GAME BREAKDOWN
KEY MATCHUP: After three relatively easy wins over Wyoming, San Jose State and Eastern Washington in the non-conference portion of the schedule, Washington State takes its 3-0 record to Los Angeles to face a struggling USC team. The Cougars ranked No. 25 amassing 501.0 yards per game while the Trojans’ defense ranks No. 76 allowing 380.3 yards a game. Washington State’s “Air Raid” passing game, No. 2 nationally at 421.0 yards a game going against USC’s pass defense, strong at No. 30 (171.3 yards a game), will be an element of the game to follow.
DRAFT SLANT
–S Jalen Thompson, projected by many scouting services as a late first-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft, recorded his first interception of the season last week against Eastern Washington. A junior, he has five interceptions in his career.
ROSTER REPORT:
–DT Jonathan “Pono” Lolohea, a coveted junior college transfer who was challenging for a starting position, abruptly left the program for unspecified reasons during fall camp.
–RB James Williams had to come out of Saturday’s game looking injured but he would return to score three touchdowns. He should be healthy for this week’s game at USC.
–NT Misiona Aiolupotea-Pei was not eligible for the opener against Wyoming because of NCAA paperwork problems after his transfer from junior college. He has 1.5 sacks in those two games against San Jose State and Eastern Washington.