USC set to tangle with high-scoring ASU at Coliseum

On Saturday, the football team continues its difficult schedule, playing their second undefeated team in as many weeks. In just its second home game of the year, USC (1-3) will face an unranked ASU (4-0).

This will arguably be the toughest game the Sun Devils have played so far after playing Northern Arizona, Texas Tech and Cal at home as well as one road game against the University of Texas at San Antonio.

ASU has been handling its business and USC put a heavy focus on its defense during this week’s practices. The Sun Devils have the top-scoring offense in the conference while averaging 48.8 points per game. This is also the seventh-highest offensive average in the FBS.

Additionally, the team is averaging 21.7 points in the fourth quarter, meaning USC will have to seal the deal if they get an early lead, something they failed to do last week against Utah. The Sun Devils have scored all 18 trips they have made to the red zone. This offensive barrage will be a challenge for a USC team that ranks seventh in the conference in total defense.

The men behind the scoring flurries have been redshirt sophomore quarterback Manny Wilkins and a strong running back corps, including juniors Demario Richard and Kalen Ballage.

“I’m beyond impressed with Manny Wilkins and his pocket sense of being able to create off pass attempts,” head coach Clay Helton said. “He’s as good as I’ve seen thus far in that area.”

Wilkins has thrown for 1,085 yards with 5 touchdowns and three interceptions while going 84-125 on the season. He is also the second-leading rusher for the Sun Devils having accrued 312 yards on 56 attempts with 4 touchdowns.

“One of the things that stands out to you immediately is their up-tempo offense,” Helton said. “They are putting up 80-plus plays a game.”

The high-tempo offense has translated into a high-scoring machine and the top two running backs will pose a problem for the Trojans if their front seven struggles to stop the ball they way it did against Utah. Richard has 356 yards on the season and is averaging 3.9 yards per carry. He also has 1 touchdown.

One of the most dynamic performances in the country this season came from Ballage who tied the FBS record for most touchdowns in a game after scoring 8 against Texas Tech. Ballage is averaging 6.4 yards per carry and has 285 total yards to complement his 9 touchdowns on the year.

Part of containing the explosive offense will involve quarterback pressure, something the team has focused on this week after failing to register a sack against Utah last week. Due to the pace of the Sun Devils, Helton said he expects to see more playing time from freshman defensive ends Connor Murphy and Oluwole Betiku and junior inside linebacker Olajuwon Tucker.

Offensively, redshirt freshman Sam Darnold is starting his first game in the Coliseum, and even though he admitted to feeling some nerves before last week’s game, he is preparing as normal for Saturday’s matchup.

“They’re a really good football team, a really good bunch,” Darnold said. “Obviously late in games, what you saw in that Cal game with two late interceptions, that was obviously huge for them. It’s a great football team, we’re just looking to execute and play our style ball.”

The Sun Devils have the toughest run defense in the conference, allowing only 95 yards per game, but have the worst pass defense, giving up 404 yards per game. Helton said he wants senior tailback Justin Davis to get 20-25 carries this game, but if ASU stifles the run game, Darnold will have to find his receivers.

Against Power-5 teams, the Trojans have not thrown for a touchdown this season, but there were signs of life in the air against Utah with Darnold connecting with top receiver junior JuJu Smith-Schuster for eight catches and 98 yards.

“The whole game plan wasn’t set up around me, but there were plays that were made for me,” Smith-Schuster said. “A lot of the plays were nine-yard stop routes and with the defense they were playing, I was allowed to get the ball more.”

Smith-Schuster and company face the Sun Devils in a 5:30 p.m. clash in the Coliseum. The game is also being televised on FOX.