USC takes 6-game winning streak into 86th meeting with UCLA

Both USC and UCLA have endured their shares of struggles at various points this season. He boasts the highest completion rating and most touchdowns of that group as well.

USC’s 7-3 record has them back in the national rankings, and has teams scared of an offense expertly by Darnold and a supporting cast of skilled players. The game is scheduled for a 10:30 p.m. start time and it will be televised nationally on ESPN. The run game was the only part of the offense that could get into the endzone, which in this UCLA season is rare.

Even Darnold’s second interception was more about what he could do, rather than what UCLA could do to stop him.

The Trojan quarterback leads all freshmen with a passer rating of 162.38 – that mark is good for eight in the country among all quarterbacks. “Unbelievable”, Helton said after Saturday’s win at the boisterous Alaska Airlines Field at Husky Stadium. The Bruins have lost four of five in conference play, the win finally came last week over Oregon State.

“We all knew our leader Rodney Peete would be there leading us to a victory”, Leggett said. “We have a good offense – goals will come and we’ll have a lot of opportunities”. “I think our guys do a great job rallying for themselves”.

GOFF GETS THE CALL: Ram fans will get what they have been calling for November 20 when the Rams host the Miami Dolphins at the Coliseum. The six false starts that plagued the Trojans in their early-season loss at Stanford could be overcome today with Darnold’s talent.

QUARTERBACK COLLISION: Sam Darnold and Mike Fafaul are making their first appearances in the crosstown showdown. Hampton then made his first career TD catch with an exceptional 31-yard grab by the seldom-used sophomore.

“We’ve been saying it all year, we’ve got a resilient group”, Fafaul said. You want that W. This is a must-win. Adoree Jackson intercepted two passes.

On the Trojans first drive, Darnold connected threw three passes to JuJu Smith-Schuster for 47 yards. Instead, the Bruins speedy wideout broke free and scampered 56 yards to the end zone.

It won’t be easy. The problem there is that UCLA are averaging just 87.2 rush yards per game.

For those who stay close to home for college, UCLA’s annual crosstown showdown with Southern California is a lively rivalry game with a unique edge.

UCLA’s stout defense will make points hard to come by, but the Bruins’ lack of a rushing attack will keep the offense from sustaining drives, and ultimately wear down UCLA on the opposite side of the ball. Defensive end Takkarist McKinley leads the nation with 2.0 tackles per loss per game.

Instead, USC faces two 4-6 teams that need to beat the Trojans just to automatically qualify for a bowl.

The Rams trail Seattle by two and a half games in the NFC West with seven games remaining.

Ronald Jones II rushed for 121 yards and two TDs for the surging Trojans (8-3, 7-2 Pac-12), who won their seventh straight game after a dismal start to the season.

The upcoming matchup could be another big victory for the streaking Trojans.

Previous meeting: The Trojans won last year’s game, 40-21.