Stanford Cardinal Facing Familiar Foe In Pac-12 Opener

A two-week break has given Stanford time to prepare for an early season test as they face rival USC Saturday evening in a matchup with College Football Playoff implications on the line.

Stanford-USC has provided quality match-ups over the years. Nobody can forget Stanford’s improbable 24-23 victory at No.1 USC in 2007 under first year head coach Jim Harbaugh. A victory which would eventually spark the rebirth of a then struggling Stanford football program.

Last season, Stanford won the regular season and conference championship match-ups against USC, earning a trip to the Rose Bowl. The Trojans, who were dominant before NCAA sanctions crippled their program, will look to assert themselves at the top with an upset over the seventh ranked Cardinal.

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The Cardinal offensive line came out strong in the first half, allowing Burns enough time to throw from the pocket. Running back Christian McCaffrey led the ground effort by scoring a touchdown. While the Cardinal provided a small taste of the offense, putting together a complete effort is going to be critical against the Trojans. USC doesn’t have much depth at defense but will be looking to disrupt the Cardinal attack.

After sanctions devastated the program, USC has been rebuilding with the hope of regaining the dominance of the Pete Carroll era. But just when the Trojans seem like they may have broken through with a signature win, the team falls flat and loses the following week.

The program has been through a number of coaching changes in previous years that have contributed to the inconsistencies of the program as a whole. Lane Kiffin and Steve Sarkisian proved not to be the answers. First year head coach Clay Helton, who was the interim coach after Sarkisian’s dismissal last season, still has to prove he is the right man for the job.

After an embarrassing 56-3 loss in the opener to defending national champion Alabama, USC completely dropped out of the AP top 25 rankings. And the Pac-12 as a whole, did not have a great opening week of football.

UCLA fell at Texas A&M and Washington State lost to Eastern Washington. USC’s defeat showed the team was overrated at number twenty given their talent on the team.

Credit Trojans starter Max Browne who has patiently waited his chance to become USC’s starting quarterback. He showed poise early, but his mistakes eventually got the best of him. By using defeat as a learning experience, Browne responded with a good performance against Utah State at home.

Against the Aggies, he completed 23 passes for 182 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. The first win under his belt should give him confidence facing a tough Stanford team looking to remain the best in the Pac-12.

September 2, 2016; Stanford, CA, USA; Stanford Cardinal wide receiver Michael Rector (3) catches a touchdown pass against the Kansas State Wildcats during the second quarter at Stanford Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports /

Besides Browne, the Trojans offense has talent at receiving corps, led by junior JuJu Smith-Schuster. He had two touchdowns last week against Utah State, has a great set of hands, and makes plays.

Stanford’s defense will have to keep Smith in check or he can use his speed to burn them. Senior Darreus Rogers is another receiving weapon who can certainly make plays that help keep USC marching down the field.

On the ground, the Trojans may not have a bruiser like the Cardinal’s McCaffrey, but they have a few play makers who can pile up yards. Sophomore Aca’Cedric Ware is quick and will be gone if he sees the open field or is not stopped on initial contact.

Senior Justin Davis also factors heavily into the ground attack, leaving he and Ware as a one-two punch Stanford will have to handle throughout the game.

Shaw hopefully feels the Stanford offensive line had enough time to gel during the break. The Cardinal’s offense cannot afford to go anemic in the second half again. USC is thin on the defensive side, lacking the experience Stanford has defensively. It’s an advantage they must exploit.

The loss at Alabama provided a blueprint for Stanford, highlighting the breakdowns committed by USC that left them frustrated both on the field and on the sidelines. Time of possession, moving down the field, and providing rest for the defense are the goals for a Stanford team looking to pull out a win.

To achieve their goals, Stanford will rely on a mixture of play calls to keep USC guessing on defense. McCaffrey will get plenty of carries the team hopes he can use to carve up the Trojans defense.

He will have to hope the offensive line holds strong in the second half, helping his productivity. Michael Rector will also need to make plays when Burns goes for the deep pass. Trenton Irwin and Dalton Schultz will need to have good games for the Cardinal in this early season test.

On defense, Junior Solomon Thomas is the leader, looking to build off the success against K-State late in the fourth quarter. Thomas and the new starters on the line will need to pressure Browne constantly to throw him off his game. The defense cannot afford to allow USC’s playmakers to get going into high gear.

It will surely be an exciting game as both USC and Stanford have high hopes entering the season. USC may have taken an early hit against Alabama but a win against Stanford puts them back into contention. Stanford’s path is difficult once conference play comes into full effect. A win against USC will certainly build confidence in the young players moving forward.

Next: Stanford Cardinal: Offense Just Getting Started

No matter the outcome, a “What’s your deal” moment as seen between Harbaugh and Carroll will not occur. Stanford-USC has been a storied rivalry, but expect Shaw and Helton to be cordial at the end of the game.

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