USC heads into Saturday’s matchup with Washington carrying both urgency and uncertainty.
The No. 18 Trojans are trying to shake off a 41-27 loss to No.
15 Oregon and get back on track at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, where they’ll meet the Huskies in a primetime spot at 4:30 p.m. PT on NBC.
USC has dropped three straight against Washington, and the Trojans haven’t beaten the Huskies since 2016.
Wednesday’s availability report offered the first snapshot of who might be ready, and Thursday’s update didn’t change much for USC as the team prepares for a game that matters for its College Football Playoff hopes.
The bigger concern remains on the defensive side, where the Trojans have yet to find the kind of identity Gary Patterson was brought in to create. USC’s defense has given up 30 or more points in three games this season, against Louisiana, Rutgers, and Oregon, and the Ducks again exposed the same issues that have followed the Trojans through the early part of the year.
Washington brings a different kind of challenge, starting with quarterback Demond Williams Jr. The Huskies are coming off a 27-24 home loss to Minnesota, their first defeat of the season, but Williams has still put together a productive start. Through four games against Washington State, Utah State, Eastern Washington, and Minnesota, he has thrown for 1,129 yards, seven touchdowns, and three interceptions while completing 69.3% of his passes.
He’s not just a passer, either. Williams leads Washington in rushing with 165 yards and two touchdowns on 40 carries, which makes him a tough assignment for a USC defense that can’t afford to let him win in multiple ways.
Dezman Roebuck has become the top target in the Washington passing game after taking over the No. 1 wide receiver role previously held by Cleveland Browns rookie Denzel Boston. Roebuck has 30 catches for 308 yards and one touchdown.
For USC, the pressure will fall on a defensive front that includes Jide Abasiri, Jahkeem Stewart, and true freshman Luke Wafle. Stewart, who is listed as questionable, made his season debut in Week 4 against Oregon and is hoping to make another impact.
DraftKings Sportsbook lists USC as a 9.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 58.5 points.
The Trojans hold a 51-32-4 edge in the all-time series, and their last win at the Coliseum over Washington came in 2011, when USC beat the Huskies 40-17 under former star quarterback Matt Barkley.
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Ahead of a must-win feel to the matchup, the Trojans are also sorting through injury updates while trying to get a clean read on what Washington brings with quarterback Demond Williams Jr. USC still has plenty to play for, but with the margin getting thinner, the pressure around this one is hard to miss. [Read more 🡒]
USC Defense Faces A Bigger Concern Entering Must-Win Washington Game
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