The USC Trojans are heading into Saturday’s game against Washington with plenty hanging over them, and not all of it is about the matchup itself.
No. 18 USC returns to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 3 looking to recover from a 41-27 loss to No.
15 Oregon. The Trojans are 4-1, but the questions around their defense under new coordinator Gary Patterson have only grown louder.
With ranked games still coming against No. 5 Ohio State on Oct.
31, No. 6 Indiana on Nov. 14, and No.
23 UCLA on Nov. 28, this one carries obvious weight for Lincoln Riley’s team in his fifth season.
The injury picture is part of the concern. USC could be missing several key pieces against the Huskies, including wide receivers Trent Mosley and Corey Simms. Friday’s availability report brought more movement: Mosley and offensive lineman Hayden Treter were downgraded, while defensive lineman Jahkeem Stewart was upgraded.
Washington has also been a tough matchup for the Trojans lately. USC has dropped three straight in the series, with its last win coming in 2016 under Clay Helton. The Trojans also haven’t beaten the Huskies at the Coliseum since 2011, when Matt Barkley was running the offense.
The biggest issue on Saturday may be how USC handles Washington quarterback Demond Williams Jr. He’s been productive in every phase through four games against Washington State, Utah State, Eastern Washington and Minnesota. Williams has thrown for 1,129 yards, seven touchdowns and three interceptions, and he’s also the Huskies’ leading rusher with 40 carries for 165 yards and two scores.
USC will also have to keep an eye on Dezmen Roebuck, who has taken over as Washington’s top receiver after the offseason departure of Denzel Boston. Roebuck has 30 catches for 308 yards and one touchdown entering the game, and the Trojans’ secondary can’t afford to let him get loose.
For Riley, the message this week has been simple.
“By winning, just by winning,” Riley said earlier this week. “Look, we didn’t get run out of the stadium. There’s a lot of good things on that tape, there’s a lot of young guys making a lot of plays, there’s a lot of good on that tape.”
“You don’t have a chance to win like that if you don’t do some things pretty well. We gotta capitalize on those, and we got to attack the areas we gotta be better at.
We got another great opportunity to do it here Saturday against Washington. We’re ready for them,” Riley continued.
A win would do more than just steady USC for a week. With some fans already losing confidence in the direction of the season, beating Washington would go a long way toward calming things down in Los Angeles.
After this one, the Trojans head on the road for games against Penn State on Oct. 10 and Wisconsin on Oct. 24. Those trips have been a problem area for Riley’s teams, and what happens there could shape how the rest of this season is judged.
DraftKings Sportsbook lists USC as an 8.5-point favorite, with the over/under set at 58.5 points. Kickoff is set for 4:30 p.m. PT at the Coliseum, and the game will air on NBC.
In Other News...
USC Is Still Watching A 5-Star RB Shut Down Flip Buzz
Kemon Spell remains one of the biggest names in the 2027 recruiting class, and USC is still in the mix as it keeps pressing for the top-ranked running back. Spell is already committed to Georgia, but the Trojans have continued to stay involved alongside Penn State and Virginia Tech, a sign that his recruitment still has a long way to go before it feels truly settled.
Spells path has already included one notable turn, going from a Penn State pledge to Georgia after a coaching change in Happy Valley. Even with the extra attention from USC and the other programs, he has publicly reaffirmed his commitment to the Bulldogs, which leaves the Trojans watching closely as one of the classs most coveted backs keeps drawing the kind of national interest that usually doesnt fade quietly. [Read more 🡒]
Oregon Suddenly Faces A Bigger Dante Moore Question Than Just His Injury
Oregons quarterback situation took a sharp turn after Dante Moore was hurt on a targeting play and taken to the hospital, but Dan Lannings update offered at least some immediate reassurance. Lanning said Moore is healthy and still being evaluated, though the Ducks have not announced any timetable for his return. In the meantime, the offense did not stall, with backup Dylan Raiola stepping in and helping lead Oregon to a win after the injury.
Now the bigger question is not only when Moore will be back, but how Oregon manages the next stretch if it has to plan around both quarterbacks. Raiola has already shown he can keep the Ducks moving, and the staff is preparing for upcoming games with that reality in mind. For a team with its sights set on staying on schedule, the uncertainty at quarterback is becoming more than a short-term injury update. [Read more 🡒]
Mike Norvell Just Entered A Florida State Debate Fans Dread
Lincoln Riley, Mike Norvell and Shane Beamer all find themselves in a similar spot this fall, with each coach feeling the heat after uneven starts and a schedule that could turn quickly on them. For USC fans, the attention naturally circles back to Riley, whose hefty buyout and recent losses keep every stumble under a microscope. Around the same time, Florida State has its own unease building as Norvell tries to steady a 2-2 start while the Seminoles stare at a brutal October stretch.
Pete Nakos laid out how quickly the pressure can shift from concern to conversation about bigger changes, and Florida States situation is the one that has begun to draw the most uneasy chatter. The Seminoles are already being linked in some corners to thoughts of a familiar face, while Norvells path through the next few weeks could decide whether the noise stays background buzz or becomes something far more serious. [Read more 🡒]