Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum at 5 p.m. PT on ABC and WatchESPN
Cardinal to Watch: Sophomore RB Christian McCaffrey
The Trojans will certainly keep several pairs of eyes on No. 5 who leads Stanford in rushing, receiving, punt returns and kick returns. Son of former NFL WR Ed McCaffrey, the sophomore typically comes out of the backfield, but he is a threat to impact the game from several different spots. The Cardinal's offense struggled in the season opening loss to Northwestern, but Stanford is not short on weapons.Click here for more on the Cardinal.
3 Keys
Red Alert
Red zone efficiency has been the key stat in USC's back-to-back wins over Stanford. In the 2013 and 2014 classics, the Trojans scored on 100 percent of their red zone possessions, while the Cardinal converted just half the time. It's no coincidence either. USC has scored a touchdown on 78 percent of its red zone drives since the start of last season, best in the FBS.Stanford, on the other hand, has the worst red-zone touchdown percentage (52 percent) among Pac-12 schools during that time. (Numbers by ESPN Stats & Info)
Old Hands
Both USC and Stanford have the luxury of veteran quarterbacks leading their offenses. Fifth year seniors Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan have been there and done that, but the test will still be difficult. Stanford has made Kessler grind out both victories, throwing just one TD pass in his career against the Cardinal. Meanwhile, Hogan has never thrown a TD pass against the Trojans, and he was victimized for two interceptions in the 2013 game at the Coliseum. The steady hand that catches fire on Saturday will likely lead the winning team.
"It's About Us"
USC head coach Steve Sarkisian has been asked all week about combating Stanford's physical style, but he does not want his players reacting to the Cardinal's game plan. On the contrary, the Trojans want to put Stanford on the defensive by using their fast tempo attack, spreading the field with athletes and rotating fresh bodies constantly. In boxing, they say styles make fights. This clash of styles should make for a classic battle in the Coliseum.
