LOS ANGELES — Who knew that when Utah joined the Pac-12 Conference, its best rivalry would be with perennial power USC?
The Utes were supposed to be natural rivals with Colorado, but USC players admit playing the Utes on Saturday is a game they circled on the schedule before the season.
“I’d like to beat Utah just because I haven’t,” USC quarterback Sam Darnold said. “They were my first (scholarship) offer.”
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Utah has defeated USC in two of the past three seasons, including last year’s 31-27 victory that kept Trojans out of the Pac-12 championship game. But the Utes have not defeated USC at the Coliseum since joining the conference in 2011. Two years ago, the Utes were ranked No. 3 in the nation and were routed by the Trojans, 42-24. It was a huge win for then-interim coach Clay Helton, and put USC in the unusual position of “upsetting” Utah.
"I love watching them and how they've built that team into something special," USC linebacker Cameron Smith said. "It's two teams coming in doing great things right now."
Smith intercepted three passes in the 2015 victory over Utah so this game means a little more to him.
“I will always remember it,” he said.
This year’s game is big for both teams. Utah needs to shake off the effects of their first loss of the season, to Stanford. Reserve quarterback Troy Williams threw two interceptions and Utes coach Kyle Whittingham said regular starter Tyler Huntley (shoulder) is “a big maybe.”
“Troy Williams and Cooper Bateman will be fighting it out in practice (if Huntley cannot play).”
Utah (4-1, 1-1) is at a crossroads this season. A second loss in two weeks will lead to fears of a tailspin.
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For USC (5-1, 3-1), the game comes before next week’s marquee matchup at No. 16 Notre Dame. A loss to the Utes would be devastating, completely changing the complexion of the season.USC players remember how loud every game is at Utah and want a similar atmosphere Saturday.
"They sell out every time we go there and hopefully we get the Coliseum rocking this week," USC safety Chris Hawkins said.
The rivalry hasn’t always been so respectful. After Utah defeated USC 10-6 in the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl, coaches from both schools, including then-USC assistant Lane Kiffin, took an elevator together down to the field. After a Utah assistant made a comment about the win, there was almost an altercation in the elevator.
But it’s doubtful anything like that happens this weekend: USC assistant coach John Baxter is the son-in-law of former Utah coach Ron McBride, who was the Utes’ coach from 1990-2002, including that 2001 Las Vegas Bowl. But the Coliseum has two elevators — and the coaching staffs won’t be together.