- Some reinforcements arrived just in time for USC. S Marvell Tell III, who has been out for weeks with a broken collarbone, practiced this morning. "That was like a Christmas present," said interim head coach Clay Helton.
- Also, RB Tre Madden appears to be back on track to play a role this week. "It feels good, way better. I'll be on the field," said the senior tailback. "I just want to be out there on the field with my brothers. It's going to be emotional. My uncle played in this stadium, my grandpa played in this stadium, it's my last game here so I want to go out with a bang."
- And, Viane Talamaivao has a chance to return. "I feel good. Practice was good today. I feel ready to play," he said. "I should be ready to go."
- WR JuJu Smith-Schuster has taken a beating this season, and he puts himself at about 75 percent physically. The coaches have advised him to calm down in practice to rest his body this week. Of course, the excitable sophomore is still fired up. "For USC and UCLA to go at it for the Pac-12 South, it's awesome," he said. "This is the best team right here in UCLA, and we're going to bring our best game and we're going to see who wins the Battle of LA."
- Channeling that fire into positive energy will be key for the Trojans this week in a heated rivalry game. "Our team is good at controlling our emotions," said Madden. "Our freshmen, they're not freshmen anymore. They've been on the field playing in big games. We've been through a lot of big games this year and everyone's going to be focused, ready to go."
- Like Madden, QB Cody Kessler has the added emotion of Senior Day. "It's been a long ride for me, a very, very emotional and drama-filled ride, but it'll be fun," said the captain. "I've always loved playing in front of the fans at the Coliseum and it's been a great journey for me. Obviously, it'll be emotional but I can look back at that after the game. My main focus is on winning the football game and staying locked in."
- Helton on the seniors: "Resilient. Definition of 'Fight On.' They have a good opportunity to finish a tremendous story this year. It starts with this game against a really talented football team in UCLA."
- Kessler and the Trojans know that one win can salvage a wild season. "I told Coach Helton, 'The football gods must be looking out for us.' It's been an emotional year, up and down, there's been a lot of drama, wins and losses both ways, and guys have kind of really bounced back each week no matter what has happened. We have an opportunity to do something great and these chances don't come very often," he said.
- As for the other team's quarterback, Helton sees similarities between Josh Rosen and Cody Kessler. "I'm really impressed with him. As a true freshman doing what he's doing as far as his completion ratio. To see a kid with an almost 62% completion ratio. He reminds us of our guy, an unbelievable decision maker."
- Here is more from Helton on "one of the epic rivalries in college football"...
