Improved Cal Seeking 1st Win Over USC In A Decade In Thursday Night Matchup
LOS ANGELES (CBS/AP) - Although Southern California is out of the national title race, the Trojans' schedule puts them in position for a big finish to coach Steve Sarkisian's debut season. At the same time, the Cal is looking for a signature win to cap off a solid rebound season following a one win campaign a year ago.
Even after every weird thing that has happened to USC in the past three months, from preseason player shenanigans to two last-second losses, Sarkisian is certain the Trojans (6-3, 5-2 Pac-12) are focused only on California's visit to the Coliseum on Thursday night.
Sarkisian has reacted with exasperation in the past few days when he's repeatedly asked whether there's a chance the Trojans will look past a weekday visit from the Golden Bears (5-4, 3-4) to their high-profile, season-ending games against UCLA and Notre Dame.
"I don't know why there would be," Sarkisian said. "We're going to play a team that if you don't score 35, you're not in the game, so we've got to be ready to play."
Indeed, Cal is still searching for a signature win under coach Sonny Dykes, who has the Bears on the brink of bowl eligibility for the first time in three years.
None of the five teams that Cal has beaten currently has a winning record, but the Bear Raid offense already has the Trojans' respect.
"They've improved drastically from last year," USC linebacker Su'a Cravens said. "They're no pushovers anymore."
The Bears have lost 10 straight games to USC since their classic triple-overtime win over Matt Leinart's third-ranked Trojans in Strawberry Canyon in 2003, back when Aaron Rodgers was the signal caller. Cal hasn't won at the Coliseum since 2000, but has come awfully close.
Cal's running game has picked up in recent weeks, racking up 462 yards rushing in the past two outings. Daniel Lasco's career-best 188 yards on the ground were a key to the Bears' win at Oregon State. To keep the pressure off Jared Goff's arm against the Trojans' solid secondary, the Bears must try to run the ball on a USC front seven that has been stout and stingy in the past six games.
When the schools met last season in Berkeley, USC dropped 62 points on the Bears with just 499 total yards of offense. That's because the Trojans returned three punts for touchdowns.
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