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Full injury report, per head coach Clay Helton: DT Stevie Tu'ikolovatu (strained PCL - did not practice), CB Iman Marshall (hamstring - did not practice), OG Damien Mama (sore knee - did not practice), CB Jonathan Lockett (hip), LB Michael Hutchings (strained calf), RB Justin Davis (ankle - limited), RB Aca'Cedric Ware (ankle, knee - limited).
- Helton expressed that he wanted the team to "get comfortable with being uncomfortable" this week. In today's practice, that included playing with crowd noise, sirens and dog barking noises blaring in the background and doing a drill with a soaked ball for 15 minutes. "If it's over the top now, let it be, so Saturday's a lot easier," Helton said.
- The Trojans will have their hands full on the field, so preparing for the off-the-field factors could be key. Washington leads the Pac-12 in scoring offense, scoring defense and pass efficiency. They were ranked No. 4 in the latest College Football Playoff poll, while USC made its debut at No. 20.
- Helton noted that despite UW QB Jake Browning getting the majority of the attention, "they're actually a run-first football team." Indeed, the Huskies lead the conference with 231.0 rush yards per game. Helton compared the way Husky RB Myles Gaskin "bounces in and out of holes" to Le'Veon Bell.
- While the whole team is itching to prove itself against the current king of the Pac-12, senior OT Zach Banner has something special to play for, as he hails from Tacoma, WA. "I'm excited to be back home," Banner said. "I'm excited to be in Washington and smell that home air and get some home food. I'm going to get Ezell's after the game."
- Banner mentioned that he's getting tickets for 40 to 50 friends and family members that he calls his "home crowd." Otherwise, he expects "a lot of boos."
- Banner, a Senior CLASS Award candidate and team captain, praised the way his team has played during its five-game win streak. During that span, the Trojans have averaged 571 total yards of offense. "If we're just able to keep this going, we're a force to be reckoned with," Banner said. "I love the pace that we're going at right now.
- Watch Helton's full press conference here:
