The No. 8 USC Trojans open their 2015 season at home against Arkansas State on Saturday night, and nobody’s entirely sure what to expect from the Trojans.
How to watch Arkansas State vs. USC on TV or online, plus 3 things to know
The Trojans kick off their 2015 campaign with a challenging Arkansas State team. Here’s how you can watch, and what to look for.
USC is out from underneath the long shadow of NCAA sanctions, and the team is loaded with talent. Quarterback Cody Kessler is back for another year, they still have scads of talented running backs, and the defense has lots of experience coming back. But they’re stuck in the middle of the pack in the crowded Pac-12 South, and could just as easily end up in fourth place as they could first.
Arkansas State is in the rare circumstance where they’re entering a new season with the same head coach they had the year before. Blake Anderson has stuck around, and the Redwolves boast an impressive quarterback in Fredi Knighten. He has the ability to make plays in both the air and on the ground, and could present issues for the Trojan defense.
The staff over at SB Nation’s USC blog, Conquest Chronicles, seem pretty confident of a big USC victory.
How to watch, stream and listen
TV: 11 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Networks [or Pac-12 Los Angeles, until the Oregon game ends], Ted Robinson, Glenn Parker and Jill Savage
Radio: USC | Arkansas State
Online streaming: Pac-12 Video
Three big things to know
What about Sark? USC head coach Steve Sarkisian has had a rough few weeks, showing up visibly drunk to a donor event and generally making a fool of himself. People were generally skeptical of him when he got the USC job after a not-so-dazzling run at Washington, but an opening week flop against a Sun Belt team could put him on the hot seat years ahead of schedule. It’s not likely, but we’re just saying.
Strength against weakness. Arkansas State had problems containing the run last season, which is bad news considering the talent USC has in the backfield. The Trojans are going to try to pound this game out on the ground, and it will be a surprise if Arkansas State can stop them.
How about a pass rush? Even with the stellar Leonard Williams, USC’s pass rush wasn’t anything special in 2014. He’s now a New York Jet, and it’s hard to say right now who’s going to put the pressure on quarterbacks for the Trojans. This would be an excellent opportunity for someone to grab that bull by the horns.
Further reading
For more on the Trojans, check out Conquest Chronicles and Pacific Takes.
For more on Arkansas State, head over to Underdog Dynasty.
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