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USC Football Visits Familiar Foe Washington In Seattle For Big Ten Matchup
October 29, 2024 | Football
SLEEPLESS IN SEATTLE
*While the Trojans are not searching for love in Seattle like Tom Hanks and Meg Ryan, they are on the hunt for their next Big Ten win.
*USC travels to the Pacific Northwest for the first time since 2019 to challenge the Washington Huskies on Saturday, Nov. 2 in Husky Stadium.
*The game will be broadcast nationally on Big Ten Network.
RUTGERS GAME RECAP
*USC produced a dominate 42-20 victory over first-time opponent Rutgers in a rare Friday Night Lights showdown to snap its three-game losing streak.
*QB Miller Moss went 20-of-28 (.714) for 308 yards with 2 TDs.
*It was his fourth 300-yard passing game this season and the fifth of his career. He spread the ball out throwing passes to 8 different receivers. He also scored a 7-yard rushing TD on his 1 carry of the night.
*RB Woody Marks had a single-game career-best 3 TD runs and finished leading the Trojans withs 15 carries for 94 yards (6.3 avg.).
*The last Trojan with 3 rushing TDs in a game was Heisman Trophy winning QB Caleb Williams at Arizona on Oct. 7, 2023.
*The last time that USC had a running back with 3 rushing TDs in a game was RB Vavae Malepeai versus UCLA on Nov. 20, 2021.
*All of Marks' TDs were in the first half. The last player to score 3 rushing TDs in one half of play was Ronald Jones II on Nov. 4, 2017 against Arizona. He scored all 3 of his TDs in the second half of play.
*Marks also had 5 catches for 48 yards to extend his streak of consecutive games with at least one catch to 53, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
*WR Makai Lemon had 4 catches for a career-high 134 yards (including 101 yards after catch) and tallied 3 kickoff returns for 122 yards.
*Per PFF, Lemon had the highest offensive grade between both USC and Rutgers with a grade of 89.9. He also had the fourth-best offensive grade among all Big Ten offensive players in Week 9.
*Lemon had a career-high 256 all-purpose yards against Rutgers, which is the most by a Trojan in a game this season. The last Trojan with more all-purpose yards in a game was Adoree' Jackson with 291 versus Notre Dame on Nov. 26, 2016.
*LB Easton Mascarenas-Arnold led USC with 11 tackles, including 1 for loss of 2 yards (with 1 sack for minus 2 yards).
*Mascarenas-Arnold has registered double figures in tackles in 3 of the last 4 games and leads USC with 67 tackles this season.
*The Trojans also recorded a season-high 5 sacks on the night.
*The Trojan offense came out hot as USC scored a touchdown on each of its first four possessions. The last time USC scored a touchdown on its first four possessions of a game was Sept. 10, 2022 versus Stanford.
*After scoring the first TD of the game on USC's opening offensive drive, Marks was set up to quickly score again because of a big special teams play from WR Makai Lemon. Lemon's kickoff return of 80 yards in the first quarter was the longest by a Trojan this season and the longest of his career. This play set up Marks for his second rushing TD of the night.
*Before the end of the first half, WR Kyle Ford scored an 11-yard TD and Marks scored his third rushing TD to give him the hat trick. USC led 28-12 going into halftime.
*Rutgers scored a TD and executed a successful 2-point conversion early in the third quarter to close the point gap to 28-19.
*Immediately after, Lemon recorded a 70-yard reception from Moss which was a career-best and also the longest by a Trojan this season. This gave the Trojans a short field and Moss was able to find the end zone for a rushing TD.
*Lemon is the first USC player with a return of 80 or more yards and a reception of 70 or more yards in the same game since Marqise Lee versus Oregon on Nov. 9, 2012. In that game, Lee had 408 total yards.
*USC closed out the third quarter with a 40-yard TD pass from Moss to Lemon.
*Both teams remained scoreless in the fourth quarter and USC claimed the victory.
*USC's 42 points matched the most points Rutgers has allowed in a game this season.
