- CB Jonathan Lockett, who was out last week with a groin injury, is "getting better" and S Leon McQuay will likely be a game-time decision, per interim head coach Clay Helton. Also, LB Cam Smith is good to go as well as WR JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is being limited in practice. C Khaliel Rodgers has a shoulder that's "bugging him," but he should be ready.
- Smith-Schuster knows the cold will add another element to the physical challenges that he is already facing. "It's going to be a different environment," he said. "It's going to be very difficult, but I'm going to play through it."
- The Trojans are not taking Colorado lightly and for good reason. The Buffaloes are trending up this season with the improved play of junior QB Sefo Liufau. "We're playing a quarterback that is very, very talented at Colorado that I think has really progressed as a quarterback," Helton said about Liufau, who has started since his freshman year. "He has the ability to create on third downs with his legs. We've got to do a great job of keeping him in the pocket with our pass rush."
- Helton's focusing on third down efficiency to get the Buffs off the field and keep his offense on it. "Keep the ball. If you've seen our MO the past three games, we've won the time of possession and our third down situations have gotten a lot better," he said about the game plan. "Obviously, if you can keep the ball away from a very high-powered offense like Colorado, it's going to help you. I think offensively that's our responsibility to our defense."
- On the field less, the defense has made more plays, including seven interceptions in the last three games. "Eye discipline, and focus, and knowing little details," said safety John Plattenburg about the surge in turnovers. "We can kind of be ahead of the game and kind of anticipate what's going on."
- The Trojans are also emphasizing faster starts, so they don't have to dig out of another hole this week. "It all starts in practice, how we start," said Smith-Schuster. "I felt yesterday, Monday, being a day where we don't really come out here in pads, it's been really good. So yesterday was a great practice. I think today we came out strong, and we finished strong."
- Several players made great catches today including wide receivers De'Quan Hampton and Deontay Burnett as well as a diving interception by LB Uchenna Nwosu.
- Here is Helton's entire press conference this morning:
