PLAYERS TO WATCH
–WR Laviska Shenault Jr. continues to shine. The nation’s leading receiver (141.6 yards per game) earned his second Pac-12 Offensive Player or the Week honors, torching Arizona State for four touchdowns and 140 total yards. The sophomore enters the USC game with 708 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns (six receiving, four rushing).
–RB Travon McMillian has three consecutive 100-yard rushing performances, the latest a 136-yard effort against Arizona State. The Virginia Tech transfer has ground out 528 yards and four scores on the year.
–DE Mustafa Johnson earned a nomination among the Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Week honorees. The freshman defensive end posted a career-best seven tackles versus the Sun Devils, including a sack and a pair of tackles for loss. His nine tackles behind the line of scrimmage rank him behind only Arizona’s Colin Schooler (11.5) and Chase Hansen of Utah (10) for tops in the conference.
–SS Evan Worthington tied his season-high for tackles with seven against Arizona State, while also defending a pass. The veteran senior is pacing a Buffs secondary that’s has allowed just five passing touchdowns all year.
SERIES HISTORY: USC leads Colorado 12-0 in a series that dates to 1927. The Trojans have been particularly deflating for Buffs, knocking off ranked Colorado teams in both 2002 and 2016. It was also USC in 2016 that dealt Mike MacIntyre and company their lone conference loss in their run to their first and only Pac-12 South crown.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “They’re a locked in bunch. This group gets it. That’s why they’re fun to coach. The thing that I’ve liked about them is that they’re focused, but they’re loose. That’s hard. You coach it. You teach it. You work with them and sometimes when guys get really focused, they get tight. Then to overcome it they get loose and they can’t focus. This group can focus and stay loose, which is great attribute.” — Head coach Mike MacIntyre on the focus level of his Colorado squad.