The Associated Press
No. 14 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA (1-0) at No. 13 STANFORD (1-0), 3:30 p.m. (ABC)
Line: Stanford by 2½.
Series Record: USC leads 58-29-3.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
The winner will take an early edge in the Pac-12 standings and the inaugural College Football Playoff race. The loser will face an uphill climb in a loaded conference where September losses can be costly.
KEY MATCHUP
USC defensive end Leonard Williams vs. Stanford left tackle Andrus Peat. This matchup could be shifting to the NFL soon, as both are projected to be high first-round picks in next year’s draft. Williams controlled the line of scrimmage and had an interception in USC’s 52-13 win over Fresno State, while the 6-foot-7, 316-pound Peat is the biggest and most experienced force on Stanford’s rebuilt offensive line.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
USC: WR Nelson Agholor. He scorched Stanford’s defense last season, catching eight passes for 104 yards in the Trojans’ 20-17 win in Los Angeles. Agholor also looked comfortable as the top threat in the opener against Fresno State, catching two touchdown passes and finishing with 57 yards receiving.
Stanford: QB Kevin Hogan. He had the worst game of his career in the loss to USC last season, throwing two interceptions in the fourth quarter and completing 14 of 25 passes for 127 yards overall. The Cardinal will count on the redshirt junior to create plays down field with an elite group of wide receivers led by Ty Montgomery, especially with the running game still searching for a proven replacement for 1,700-yard rusher Tyler Gaffney.
FACTS & FIGURES
Stanford had won four straight in the series until USC beat the Cardinal last year. … The two private California schools have been playing each other since 1905. … Stanford has the nation’s longest active home winning streak at 17 games. … Stanford is 13-1 at home against ranked opponents since the last five years, with the lone loss coming against No. 6 Oregon in 2011.
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