PLAYERS TO WATCH
–C Boss Tagaloa’s return to the lineup following a three-game suspension in September helped ignite UCLA’s rushing output. The experiment that moved Tagaloa from the defensive line to center proved to be a boost for a Bruins offense, which has gotten more push up front.
–RB Joshua Kelley enters Saturday’s rivalry against USC needing just 101 yards rushing to hit 1,000 for the season. USC’s rush defense ranks ninth in the Pac-12 in yards allowed per game (153.9) and yards per carry (4.1).
–Quentin Lake has come on strong in the second half of UCLA’s season with two interceptions, and he’s racked up the majority of his 62 tackles (third-most on the team) during Pac-12 play. At 6-foot, Lake should play a key role this week against USC’s corps of lengthy receivers.
–DE/LB Keisean Lucier-South might be the central performer to UCLA’s defensive efforts on Saturday. Coming in with 11.5 tackles for loss and four sacks, the athletic Lucier-South getting into the backfield to disrupt freshman QB JT Daniels may help render the Trojans more one-dimensional than usual. USC’s struggled when Daniels is under pressure, and have allowed 24 sacks on the year.
SERIES HISTORY: UCLA trails the all-time series, 49-31-7. The Bruins won three straight from 2012 through 2014, marking the first streak for them in the rivalry since their run of eight straight from 1991 through 1998 was snapped in 1999.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “There’s a lot of guys (who) played high school together, one went (to UCLA), one went to (USC). That’s something that’s unique about the rivalry: Not just the proximity, (but) guys on their team played with guys on our team. There’s a real familiarity with this team more than any other we play.” — UCLA coach Chip Kelly on the rivalry with USC.
