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No. 5 USC Football Visits California For First Road Game Of 2017
September 17, 2017 | Football, Features
*After a season-opening undefeated 3-game homestand, No. 5 USC makes its first road trip of the year when it visits long-time foe California, also standing at 3-0.
*USC has not lost to Cal since 2003. It will be Troy's 105th meeting with the Golden Bears, the team the Trojans have played more than any opponent.
*There will be some familiar coaching faces on the other sideline, including new Cal head coach Justin Wilcox, the one-time USC defensive coordinator.
*USC head coach Clay Helton's team, riding a 12-game winning streak, pulled out a double overtime hard-fought thriller over Texas last Saturday. In that victory, the Trojan offense--which has 13 outings in a row with 400-plus total yards--relied on the calm presence and uncanny passing of Heisman Trophy candidate QB Sam Darnold and the pass catching of favorite target WR Deontay Burnett, who has had 100- yard receiving outings in the past 4 games and 2-TD showings in the past 2 games. The USC run attack, led by TBs Ronald Jones II (a TD in each of the past 10 games) and freshman Stephen Carr, aims to get back on track this week after being held under 100 yards by Texas. Troy's defense, which limited Texas to 68 yards rushing but saw some key performers go down with injuries in the game (their status is pending), has been getting stout play from ILB Cameron Smith, OLBs Uchenna Nwosu and Porter Gustin, DL Rasheem Green, S Chris Hawkins and CB Iman Marshall. And the Texas contest introduced true freshman walk-on PK Chase McGrath, whose high-pressure field goals got the game into overtime and then won it.
*California, which for this game will wear throwback uniforms reminiscent of the Joe Roth era in the 1970s, has gotten off to a blazing start (including a home win last Saturday over the SEC's Ole Miss) under new head coach Justin Wilcox, the former USC defensive coordinator. The Golden Bears' offense is getting good production from QB Ross Bowers, RB Patrick Laird and WR Vic Wharton III, among others. Defensively, Cal is led by the likes of LBs Devante Downs, who is in the national Top 15 in tackles and sacks, and Raymond Davison III, CB Camryn Bynum and S Quentin Tartabull. The Golden Bears are among the nation's best in turnover margin.
*The game will air live nationally on ABC .
