UCLA and USC play important road games Saturday after winning their home openers last week. The Bruins beat UNLV 42-21 and the Trojans exhausted Utah State 45-7.
Both teams will need to be at their best.
UCLA travels to Utah to face BYU (7:15, ESPN). USC plays No. 7 Stanford in Palo Alto (5 o’clock, channel 7).
Stanford is led by Christian McCaffrey, consensus All-American, last season’s Rose Bowl Offensive Player of the Game.
He ran for 2,019 yards last year and became the first player in Rose Bowl history with 100 yards running and receiving.
Stanford is coached by David Shaw, who has won over 53 games in five years. “Dave has done a great job,” said USC Coach Clay Helton.
“They are the Pac-12 champions, and we looked forward to the opportunity to play them.”
To stop Stanford from scoring, the Trojans’ No. 1 priority will be containing McCaffrey. Against Utah State they held their running game to 49 yards on 26 carries.
“We played a formula of winning football — stopping the run,” said Coach Helton. “It was great assignment football. The guys were making tackles in the open field.”
Coach Helton was happy with the offense. “We ran the ball efficiently,” he said. That set up opportunities for the wide receivers. Three different receivers scored.”
Coach Helton was also pleased with the play of his two quarterbacks, Max Browne and Sam Darnold.
Browne passed for 182 yards and Darnold had 62. “We are very fortunate to have two quarterbacks who can play,” said Helton. “The game was not perfect but a 45-7 win at the Coliseum is pretty good.”
Stanford has McCaffrey and USC has Adoree’ Jackson, who plays defense, offense and special teams.
He is a threat to score from anywhere on the field. Last Saturday he reached the end zone on a 77-yard punt return that displayed his 10.38 100-meter speed. “I wanted to make something happen and get into the end zone,” said Jackson. “My teammates were blocking well. Give credit to them for getting me into the end zone.”
BYU lost to Utah 20-19 last week on a failed two-point conversion.
As long as the Bruins have quarterback Josh Rosen, they have a chance to win. He completed 23 of 38 passes for 270 yards but several of his receivers dropped passes.
Rosen said of the dropped passes:
“We are getting better. When you have a lot of new guys, you let them ease into the situation. Hopefully, the dropped passes will decrease. I am still looking for someone I can count on in third-down situations.”
One of the most confident athletes in the nation, Rosen does not mind taking the responsibility of being the face of UCLA football.
“I believe I am the best college quarterback in the country,” he said. “I have to take the responsibility. I think I am getting better. and I think you have to play with that confidence to be successful. You have to think it before it happens and you have to believe it. Eliminate the negatives.”
Mr. Finley may be contacted at sfinley50@aol.com
