After an exciting 27-20 victory over then-No. 13 LSU at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Sunday, USC soccer returns dwelling to the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum for its dwelling opener. With the win over the Tigers within the Modelo Vegas Kickoff Basic, the Trojans jumped 10 spots within the Related Press High 25, hovering to No. 13 after clocking in at No. 23 within the AP’s preseason ballot.
Along with USC transferring up within the polls and incomes considered one of its greatest victories below head coach Lincoln Riley, redshirt junior quarterback Miller Moss earned the Large Ten’s Offensive Participant of the Week award for his standout efficiency in opposition to the Tigers.
Moss went 27-for-36 and threw for 378 yards with a landing, connecting with 10 totally different receivers within the course of. Whereas Moss ought to proceed to benefit from the depth in USC’s receiver room, he also needs to not be afraid to feed the new hand ought to he have one in opposition to Utah State.
The run sport, nonetheless, was not as efficient as Moss’s deadly passing assault. Redshirt senior working again Woody Marks accounted for 2 dashing touchdowns, together with the game-winning rating with eight seconds remaining on the clock. The Trojans must get the working backs extra concerned so the offense can have a extra balanced assault in opposition to the Aggies.
Whereas Moss was busy torching the LSU protection, the USC protection debuted its new scheme below first-year coordinator D’Anton Lynn. Whereas the Trojans did permit LSU quarterback Garrett Nussmeier to throw for 304 yards and two touchdowns, they restricted the Tigers to solely 117 dashing yards.
Defensively, redshirt sophomore security Kamari Ramsey and senior linebacker Eric Gentry, who mixed for 16 tackles in opposition to LSU, will play essential roles in stopping Utah State’s offense. Whereas the run-game protection restricted the Tigers’ capability to hold the ball, the USC secondary struggled to deliver down LSU’s receivers. Taking part in the Aggies offers the Trojans a chance to repair the errors from the LSU sport, particularly with a frightening problem at Michigan two weeks away.
USC at present holds a 6-0 file in opposition to upcoming opponent Utah State, with each sport happening on the Coliseum. The Trojans final performed the Aggies in 2016, after they beat USU 45-7 on September 16 within the second sport of the season.
The Aggies gained their first sport at dwelling in Logan, Utah 36-14 over FCS crew Robert Morris to additionally begin their season 1-0. Regardless of the win over RMU, Utah State is working below interim head coach Nate Dreiling after former head coach Blake Anderson was fired in July for “actions [that] violated each his employment settlement and college coverage.”
With an damage to USU quarterback Spencer Petras, former Utah quarterback Bryson Barnes — who helped Utah beat USC 34-32 final season on the Coliseum — may get the beginning in Week 2 for the Aggies after coming in for Petras in opposition to RMU final week.
The Trojans will make their Large Ten Community debut after they kick off their second sport of the season within the Coliseum on Saturday at 8 p.m. in opposition to the Aggies.