The Washington Huskies are heading on the road for the first time this season, and they’ll do it without one of USC’s most experienced defenders in the lineup.
Washington and No. 18 Southern California are set for a 4:30 p.m.
PT kickoff Saturday at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum, with the Huskies leaving Seattle after opening the year 3-1 at home. Their only loss so far came in their Big Ten opener, a 27-24 defeat to Minnesota on Sept.
The matchup also comes with a notable USC absence. Junior linebacker Desman Stephens has been suspended for one game after being ejected for an illegal hit in the Trojans’ 42-27 loss to Oregon last Saturday.
The play came on Oregon quarterback Dante Moore, who began to slide before Stephens still completed the tackle. The flag and ejection followed, and Moore needed medical attention before being carted off the field. Stephens then continued celebrating while Moore was down with trainers.
Stephens later apologized for both the hit and his reaction, but USC coach Lincoln Riley still decided to suspend him for Washington. In a statement, Riley said, "Desman's actions in (the game against Oregon) are unacceptable and not reflective of USC Football nor of his personal character," Riley said in a statement."
He understands his mistake, accepts the consequences of his actions and will learn from this. The entire Trojan family wishes Dante a full recovery, and we send our best regards to him and his family."
A third-year player with the program, Stephens has appeared in 26 games over his freshman and sophomore seasons and all five this year. He’s recorded 19 tackles, including 12 solo stops, 1.5 tackles for loss, half a sack and one pass defended through five games.
Washington should have a couple of familiar faces back on defense, too. Fourth-year starting outside cornerback Emmanuel Karnley is expected to return after missing the last two games with a soft tissue injury, and third-year nickelback Rahshawn Clark will be at full speed after being limited to return duties against Minnesota.
The Huskies are also trying to get back into the AP Top 25 conversation. They didn’t receive a vote in the latest poll after the loss to Minnesota, so a win over USC would give them a much-needed boost.
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The issues have been compounded by a thin backfield, with injuries slicing into the group Washington expected to lean on. Jordan Washington, Quaid Carr, Jayden Limar and Julian McMahan have all been part of the setback, leaving Brian Bonner and Trey Cooley to handle most of the load while Ansu Sanoe and Ryken Moon fill in around them. The result is a rotation still trying to settle, and the bigger concern is whether the Huskies can stabilize it before the absence list gets any longer. [Read more 🡒]
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TaMere Robinson is the veteran now asked to step into the spot and steady things for USC, bringing experience from his time at Penn State into a game that figures to test his range and discipline. For Washington, it adds another wrinkle to a matchup that already had enough intrigue, because the Huskies may have found one more area where they can press an opponent that suddenly has to adjust on the fly. [Read more 🡒]
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For Washington, the trip also comes with a sharper edge because it is no longer just about getting through another Saturday, it is about answering the doubts that have followed the program through the first month. USC offers a clear measuring stick, and the outcome should say plenty about where the Huskies stand in the Pac-12 race and how much more they still need to prove before anyone is ready to trust them fully. [Read more 🡒]