*Adding to the excitement of the evening, the Los Angeles Dodgers won Game 1 of the World Series against the New York Yankees across town on a walkoff grand slam by Freddie Freeman. It was the first time in history that USC football, the Lakers and the Dodgers all won on the same day.
MAKING HIS MARK
*With his 5 receptions against Maryland, RB Woody Marks extended his streak of consecutive games with a catch to 53, which is the longest active streak in the nation.
*His 755 rushing yards are ranked No. 21 in the nation, and he ranks No. 24 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten for all-purpose yards (123.63).
*Marks also ranks No. 5 in the Big Ten in rushing TDs (8) and rushing yards per game (94.4).
*Through the last three games, Marks leads the Big Ten for explosive rushing plays (10+ yards) among all positions with 12.
PLAYERS WITH A CATCH IN AT LEAST 25 CONSECUTIVE GAMES
| NAME | POS | SCHOOL | CATCHES |
|---|---|---|---|
| Woody Marks | RB | USC | 53 |
| LaJohntay Wester | WR | Colorado | 45 |
| Kyle Williams | WR | Wash. St. | 45 |
| Brant Kuithe | TE | Utah | 40 |
| Jaylin Noel | WR | Iowa St. | 39 |
| Brennan Presley | WR | Ok. St. | 38 |
| Andrew Armstrong | WR | Arkansas | 35 |
| JP Richardson | WR | TCU | 35 |
| Derwin Burgess Jr. | WR | Ga. Southern | 35 |
| Jordan Moore | WR | Duke | 34 |
| Raylen Sharpe | WR | Fresno State | 34 |
| Elijhah Badger | WR | Florida | 33 |
| Elijah Sarratt | WR | Indiana | 33 |
| Kaedin Robinson | WR | App. State | 32 |
| Money Parks | WR | Utah | 32 |
| Emeka Egbuka | WR | Ohio State | 31 |
| Corey Dyches | TE | California | 31 |
| Joey Hobert | WR | Texas State | 30 |
| Luther Burden III | WR | Ohio State | 30 |
| Donavon Greene | WR | Wake Forest | 29 |
| Robert Lewis | WR | Auburn | 28 |
| Harold Fannin Jr. | TE | Bowling Green | 26 |
| Kevin Coleman Jr. | WR | Mississippi State | 25 |
| Noah Smith | WR | Sam Houston | 25 |
MILLER TIME
*QB Miller Moss ranks eighth in the nation (and No. 2 in the Big Ten) in completions per game with 25.38.
*Moss also ranks No. 11 in the nation (and third in the Big Ten) in passing yards (2,262) and No. 14 in the nation (and third in the Big Ten) in passing yards per game (282.8).
*Moss is No. 20 in the nation and No. 3 in the Big Ten in passing TDs (16).
*Moss is No. 4 in the Big Ten in points responsible for (108) and No. 5 in the Big Ten in points responsible for per game (13.5).
*Moss is ranked second among Big Ten QBs for first downs (127).
POWERFUL PUNTING
*P Eddie Czaplicki continues to be a game-changer for the Trojans.
*Czaplicki ranks No. 3 in the nation with a 49.3-yard punting average among punters with a minimum of 20 attempts.
*USC is No. 2 in the nation in net punting (46.14 yards).
*15 of his 27 punts have been over 50 yards (.556), including a season-long of 62 yards against Minnesota.
*13 of his punts have pinned opponents inside the 20.
PFF OFFENSIVE LINE GRADES
*Per PFF, USC recorded the second-best offensive line grade in the Big Ten in Week 9 with a 81.1 grade
*Per PFF, OL Emmanuel Pregnon recorded a 82.4 grade against Rutgers. This was the highest grade among all Power 4 OGs, and it was the second-best offensive line grade for all of Week 9 among Big Ten offensive linemen.
