Utah Utes quarterback Cameron Rising (7) is hit and falls over USC Trojans linebacker Tuasivi Nomura (44) for a landing at Rice Eccles Stadium in Salt Lake Metropolis on Saturday, Oct. 15, 2022. Utah gained 43-42. Scott G Winterton, Deseret Information
Utah gamers have fun a win over Southern California in an NCAA school soccer recreation Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Los Angeles. Marcio Jose Sanchez, Related Press
Two years in the past, Utah’s first run to a Pac-12 championship was bounce began by the Utes’ win at USC in early October.
Utah entered that recreation with a 2-2 document, was coming off a Pac-12-opening win over Washington State — a recreation the place Utah trailed going into the fourth quarter — and was coping with the tragic loss of life of teammate Aaron Lowe, who was killed at a home get together shortly after the win over the Cougars.
The Utes, although, earned their first win over USC in Los Angeles in over a century by outscoring the Trojans 28-7 over the second and third quarters en path to a 42-26 victory.
It was additionally a breakout recreation for quarterback Cam Rising, who threw for 306 yards and three touchdowns and ran for an additional.
That recreation proved to be a catalyst to Utah profitable its first Pac-12 championship and incomes its first Rose Bowl bid in class historical past.
Final yr, a pair of victories over a extremely ranked USC squad — together with one within the Pac-12 title recreation — outlined the Utes’ second-straight convention title.
A number of groups, together with back-to-back defending champion Utah, are anticipated to contend for the Pac-12 soccer championship this yr.
Might the Utes’ journey to USC this season have an effect on not solely the Pac-12 race, however the Faculty Soccer Playoff panorama as effectively?
247 Sports activities’ Brad Crawford predicts it very effectively may.
Crawford launched his record of the 23 most significant video games for the 2023 season, and that features Utah enjoying at USC on Oct. 21.
Crawford places the ultimate regular-season recreation between Utah and USC earlier than the Trojans bolt to the Huge Ten at No. 19 on his record.
“There are a number of can’t-miss Pac-12 rematches, however contemplating the unhealthy blood between the Utes and Trojans after Utah’s pair of victories on this setting final season, we’re all in for this one,” Crawford wrote.
In Utah’s first win over USC final season, the Utes rallied after being down 21-7 early within the second quarter to win 43-42 when Rising scored on a two-point conversion keeper with below a minute to play.
Within the Pac-12 championship recreation, the Utes didn’t want any last-second huge performs to win — Utah outscored USC 23-7 within the fourth quarter to win going away, 47-24.
In a yr the place USC went 11-3 and was squarely within the Faculty Soccer Playoff dialog, these two losses to the Utes ruined the Trojans’ playoff hopes.
“The Utes eviscerated USC within the Pac-12 Championship Recreation, which took Lincoln Riley’s workforce out of the Playoff combine. A hobbled Caleb Williams fought valiantly in that one, however USC’s protection didn’t maintain up its finish of the cut price. USC can not afford to lose to the Utes once more,” Crawford wrote.
Along with Utah and USC, Washington, Oregon and Oregon State — all preseason top-25-caliber groups, in keeping with varied nationwide shops — are among the many groups anticipated to be severe contenders for the Pac-12 championship this yr.
As such, 5 different video games involving Pac-12 video games present up on Crawford’s record, together with:
- 22. Oregon State at Oregon (Nov. 24).
- 16. USC at Notre Dame (Oct. 14).
- 11. USC at Oregon (Nov. 11).
- 9. Oregon at Washington (Oct. 14).
- 7. Washington at USC (Nov. 4).
If Utah had been to beat USC on the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum in October, it could be the Utes’ fourth-straight win over the Trojans. The collection has been almost even since Utah joined the Pac-12 — since 2011, USC holds a slight 7-6 edge.
If the 2 groups had been to satisfy once more for the Pac-12 championship, Utah may probably win 5 straight over USC earlier than the Trojans (together with UCLA) go away for the Huge Ten Convention in 2024.
Crawford is way from the one media member highlighting the significance of the Utah-USC recreation this yr.
ESPN’s Heather Dinich tabbed the matchup because the recreation to be most excited for within the 2023 season, due to the CFP implications it may have.
Final yr, Utah handed USC its solely two losses earlier than the bowl season — the Trojans additionally misplaced within the Cotton Bowl — and regardless of the sooner loss to the Utes, USC was nonetheless in competition for a playoff spot heading into the Pac-12 championship.
“Lincoln Riley would’ve had a playoff workforce in his first season as coach if the Trojans hadn’t gone 0-2 in opposition to Utah, so the Oct. 21 recreation between them is the one to look at,” she wrote.
“If USC can win at Notre Dame on Oct. 14, there’s an important probability the Trojans will likely be undefeated when Utah involves L.A. That is USC’s last fall within the Pac-12. Can Riley go away an enduring impression within the league by boosting it into the CFP earlier than bolting for the Huge Ten? The house recreation in opposition to Utah will assist reply that query.”
On3’s Jesse Simonton recognized the USC-Utah recreation because the Trojans’ most necessary in convention play — even in a yr the place throughout the last month of the common season, USC sandwiches residence video games in opposition to Washington and USC round a street recreation at Oregon.
The sport in opposition to Utah begins off a very tough convention stretch for the Trojans.
“Lincoln Riley’s workforce has a backloaded schedule this fall, with a six-week gauntlet that really begins every week earlier at Notre Dame. The sport in opposition to Utah kicks off 5 convention video games — together with 4 in opposition to the perfect 4 groups on USC’s slate in 2023,” Simonton wrote.
“Beating the back-to-back convention champs may go a great distance in figuring out who makes it to Las Vegas the primary weekend of December.”
Simonton, conversely, had Utah’s opponent the week after the USC recreation, Oregon, because the Utes’ most necessary convention recreation. Utah hosts the Geese at Rice-Eccles Stadium on Oct. 28.
“Utah performs at USC the week prior, so relying on what occurs in opposition to the Trojans, Kyle Whittingham’s workforce might be securing back-to-back big wins — valeting the Utes to the highest of the Pac-12 standings,” Simonton wrote.
Sports activities Illustrated’s Kevin Borba, in the meantime, known as the USC-Utah recreation essentially the most marquee recreation within the Pac-12 this season.
“Utah is seeking to three-peat as champions, whereas USC is seeking to win yet one more Pac-12 Championship on their means out. Realistically this might be the preview of the Pac-12 Championship and these two groups may face off once more, however with how powerful the competitors is subsequent season you don’t wish to be the workforce ready for tie breakers to go your means,” Borba wrote.
“Two groups with playoff possibilities and quite a lot of animosity in direction of each other are the principle the explanation why I've this as the highest recreation.”
Utah gamers have fun a win over Southern California in an NCAA school soccer recreation Saturday, Oct. 9, 2021, in Los Angeles.
Marcio Jose Sanchez, Related Press