PLAYERS TO WATCH
–WR Michael Pittman caught five passes against Colorado for a career-high 144 yards with two touchdowns. One of his scores went 65 yards, the highlight of a pivotal, three-touchdown second quarter for USC.
–RB Aca’Cedric Ware followed up his career-high 173-yard rushing performance Sept. 29 at Arizona by gaining just 23 yards on six carries in the win over Colorado. Ware’s emerged as the leading rusher in USC’s three-man running-back rotation but has been up-and-down. He gained 59 yards on 18 carries on Sept. 8 at Stanford and saw only five combined carries due to injury at Texas and against Washington State.
–LB Palaie Gaoteote left the game vs. Colorado with a game-high nine tackles but said afterward he expects to play against Utah. Gaoteote started at the inside linebacker position typically manned by four-year starter Cameron Smith, who was out with a hamstring injury. Coach Clay Helton said Gaoteote can also be used at the outside linebacker spot which Porter Gustin, injured for the season with an ankle fracture, oftentimes played.
–S Talanoa Hufanga moved into the starting lineup commensurate with a rash of injuries in the USC secondary, and he’s delivered over the past three games with 22 of his 28 tackles on the campaign.
SERIES HISTORY: USC leads Utah 11-5. The Trojans won the first three after Utah joined the Pac-12 in 2011 but have lost each of the last two at Rice-Eccles Stadium.
QUOTE TO NOTE: “It’s very hard to replace a Porter Gustin. He does so much for this team. … I don’t know if we’re going to be able to fill his shoes, but there are guys (who) are going to give their best effort.” — Clay Helton on the USC defense adjusting without LB/DE Porter Gustin.