*All of USC's starting offensive linemen recorded high overall PFF grades and were all ranked in the Top 25 among all Big Ten offensive linemen in Week 9: Mason Murphy, 79.4 (No. 6), Elijah Page, 75.3 (No. 12), Jonah Monheim 71.2 (No. 19) and Alani Noa, 68.9 (No. 25).
RANKINGS
*Neither USC nor Washington are ranked in either poll.
BIG TEN COMPETITION
*USC has won 37 of its last 52 games (.712) against Big Ten foes.
IN NOVEMBER
*USC has a 270-140-20 (.651) all-time record while playing in the month of November (not including 3 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 273-140-20, .654).
ON ARTIFICIAL TURF
*USC is 51-39-1 (.566) in its last 91 games on artificial turf (not including 3 wins vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 54-39-1, .580).
RAIN
*Keeping in mind that rain is a possibility whenever playing in the Pacific Northwest, USC has a 24- 23-2 record in games in which it rained during a major portion of the contest. USC's last rain game was at Washington State in 2021 (USC won, 45-14).
SUPER BOWL SITES
*Just 3 teams in the nation are scheduled to play at 3 different Super Bowl sites:
*USC – All home games are at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum; USC defeated LSU 27-20 at Allegiant Stadium on Sept. 1; USC will play UCLA at the Rose Bowl on Nov. 23
*Notre Dame – The Irish will play Georgia Tech at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Oct. 19; Notre Dame will face Navy at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 26; The Irish will challenge the Trojans in the greatest intersectional rivalry in college football at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Nov. 30
*Navy – The Midshipmen will play Notre Dame at MetLife Stadium on Oct. 26; Navy will face Rice at Rice Stadium on Nov. 2; The Midshipmen will challenge South Florida at Raymond James Stadium on Nov. 9.
OLYMPIC RECORD
*USC is 207-74-10 (.729) in seasons that the Summer Olympics have been held (including this season). The Trojans won 4 national titles (1928, 1932, 1972, 2004) and played in 11 bowls (winning 8) during those Olympic seasons. (Does not include 2 wins--including 1 bowl appearance and 1 bowl win--vacated by NCAA penalty; original record: 209-74-10, .730.)
PRESIDENTIAL RECORD
*USC is 225-74-14 (.741) during presidential election years (including this season). (Does not include 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 226-74-14, .742).
*To be determined next week, but the Trojans are 127-29-5 (.804) in years when Republicans won the White House and 94-41-9 (.684) when Democrats won. (Does not include 1 win vacated due to NCAA penalty; original record: 128-29-5, .806 with Republicans.)
*USC has won 4 national championships (1928-32-72-2004) during presidential election years.
TV OUTLETS
*USC has appeared live on 35 different television broadcasting outlets. The Trojans have won on the air of all but 3 of those outlets (KTLA, Innovative and a local Memphis station).
*USC has appeared on live national, regional or local telecasts 587 times.
HOME SWEET HOME
*Just 13 players across the nation returned to their previous school after spending one or more seasons at another NCAA institution.
| NAME | SCHOOL | PREVIOUS |
|---|---|---|
| Beau Allen | Kentucky | Ga. Southern & Tarleton State |
| Jori Benson | Utah | UConn |
| Tyler Buchner | Notre Dame | Alabama |
| Vita Calvaruso | Arkansas | Wisconsin |
| Duce Chestnut | Syracuse | LSU |
| Omarion Cooper | Florida State | Colorado |
| Gilber Edmond | South Carolina | Florida State |
| Kyle Ford | USC | UCLA |
| Jam Griffin | Oregon State | Ole Miss |
| Henry Ikahihifo | Nevada | California |
| Lorando Johnson | Baylor | Arkansas |
| Christian Rorie | Duke | Texas State |
| Corey Rucker | Arkansas St. | South Carolina |
USC-WASHINGTON CONNECTIONS
*USC has two players from the state of Washington on the roster (OL Micah Banuelos and TE Kade Eldridge), while Washington has 52 players who call California home.
*USC RB Woody Marks, USC CB DeCarlos Nicholson and Washington QB Will Rogers were teammates at Mississippi State from 2022-23.
*USC TE Walker Lyons and Washington S Cameron Broussard are both from Folsom, Calif. and were teammates at Folsom HS in 2022.
*USC LB Marcelles Williams, USC P Rey Sanchez, Washington CB Elijah Jackson and Washington LB Deven Bryant are all from Carson, Calif.
*USC LB Marcelles Williams, Washington CB Khmori House and Washington LB Deven Bryant were teammates at St. John Bosco from 2020-22.
*USC DT Kobe Pepe and Washington LB Deven Bryant prepped at St. John Bosco together in 2019.
*USC DT Ratumana Bulabalavu, USC DT Devan Thompkins and Washington RB Jonah Coleman are from Stockton, Calif.
*USC QB Miller Moss, USC WR Xavier Jordan, USC QB Dylan Gebbia, USC CB Ryan Quintanar, Washington CB Jordan Shaw, Washington OL Kahlee Tafai and Washington CB Thaddeus Dixon are all from Los Angeles, Calif.
*USC QB Jack Stupin and Washington DL Annas Davis prepped at Tustin HS together in 2023.
*USC CB Jacobe Covington, USC SNP Hank Pepper, Washington QB Demond Williams Jr. and Washington EDGE Russell Davis II are all from Chandler, Ariz.
*USC P Rey Sanchez and Washington CB Thaddeus Dixon were teammates at Long Beach Community College in 2022.
*USC OL Kalolo Ta'aga and Washington OL Soane Faasolo are both from East Palo Alto, Calif.
*USC QB Miller Moss, USC QB Dylan Gebbia, USC CB Jaylin Smith, Washington CB Ephesians Prysock and Washington WR Kevin Green Jr. all prepped at Bishop Alemany HS.
*USC DE Anthony Lucas and Washington PK Grady Gross are both from Scottsdale, Ariz.
*USC WR Zachariah Branch, USC S Zion Branch, USC DE Garrett Pomerantz and Washington WR Audric Harris were teammates at Bishop Gorman HS from 2020-21.
*USC CB John Humphrey and Washington CB Khmori House are both from Pasadena, Calif.
*USC OL Amos Talalele and Washington OL Justin Hylkema are both from Santa Clara, Calif.
*USC Defensive Ends Coach Shaun Nua served as the defensive line coach at Michigan while Washington WR Giles Jackson played from Michigan in 2019-2020.
*USC OL Jack Susnjar and Washington QB Shea Kuykendall are both from San Pedro, Calif.
*USC OL Mason Murphy, USC CB Prophet Brown, and Washington TE Keleki Latu are all from Sacramento, Calif.
*USC TE Walker Lyons and Washington RB Daniyel Ngata were teammates at Folsom HS in 2019.
*USC P Eddie Czaplicki, USC LB Eric Gentry and Washington RB Daniyel Ngata were teammates at Arizona State in 2021.
*USC TE Walker Lyons and Washington DL Deshawn Lynch are both from Folsom, Calif.
*USC CB Isaiah Ruben, USC TE CJ Woods, USC DT Kobe Pepe, Washington WR Jason Robinson Jr. and Washington RB Jordan Washington are all from Long Beach, Calif.
*USC TE Kade Eldridge and Washington P Troy Petz are both from Lynden, Wash.
*USC RB King Miller, USC OL Kaylon Miller, and Washington TE Wilson Schwartz all prepped at Calabasas HS.
*USC OL Micah Banuelos and Washington OL D'Angalo Titialii are both from Auburn, Wash.
*USC S Bryson Shaw and Washington OL Enokk Vimahi were teammates at Ohio State from 2019-21.
*USC K Garth White and Washington WR Justice Williams both prepped at Oaks Christian HS and are from Westlake Village, Calif.
*USC S Christian Pierce and Washington S Rahim Wright II are both from Fontana, Calif.
*Washington S Justin Harrington played for USC Head Coach Lincoln Riley at Oklahoma from 2020-21.
