- With one notable exception, USC will have all hands on deck Saturday. DL Noah Jefferson is likely out, but OT Zach Banner (illness) and S Marvell Tell III (concussion) were cleared to play, per head coach Clay Helton.
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Khaliel Rodgers, who moved to defensive line in the offseason, has moved back to offensive line to backup Nico Falah at center after the injury to Toa Lobendahn. Helton called Rodgers "the ultimate team player."
- Most of the Stanford questions revolve around Heisman candidate Christian McCaffrey. "We have got to tackle him," said LB Cam Smith. "He's just a human. He's a great ball player, but we have got to do our job. He's very elusive. "
- In practice this week, the "lightning quick" Velus Jones Jr. has been tasked with simulating McCaffrey on the service team. Jones is a talented receiver as well as runner, so he can provide the versatile looks that makes McCaffrey so difficult.
- However, Stanford is more than just one player. The Cardinal run a thinking man's offense that often calls two plays in the huddle, so the quarterback can make an informed decision at the line of scrimmage. "They give you a lot of things," said defensive coordinator Clancy Pendergast about the Cardinal. "They give you multiple personnel groupings, multiple formations. They force you to have to adjust and you've got to be on your P's and Q's because of the different things they do and you have to be really good at playing situation football."
- While the Cardinal put 41 points on the Trojans in the Pac-12 Championship Game, the recent regular season contests have been tight affairs with little scoring. "I've been here long enough to know this game's going to come down to a few points," said QB Max Browne. "Very competitive team, very competitive rivalry - especially in recent memory. It's going to come down to a few throws so just staying prepared and executing what we need to do."
- The deep throws are the ones that can make the difference and both Helton and Browne have expressed an urgency to get the vertical passing game going. "We missed a few last week," said Browne about the deep ball. "It falls on my shoulders, so making sure those balls are accurate and giving our guys a chance. I feel like that's one of my strengths - just going out there and throwing the deep ball. It's back yard ball, I've been doing that since the good old recess days. Going out there and executing those plays, those plays are big momentum plays, so that'll be huge for us."
- Here is Helton's press conference:
