The Utes will open Pac-12 play on Friday undefeated through non-conference play for the third straight year.
The opponent this week, however, is the same team that disrupted Utah’s momentum last year as USC defeated Kyle Whittingham’s team 42-24 to snap a 6-0 start to the season.
Things have changed on both sides, however, since last season. Both teams have new quarterbacks, and the Trojans might in effect have two quarterbacks Utah will need to prepare for.
Jordan Moore, sideline reporter for the USC broadcast, told “The Big Show” on Monday he expects USC to play both guys.
“I think you’ll see some of Sam Darnold no matter what on Friday,” Moore said, speaking of the redshirt freshman who has served as the default back-up to Max Browne. “It’s just a matter of who comes out [onto the field] first.”
Browne has started each game this season for USC, connecting on 55 of his 87 passes for 474 yards to go with 2 TD’s and 2 INT’s.
Darnold, however, hasn’t played much different than Browne, turning in a 14-for-22, 136 yards, 2 TD’s and 1 INT stat line while appearing in all three games this season.
Kyle Whittingham said on Monday during his weekly press conference that Darnold has a rocket for an arm, but that Browne is nothing to look over.
Jordan Moore also talked about Clay Helton as head coach of the Trojans, the somewhat surprising hire for his lack of flash. Moore says “the people who were in charge of hiring him,” have always liked one aspect of Helton more than others. “Stability.”
Utah-USC coverage starts Friday at 5 o’clock on The Zone Sports Network.