*USC Co-Defensive Coordinator / Run Game Coordinator / Defensive Line Coach Eric Henderson served as the defensive line coach at the Los Angeles Rams, while Washington Head Coach Jedd Fisch served as senior offensive assistant / assistant offensive coordinator at the Rams in 2019.
*USC Senior Associate Athletic Director for Football / General Manager Dave Emerick served in a similar role at Mississippi State, while USC RB Woody Marks and Washington QB Will Rogers III were on the Mississippi State roster from 2020-21.
*USC Assistant Director of Football Sports Performance Adam Thackery had a similar position at Washington State, while Washington Cornerbacks Coach John Richardson served in the same role at Washington State in 2020. At that time, now Washington Director of Athletics Pat Chun was the athletic director at Washington State.
*USC Director of Football Communications Katie Ryan and Washington's Director of Football Technology Jacob Otten both attended Cal Poly San Luis Obispo and worked with the Cal Poly football program.
*Washington Assistant Athletic Director for Athletic Communications Jeff Bechthold is a graduate of USC earning his bachelor's degree in sports information in 1990. He interned in the USC Sports Information Department as an undergrad.
*Washington Offensive Coordinator & Offensive Line Coach Brennan Carroll served as recruiting coordinator & tight ends coach at USC from 2004-09 and as a graduate assistant from 2002-03. Carroll is also the son of former USC head coach Pete Carroll.
*Washington Offensive Quality Control Analyst Luke Del Rio is the son of Jack Del Rio, a consensus All-American linebacker at USC.
*Washington Offensive Quality Control Analyst Caleb Wilson played tight end at USC in 2015. His father, Chris Wilson, was USC's defensive line coach in 2014.
*USC Charles Griffin Cale Director of Athletics Jen Cohen served as director of athletics at Washington from 2016-23.
*USC Deputy Athletic Director & Chief of Staff Jay Hilbrands served in multiple roles at Washington including deputy athletic director for external operations from 2018-23.
*USC Deputy Athletic Director & Chief Operating Officer Jason Cappadoro served as senior associate athletic director / chief financial officer at Washington in 2023.
*USC Senior Associate Athletic Director / Chief Development Officer Michael Rorabaugh served as associate athletic director for advancement at Washington from 2017-20.
*Washington Assistant Men's Basketball Coach DeMarlo Slocum served as director of basketball operations at USC from 2005-06.
*USC men's basketball Assistant Coach Will Conroy spent the last 9 seasons on the men's basketball coaching staff at Washington.
*USC men's basketball Assistant Coach Quincy Pondexter served as an assistant coach at Washington, his alma mater, for the 2022-24 seasons.
*USC's Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Operations Joseph Wood earned his bachelor's degree in economics and political science from Washington in 2010 and was previously an assistant in the football equipment room.
*Associate Director of Operations and Student Services for Football Cheryl Taplin held a similar role at Washington from 2007-13.
*Laura Freimuth, Director of Administration for Washington women's basketball, held various staff positions with USC women's basketball (2006-09).
*USC Senior Associate Athletic Director for Strategic Communications & Brand Advancement Cody Worsham served as associate athletic director / chief brand officer at LSU, while Washington men's tennis Associate Head Coach Luc Godin served as LSU's men's tennis head coach from 2020-24.
*USC Director of Operations, Facilities & Event Management Jordan Grays served as an athletic events coordinator at UC Davis, while Washington gymnastics Head Coach Jessa Hansen Parker served as assistant gymnastics coach and recruiting coordinator at UC Davis from 2016-18.
*USC women's soccer Head Coach Jane Alukonis served as a women's soccer assistant coach at UCLA, while Washington women's volleyball Assistant Coach Michael Brunsting served as a volunteer assistant coach at UCLA in 2021.
*USC Associate Athletic Director for Development Dr. Parker Poliakoff served in a similar role at Miami, while Washington DL Logan Sagapolu and Washington EDGE Jayden Wayne both played for Miami in 2023.
