, we talk almost every day," Bowman said. "We are both so humbled and so blessed to be in the situation we are in. Especially where we come from. We constantly remind each other how blessed we are to have this opportunity."
- However, Bowman won't be pulling his punches Saturday. "He knows I'm coming for him. He knows," Bowman said. "At the end of the day, when we get on the field, that's the other team. There's no remorse. I'm looking for him to come out and play hard and he's looking for the same from me."
- Bowman likely won't be matched up directly with Strong, who is a big, physical receiver. The Trojans' corners will have to defend the back shoulder throws that ate them up last year. "At the moment of truth, we have to make the play," said Sarkisian. "That's what we are going to find out here at 4:30 on Saturday if we can make those plays because they'll test us for sure."
- The Sun Devils hung 62 points on the board against the Trojans last year, which has little to do schematically with this team, but does have some emotional carryover. "Hopefully it factors into our pride," said Sarkisian. "Nobody likes giving up 62 points at any level."
- Here is Sarkisian's post-practice press conference...
