USC presents stiff test for Stanford’s young defenders

USC presents stiff test for Stanford’s young defenders

No. 6 USC has a host of returnees on offense, including a huge offensive line, a stable of elusive playmakers and possibly the best quarterback in the country.

In the 1970s and ’80s, USC owned this series, losing only once over nearly a two-decade stretch.

Starting with a 55-21 rout in 2009, Stanford won four in a row before the Trojans won the past two meetings on late, long field goals.

In one of the most closely contested rivalries in the country, the past five margins of victory have been 2, 8 (in triple-overtime), 7, 3 and 3.

USC quarterback Cody Kessler, a third-year starter, doesn’t make many mistakes.

“They have an outstanding group of wide receivers,” Stanford defensive backfield coach Duane Akina said.

Akina expects Kessler to try four or five deep throws to such speedsters as sophomores JuJu Smith-Schuster (averaging 20 yards a catch) and Adoree’ Jackson, who also starts at cornerback and returns kickoffs and punts.

USC is likely to test redshirt freshmen Alijah Holder and Alameen Murphy, who alternate at one cornerback spot.

Holder and Murphy each had a pass interference penalty last week against Central Florida.

Stanford will also use freshman Quenton Meeks some of the time at nickel back and hopes to get two other freshmen, Justin Reid and Ben Edwards, into the game at safety.

Considering that safeties Dallas Lloyd and Kodi Whitfield are making only their third starts and cornerback Ronnie Harris his sixth, Kessler and his receivers would seem to have a lot of people to test.

The Cardinal scored only twice on five trips inside the USC 20, and one was a field goal.

Stanford LB Noor Davis is out till at least midseason, and backup DL Nate Lohn will miss the game, both with undisclosed injuries.

USC starting CB Kevon Seymour (knee) will be a game-time decision.

The Trojans no doubt will challenge Stanford’s thin defensive line with TBs Tre Madden, Justin Davis and Ronald Jones II behind an O-line that returned intact.

Stanford QB Kevin Hogan is 25-9 as a starter, but two of the losses have been to USC.

Coming off a career-high 341 yards and three TDs last week against UCF, he’ll need to be on top of his game against a much tougher foe.