O/NSO: Beat the Wolf Pack – No. 6 USC vs Nevada edition
The Obvious: While the undefeated No. 6 USC Trojans eventually dismantled the unranked San Jose State Spartans, 56-28, in the second half of the Coliseum last Saturday, no question Trojans players, coaches, and fans were not satisfied with USC’s 2023 debut.
This Saturday at 3:30 p.m. PT in the Coliseum, the Men of Troy (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12) take on another Mountain West Conference representative, the unranked Nevada Wolf Pack (0-0, 0-0 MWC), who will be playing their first game of the season and hoping to end a 10-game losing streak.
The Not So Obvious: There is no question that after last week’s unsatisfying win, the Trojans acknowledged – both coaches and players – there is a lot of work to do if they want to achieve their goals of a conference title and national post-season consideration from the College Football Playoff Committee. Given that Nevada is not an impressive challenger to the Trojans, one wonders what the Cardinal and Gold have to gain with such a mismatch. After watching the Trojans last week, the Wolf Pack might not be Notre Dame, Washington, or Oregon, but they will provide the USC coaching staff with more information about the 2023 Trojans: good and bad.
It will be a day game in Los Angeles with expected comfortable weather after last week’s heatwave.
(Photo above by Greg Katz – WeAreSC)
The Obvious: The Trojans opened a 38½ -point favorite to defeat Nevada on Saturday afternoon.
The Not So Obvious: You could argue that it will be hard for the Trojans to get up for the lowly Wolf Pack from Reno, but with the nation watching and forming opinions, if the Trojans come out in a lethargic and uninterested state of mind, they’ll see their high ranking slipping faster than an ice cube down a slippery slope. It has been 94 years since the last meeting between the two teams on Nov. 9, 1929. The 2023 USC/Nevada battle will mark the 100th anniversary of the teams’ 1923 meeting in the second-ever collegiate varsity football game played in the then-new Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum on Oct. 13, 1923.
The Obvious: Saturday’s USC/Nevada game from the Coliseum will be televised on the Pac-12 Network (3:30 p.m. PT).
The Not So Obvious: The Pac-12 Network broadcasters will be Ted Robinson (play-by-play) and Yogi Roth (analysis).
Former USC assistant coach Yogi Roth will provide the analysis for Saturday’s Pac-12 Network’s USC/Nevada game.
(Photo by Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images for Sports Spectacular)
The Obvious: Saturday’s Trojans’ radio broadcast will air live on KABC 790AM (1:30 p.m. PT) with Pete Arbogast (play-by-play), Shaun Cody (analyst), and Jordan Moore (sidelines).
The Not So Obvious: Trojans fans can stream live “The Trojans’ Tailgate Show” pregame radio show (KABC 790AM) for Nevada at 1:30 p.m. (PT) with hosts Jordan Moore and former USC players Shaun Cody, Max Browne, and Su’a Cravens, and Jason Schwartz.
Former USC All-America defensive tackle Shaun Cody will do game analysis for radio.
Saturday’s game can also be heard on the Trojan Radio Network: KSHP 1400AM and 107.1FM in Las Vegas, KSZL 1230AM in Barstow, KJJZ-HD3 102.7FM in Thousand Palms and HSRN 95.1FM, and 760AM in Honolulu – as well as USCTrojans.com and KABC.com and on SiriusXM satellite radio (channels 197, 198, 397 or 959 and 960 on the app).
The Obvious: Nevada will have its own local radio broadcast of the game on KOZZ 105.7/The Varsity Network.
The Not So Obvious: The Nevada broadcast team (3:30 p.m. PT) will feature John Ramey (play-by-play) and Mike Edwards (analyst).
The Obvious: Saturday’s Los Angeles weather forecast calls for partly cloudy with a daytime high of 78 and a nighttime low of 65 degrees, 74% humidity, and 24% precipitation. Kickoff temperature for Saturday is expected to be cloudy and 75 degrees.
The Not So Obvious: The real weather report is whether the Trojans will play four quarters of efficient and at times exciting football in all three phases of the game. We’ll see how motivated the Trojans’ roster is when, as expected, the Cardinal and Gold take the visiting Wolf Pack to the woodshed. The big question will be the length of time that Lincoln Riley leaves his starters in what is tantamount to college football’s version of the NFL exhibition season.
