TEMPE, Ariz. (AP) — No. 5 Southern California has regarded unstoppable to date this season.
The Trojans are scoring in bunches, quarterback Caleb Williams has been very good after successful the Heisman Trophy a 12 months in the past and USC has gained by a minimum of 27 factors in every of its three video games.
Now the Trojans hit the street for the primary time, dealing with an Arizona State workforce that’s battered and struggling. With a marquee sport at No. 19 Colorado on the horizon, the Trojans can’t afford a letup.
“The large deal is to not be shocked by something, to grasp that it’s nonetheless soccer, however it’s going to really feel completely different than taking part in at dwelling and the challenges are going to be completely different,” USC coach Lincoln Riley mentioned. “We’ve acquired to have the ability to present them, and we’ve acquired to have the ability to stroll them by means of that and put together them.”
Nothing has fazed the Trojans (3-0, 1-0 Pac-12) to date.
USC has scored a minimum of 56 factors in its first three video games and is coming off its highest-scoring sport towards Stanford because the sequence began in 1905, a 56-10 dwelling win final weekend. The Trojans have a minimum of 500 yards of offense in 4 straight video games courting to final season.
Williams has been stellar in his Heisman observe up, throwing for 878 yards and 12 TDs in eight quarters over three video games. He’s second within the FBS in landing passes and fifth in completion proportion at 78.6%.
Even when the Solar Devils (1-2) have been wholesome, it will be a frightening process. Now that they’ve been decimated by accidents early in coach Kenny Dillingham’s first season, it’s going to be an much more formidable problem.
“I need to be on a workforce that it’s a must to grind and scratch, crawl and compete and struggle, and dive for unfastened balls, the place it’s a must to do every part needed to provide your self an opportunity to win,” Dillingham mentioned. “That is my world, simply in life that is my world and I find it irresistible — that’s what I like. If you’re scared to play anyone, like go away, we don’t want you within the constructing.”
QUARTERBACK CAROUSEL
Arizona State needed to play with out beginning quarterback Jaden Rashada towards Fresno State final week resulting from an undisclosed harm.
The hits stored coming.
Backup Trenton Bourguet injured his foot on the sport’s second drive, then Drew Pyne went down with a leg harm.
That left it as much as fourth-stringer Jacob Conover, a former four-star recruit who transferred from BYU. Conover threw for 89 yards on 6-of-16 passing with two interceptions.
The Solar Devils head into Saturday’s sport with Rashada and Bourguet out. Pyne might be able to play with what Dillingham referred to as a muscle harm, however he could begin Conover towards the Trojans.
“I believe Jacob did a pleasant job coming in from no reps in apply and simply executing,” Dillingham mentioned. “His interceptions, one in all them he’d wish to have again and one other was simply him forcing the ball in a sport the place we didn’t get something going. I acquired a variety of religion in Jacob if he takes the sector.”
ALL THOSE RECEIVERS
Williams had a stellar 2022 season on a workforce loaded with gifted receivers. The reigning Heisman Trophy winner has much more choices to choose from this season.
USC has arguably the very best receiving group within the nation.
Tahj Washington leads the Trojans with 9 catches for 233 yards and three touchdowns, averaging practically 26 yards per catch. Duce Robinson has eight catches for 186 yards and Brenden Rice additionally has three touchdowns.
USC has accomplished passes to 12 gamers in all three video games this season.
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AP faculty soccer: https://apnews.com/hub/college-football and https://apnews.com/hub/ap-top-25-college-football-poll