UCLA vs. USC 2017 live stream: Time and how to watch online

The No. 11 USC Trojans (9-2) have won the Pac-12 South and secured a spot in the conference title game. Now they wrap up the regular season against their crosstown rival UCLA Bruins (5-5) in a battle of Los Angeles that starts at 8 p.m. ET on ABC (live stream at WatchESPN).

The Trojans are now the favorite to win the Pac-12 Championship after the Washington Huskies stumbled in Stanford last week. They also sit on the fringes of College Football Playoff contention, but they’ll need a lot of help if they hope to move up the ranks.

While USC’s losses are to quality opponents (Washington State and Notre Dame), it’s still two losses, and that puts the Trojans on the outside looking in for now. Even if they win the conference, a New Year’s Six spot (possibly the Fiesta Bowl with the Rose Bowl hosting a Playoff game this year) remains their likely postseason destination.

With all that said, the Trojans have been firing on all cylinders since their Notre Dame loss, taking care of Arizona State, Arizona, and Colorado with little trouble. They also have a historical advantage over UCLA, owning a 48-31-7 record in this rivalry and winning the past two contests. Sam Darnold will look to end the regular season on a high note after struggling with consistency most of the year.

Things aren’t going quite so well for the Bruins, teetering on the edge of bowl eligibility after losing three of their last five games. They did manage to break a two-game losing streak last week by beating Arizona State, 44-37, with Josh Rosen throwing for 381 yards and contributing two touchdowns (one passing, one rushing).

Still, all is not well in Pasadena, and Jim Mora finds himself firmly on the hot seat. If UCLA loses to USC and falls to 5-6, then Mora could be fighting for his job in next week’s game against California — if he’s not already on the way out by then.

It’s been diminishing returns ever since 2014, when Mora’s team went 10-3 and finished No. 10 in the AP Poll. Missing a bowl game two years in a row will not sit well with fans or boosters — especially given the presence of Rosen, universally considered one of the best quarterback prospects in the country when Mora recruited him.

Josh Rosen and Sam Darnold are both in the Top 10 for passing yards this season, and only about 100 yards separates them (I’d bet Rosen would be ranked higher if he hadn’t missed a game and a half). Are Rosen’s stats reflective of a team that has a struggling run game, or is he the real captain of the Bruin offense? Darnold has a better line to protect him, so would Rosen be in the Heisman race if the five guys in front of him gave him more protection?

The offense absolutely carried this grade, and the defense was definitely helped by bad decisions from the ASU coaching staff, but overall, not a bad outing after a series of disasters.

The problem now is that UCLA technically goes on the road this week. Oh, and Southern Cal is the best team they’ll have played all season. Here’s hoping Jim Mora and staff have it in them to finally beat a Clay Helton team.

Iman Marshall vs Christian Pabico

Although Jack Jones has become the most consistent corner for USC this year and WR Darren Andrews is the #1 target for UCLA this year, the more enticing matchup is between former high school teammates. Pabico has caught 14 passes this season for 248 yards (17.7 average) and a touchdown. Marshall has been known for his big playmaking ability in the Trojan secondary, but has lacked consistent man coverage. Both Pabico and Marshall shared they only had positive text messages between the two heading into the matchup, but expect each to have a little extra motivation on the gridiron,

With the Bruins fading down the stretch, there aren’t many compelling reasons to expect a letdown from the Trojans here. USC comfortably puts away its rival and starts preparing for the conference title game. UCLA starts ramping up its coaching search.