USC hasn’t lost a conference game since firing Steve Sarkisian on Oct. 12. Can Arizona end that streak and climb up a rung on the Pac-12 South ladder with a win?
Arizona vs. USC 2015: Start time, live stream, TV schedule and 3 things to know
USC is rising back towards the top 25 under interim head coach Clay Helton, but can it keep its offensive momentum moving forward without star receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster against Arizona?
The Trojans started interim head coach Clay Helton’s tenure with a loss to then-No. 14 Notre Dame, but they’ve gone 2-0 since then and recorded wins over then-No. 3 Utah and California. Those victories have USC on the brink of reentering the top 25 after a 3-3 start to the season. Arizona is headed in the opposite direction. Their defense has given up 94 points in losses to Washington and Washington State over their last two games. The Wildcats are 5-4, but the rest of their schedule exclusively features teams that are currently .500 or above. Beating Southern Cal on Saturday may be their best shot at a return to the postseason in 2015.
USC will look to exploit Arizona's shortcomings, but they'll have to do it without standout wide receiver JuJu Smith-Schuster, who is out for the game after breaking his hand. They'll also be missing wideouts Isaac Whitney and Ajene Harris, which could swing the balance of the Trojan playbook toward the running game. Still, even a hamstrung USC passing attack could wind up having a big night against the Wildcats -- Arizona ranks 116th among FBS teams when it comes to passing yardage allowed in 2015.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 10:30 p.m. ET, ESPN
Online streaming: WatchESPN
Spread: USC is favored by 18 points.
Make friends: Get to SB Nation’s team blog chats for this game at Conquest Chronicles (for USC fans) and Arizona Desert Swarm (for Arizona fans).
Three big things to know
1. Does Helton have the kind of cache to win the USC head coaching job outright? He doesn’t have the brand name that the Trojan boosters traditionally pine for, but it will be hard to argue with his credentials if he can bring his team back to the top 15 in 2015. USC can take the Pac-12 South crown if they win out and No. 12 Utah loses once more in the regular season; if they do, would that be enough to scratch the “interim” label off Helton’s nameplate? Of course, if the Trojans lose on Saturday, the point may be moot.
2. Anu Solomon hasn't thrown a touchdown pass during Arizona's two-game losing streak and only has three in five Pac-12 games this season. It's clear that the Wildcats need him to break out in order to have a chance against USC, especially with their defense foundering in recent weeks. Can he return to the form that made him a breakout star as a freshman last season?
3. The moderately unstoppable force vs. the extremely movable object. USC’s top 20 offense will square off against an Arizona defense that has fallen out of the top 100 when it comes to scoring defense. Expect some fireworks from the Trojans on Saturday night; if the Wildcats want to win on the road, it’ll likely have to happen in a shootout.
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