Offensively, we know that All-American Caleb Williams will start at quarterback, the two-headed monster running backs, Austin Jones and Marshawn Lloyd will be ready, a host of future NFL wide receivers are waiting in the wings, and the tight end will be Lake McRee. However, will last week’s starting offensive line have a different personnel look about them against the Wolf Pack. Last Saturday, the O-line starters were C Justin Dedich, guards Alani Noa and Gino Quinones, and tackles (LT) Jonah Monheim and (RT) Michael Tarquin. We’ll see whether this same group comes on the field on Saturday afternoon.
Trojans’ running back Austin Jones
(Photo by Matthew Visinsky/Icon Sportswire via Getty Images)
We’ll see whether true freshman sensation Zachariah Branch enhances his role as a receiver, and it won’t be shocking to see him added to the playbook on reverses or options. He is that good.
However, despite all the offensive weaponry, all eyes both nationally and locally will again be on USC’s defense. If the defense looks better this week, it will be a combination of two factors: playing a team with a lack of talent and some adjustments in all levels of the defense. Whether that means a different or modified change of starting personnel remains to be seen. Last Saturday, Trojans fans saw a starting front consisting of Solomon Byrd, Anthony Lucas, Bear Alexander, Kyon Barrs, and an inside linebacking unit of Mason Cobb and Tackett Curtis.
In terms of the secondary, will the Trojans go with corners Domani Jackson and Ceyair Wright? No question that regarding one safety position, or haven’t you heard of All-American Calen Bullock? The other safety spot figures to be Jaylin Smith, who led the Trojans in tackles last week against San Jose State with eight tackles, seven of which were of the solo variety.
Defensive back Jaylin Smith #19 of the USC Trojans during USC football practice on Howard Jones/Brian Kennedy Field.
(Photo above by Keith Birmingham/MediaNews Group/Pasadena Star-News via Getty Images)
On special teams, there is one name that has become a national sensation, and that is kickoff and punt returner Zachariah Branch, who many are comparing to former Notre Dame All-American “Rocket” Ismail. In terms of kickoff and punting, there seems to be no question the USC starter will remain ASU transfer Eddie Czaplicki. We’ll find out whether the Trojans go a second game without a field goal attempt from placekicker Denis Lynch.
As for the Nevada offense, it’s led by former Colorado transfer and dual-threat QB Brendon Lewis. Lewis actually started against the Trojans when he was the QB at Colorado in 2021. A name on the Wolf Pack offense that will be familiar is former Trojan wide receiver John Jackson lll, who should get a nice welcome back from the USC secondary. We’ll see whether two former Pac-12 players at running back, Sean Dollars (Oregon) and Ashton Hayes (Cal) can add some firepower. For the record, the Wolfpack have a very inexperienced offensive line, which should be red meat for the Trojans defensive front.
Former Trojans John Jackson lll (#80) will line up against USC as a member of the Nevada Wolf Pack on Saturday.
(Photo above by Brian Rothmuller/Icon Sportswire)
As for Nevada’s defense, it’s led by linebacker Dion Washington and Tre Weed, a transfer from Eastern Washington. We’ll see whether the Nevada defense can hold the Trojans under the 38 ½ -point spread.
The Wolf Pack return kicker Brandon Talton and punter Matt Freem, both seniors.
The Obvious: The Trojans are averaging 56.0 points per game, while this will be Nevada’s opening game, but in 2022 the Wolfpack defense allowed 30.9 points per game last season.
The Not So Obvious: In 2022, the Nevada offense averaged 18.8 points per game, while the Trojans defense is allowing 28.0 points per contest.
The Obvious: Lincoln Riley is the Trojans’ second-year head coach.
The Not So Obvious: In discussing Nevada, Riley said, “It’s a little unique that (we’re) playing the second team in a row here that it’s their first game and also obviously your evaluation is going to be a lot based on kind of what you have at your disposal They’ve obviously got some new pieces on that roster, similar to the roster last week, and everybody (does).
“That’s just part of the deal. It’ll certainly be interesting to see how they utilize the pieces. The quarterback is a good player, athletic player. We’ve been able to study him well and know about him coming out of high school but [he’s a] good player.”
USC head coach Lincoln Riley hopes to see more impressive performance by his defense against Nevada.
(Photo above by acscottphotography/WeAreSC)
The Obvious: The Nevada quarterback is Brendon Lewis (6-1, 196).
The Not So Obvious: As previously mentioned, Lewis played against the Trojans in 2021. In that game, the signal callercompleted 10 of 17 passes for 162 yards with one TD and one interception. The Trojans won the game, 37-14.
Starting Nevada QB Brendon Lewis is a former Colorado Buffaloes QB.