*USC Associate Athletic Director (Operations) & Galen Center General Manager Paul Neidermire served as director of event management at Michigan, while Washington Head Coach Jedd Fisch served as quarterbacks / wide receivers / pass game coordinator at Michigan from 2015-16.
*USC track and field Assistant Coach for Jumps and Multi-Events Jeff Petersmeyer was the head track and field coach at San José State, while Washington Wide Receivers Coach Kevin Cummings served in a similar role at San José State from 2017-2018.
*USC women's volleyball Associate Head Coach Spencer McLachlin played outside hitter at Stanford, while Washington Tight Ends Coach & Special Teams Coordinator Jordan Paopao served as a recruiting assistant at Stanford from 2008-09.
WASHINGTON SCOUTING REPORT
*Washington lost 31-17 to undefeated Indiana in Bloomington, Ind. on Saturday, Oct. 26.
*It was UW's third loss in its past four games.
*In Jedd Fisch's first season in Seattle, he is 4-4 (2-3 Big Ten).
*The Huskies are still winless on the road, despite out gaining their opponents in every game this season.
*However, Washington is undefeated at home.
*The Huskies haven't scored at least 20 points since Sept. 21 when they beat Northwestern 24-5 in Seattle.
*Against Indiana, QB Will Rogers was 19-for-26 (.731) for 202 yards, but was intercepted twice (including a pick-6) and had no TDs.
*WR Giles Jackson scored a 6-yard rushing TD, and K Grady Gross kicked a 23-yard FG.
*Freshman QB Demond Williams Jr. had the team's other score on an 8-yard rushing TD.
*The Huskies were missing junior left tackle Maximus McCree, out with a dislocated thumb, against the Hoosiers.
*Overall on the season, Rogers is 172-of-238 (.723) for 2,022 yards with 13 TDs and 4 INTs.
*Washington is No. 2 in the nation (and No. 2 in the Big Ten) in completion percentage (0.725).
*Rogers is ranked No. 5 in the nation (and No. 4 in the Big Ten) in completion percentage (0.723).
*Rogers has fumbled 6 times this season, which is tied for third-most among Power 4 Conference QBs.
*RB Jonah Coleman has recorded 118 carries for 785 yards (6.7 avg.) and 5 TDs.
*Coleman is ranked No. 13 in the nation (and No. 2 in the Big Ten) in rushing yards per carry (6.65), and No. 16 in the nation (and No. 4 in the Big Ten) in rushing yards per game (98.1).
*UW's top two receivers are WR Giles Jackson (49 receptions for 553 yards [11.3 avg.] and 2 TDs) and WR Denzel Boston (44 receptions for 583 yards [13.3 avg.] and 9 TDs).
*Boston is ranked No. 4 in the nation (and No. 1 in the Big Ten) in receiving TDs (9). He has averaged a TD every 4.9 receptions which is the sixth-best receptions per TD rate among FBS receivers.
*Boston has caught 7 TD passes in the Red Zone this season which is tied for the most among FBS receivers.
*Washington's defense is ranked No. 1 in the nation (and No. 1 in the Big Ten) in passing yards allowed (123.1), No. 3 in the nation (and No. 1 in the Big Ten) in team passing efficiency defense (94.33) and No. 6 in the nation (and No. 4 in the Big Ten) in total defense 272.0).
*LB Carson Bruener leads the Huskies with 55 tackles
*The Huskies have recorded 14 sacks this season, including 2.5 each from EDGE Zach Durfee and LB Alphonzo Tuputala.
*Saturday's game is Washington's homecoming game. This is the second time this season USC has played in an opponent's homecoming game (Maryland was also homecoming)
SCOUT TEAM PLAYERS OF THE WEEK
*Each week following a win, head coach Lincoln Riley will honor 3 Scout Team Players of the Week.
*Offensive Scout Team Player of the Week: WR Donovan Wood
*Defensive Scout Team Player of the Week: LB Ryan Quintanar
*Special Teams Scout Team Player of the Week: WR Asante Das
