LOS ANGELES-Friday, the No. 10 (The Associated Press poll) and No. 11 (coaches’ poll) Utah Utes leave the Beehive State for the first time this season as they face fellow Pac-12 South foe USC for a tilt at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
The Utes have won only once previously at USC in their history, prevailing over the Trojans 27-12 in 1916.
Since joining the Pac-12 in 2011, the Utes are 34-39 against their fellow conference schools. In their all-time history, Utah is 110-157-6 against the Pac-12.
Oddly enough, the 3-0 Utes are one of only four teams in NCAA Division I FBS football not to allow a sack this season.
Senior tailback Zack Moss is tied for sixth in the nation with 373 yards and four rushing touchdowns. Should he run for 100 yards against the Trojans, this would be his 14th career 100-yard rushing game for the Utes, the most in school history. Moss’ 124.3 yards per game rank him eighth nationally, tied with Oklahoma quarterback Jalen Hurts.
The Utes’ rushing offense is 32nd in the nation (226 yards per game), and 7th nationally against the run, surrendering only 65 yards per contest on the ground. The Utes have held BYU, Northern Illinois and Idaho State under 100 yards on the ground in the first three games of the season.
Furthermore, Utah is eighth nationally in interceptions (4) and total yards surrendered per game (239.3 yards) and 13th in first downs allowed (37).
Utah ranks second nationally in passing efficiency, completing 78.7 percent of their passes. Utes senior signal-caller Tyler Huntley has completed 77.7 percent of his passes on the season (42-54,) for 602 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions. This ranks him 7th nationally in passing efficiency with a rating of 195.90.
Sophomore tight end Brant Kuithe (7 rec, 143 yards, TD, 20.4 yards per reception) is the Utes’ leading receiver.
Senior defensive end Bradlee Anae has three sacks on the season to lead the Utes, while sophomore linebacker Devin Lloyd has two more sacks for Utah.
Senior defensive back Julian Blackmon has two interceptions to pace the Utes in that stat.
USC comes into this game at 2-1, on the heels of a 30-27 overtime loss at Provo against BYU.
The Trojans score 34.3 points per game (tied for 47th nationally with Wake Forest and Colorado State) and surrender 24.3 points per game (tied for 64th nationally with Duke and Ohio).
Freshman signal-caller Kedon Slovis comes into Friday’s game completing 77.3 percent of his passes for 715 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions.
Redshirt junior tailback Vavae Malepeai has run for 272 yards and four scores on the season for the Trojans as their leading rusher thus far.
Redshirt junior receiver Tyler Vaughns (23 rec, 321 yards, TD) and senior receiver Michael Pittman Jr. (21 rec, 205 yards, 2 TD’s) are the Trojans’ leading receivers.
Freshman defensive lineman Drake Jackson (2 sacks, forced fumble) and redshirt sophomore safety Isaiah Pola-Mao and redshirt sophomore cornerback Greg Johnson (an interception apiece) are USC’s defensive leaders.
USC leads Utah 11-6 all-time.