(Photo above by Matthew Stockman/Getty Images)
The Obvious: Nevada is coached by Ken Wilson, a former Oregon co-defensive coordinator, is in his second season as the Wolf Pack’s head coach.
The Not So Obvious: Regarding his own quarterback Brendon Lewis, Wilson said, “He can throw the ball, he’s got a maturity about him, he’s got a presence about him. He’s really got a leadership quality. He can get you first downs with his feet when a pocket breaks down, and he’s smart enough to get down or get out of bounds and save his hits, which is part of the learning process of young quarterbacks.”
Nevada Wolf Pack head coach Ken Wilson
(Photo above by © JASON BEAN/RGJ / USA TODAY NETWORK)
The Obvious: A lot of USC’s success under Lincoln Riley comes from using the transfer portal.
The Not So Obvious: The Wolf Pack roster features 17 players who have previously been on Pac-12 rosters. Among that number, eight have joined Nevada since the end of the 2022 campaign. In total, the 17 Pac-12 transfers represent seven schools from the conference: Oregon (7), Cal (4), USC (2), Arizona State (1), Colorado (1), Oregon State (1), Utah (1).
The Obvious: There are a number of USC-Nevada connections when checking out the rosters of the two teams.
The Not So Obvious: Trojans’ILB Eric Gentry andP/PK Eddie Czaplicki and Nevada OL Jacob Nunez previously played together at Arizona State. USC WR Brenden Rice and Nevada QB Brendon Lewis previously played together at Colorado. Trojan freshman USC Rush End DJ Peevy and Nevada OL Isaiah World previously played together at Lincoln High School (San Diego). Nevada LB Eli’jah Winston previously played at USC from 2018-2021.
The Obvious: The Trojans have five players from the state of Nevada.
The Not So Obvious: The Trojans players from Nevada include WR Zachariah Branch, S Zion Branch, WR Michael Jackson III, CB Fabian Ross and RUSH Garrett Pomerantz.
USC wide receiver Zachariah Branch, who is from the state of Nevada, scores a touchdown against San Jose State.
(Photo above by acscottphotography/WeAreSC)
The Obvious: Nevada spends a great deal of recruiting energy recruiting California.
The Not So Obvious: Nevada has 47 players from our Golden State.
The Obvious: This is Week 1 of the 2023 Pac-12 schedule.
The Not So Obvious: Below are the scheduled games/early results for this week.
Thursday – Aug. 31
No. 14 Utah 24 (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12), Florida 11 (0-1, 0-0 SEC)
No QB Cameron Rising, no problem, Utes “D” five sacks payback in SLC.
FLA 3 0 0 8 11
Utah 7 10 7 0 24
ASU 24 (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12), SUU 21 (0-1, 0-0 UAC)
A 2 1/2 hour weather delay for a Thursday night game that went into Friday morning, ASU holds on for their first victory of 2023.
SUU 0 7 7 7 21
ASU 7 14 0 3 24
Friday – Sept. 1
Stanford (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12) at Hawaii (0-0, 0-0 MWC/ 8 p.m./CBS Sports Net.)
Saturday – Sept. 2
Colorado (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12) at No.17 TCU (0-0, 0-0 Big 12/ 9 a.m./Fox)
Portland St. (0-0, 0-0) at No. 15 Oregon (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12/12 p.m./Pac-12 Net.)
Boise St. (0-0, 0-0 MWC) at No. 10 Washington (0-0, 0-0/12:30 p.m./Pac-12 Net.)
Cal (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12) at UNT (0-0, 0-0/1 p.m./ ESPNU)
Nevada (0-0, 0-0 MWC) at No. 6 USC (1-0, 0-0 Pac-12/ 3:30 p.m./Pac-12 Net.)
Washington St. (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12) at CSU (0-0, 0-0 MWC/4 p.m./CBS Sports Net.)
NAU (0-0, 0-0 BSC) at Arizona (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12/7 p.m./Pac-12 Net.)
CCAR (0-0, 0-0 SBC) at UCLA (0-0, 0-0 Pac-12/7:30 p.m./ESPN)
* All times are Pacific Time Zone
The Obvious: And finally, “Inside the Trojans’ Huddle” is WeAreSC’s video/podcast panel show that airs each Tuesday during the football season.
The Not So Obvious: In this week’s edition of “Inside the Trojans’ Huddle”, panelists Marc Kulkin, Erik McKinney, Chris Arledge, and Greg Katz analyzed the San Jose State victory, previewed the Nevada game, Reggie Bush’s lawsuit, answered Big Ten lightning round likelihoods, Week 1 game predictions, and viewers’ questions and panel answers.
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