USC at Washington State: How they match up

Reporting from Pullman, Wash. â€”  USC, trying to bounce back from last week’s defeat at Utah, goes against a Washington State team that is establishing passing records under second-year Coach Mike Leach. Staff writer Gary Klein examines the game’s story lines and matchups:

On the Palouse

USC is 58-9-1 against the Cougars in a series that dates to 1921.

Washington State defeated the Trojans last season at the Coliseum, 10-7.

USC has not lost at Martin Stadium since 2002, when a Cougars team led by quarterback Jason Gesser beat the Trojans in overtime, 30-27.

Rainy day issue

The forecast calls for rain, which might not bode well for the Trojans. USC is 21-23-2 in games that are played all or partly in rain, the school’s sports information office said.

The last time USC played a game when it was raining during a portion of the game was in 2012 against UCLA at the Rose Bowl. The Trojans lost, 38-28.

The Trojans played on wet turf at Boston College on Sept.13 and lost, 37-31.

Passing fancy

Washington State quarterback Connor Halliday is going to throw the ball.

A lot.

The fifth-year senior from Spokane, Wash., has thrown 62 or more passes in each of the last six games.

Halliday has passed for a nation-leading 3,833 yards and 32 touchdowns, with 10 interceptions. He is ranked 36th nationally in passing efficiency.

Halliday completed 56 of 79 passes for 489 yards and four touchdowns, with two interceptions, in last week’s 59-37 defeat by Arizona.

USC quarterback Cody Kessler has passed for 2,148 yards and 20 touchdowns, with two interceptions.

Kessler completed 24 of 32 passes for 264 yards and two touchdowns, with one interception, in last week’s 24-21 loss at Utah. He threw a career-high 45 passes in the Trojans’ loss to Arizona State on Oct. 4.

Kessler ranks ninth nationally in passing efficiency.

Catch as catch can

Washington State’s Vince Mayle, Isiah Myers and River Cracraft are the most productive pass-catching trio in college football.

Mayle, a senior, has 71 receptions, tied for third nationally. Myers, a senior, and Cracraft, a sophomore who played at Santa Margarita High, are tied for seventh with 57 catches.

Myers has nine touchdown receptions, Mayle eight, Cracraft seven.

USC’s Nelson Agholor has 58 catches, seven for touchdowns. Freshman JuJu Smith has 32 receptions, two for touchdowns.

Youth is served

For the first time in USC history, the Trojans’ starting offensive line might feature three freshmen.

Toa Lobendahn was moved from left guard to left tackle to fill the void left by injured Chad Wheeler.

Viane Talamaivao will start at right guard. The Trojans will make history if Damien Mama starts at left guard. But Mama aggravated a knee injury early in the week, so redshirt freshman Khaliel Rodgers will probably start.

Junior Max Tuerk is the veteran on a line that also includes third-year sophomore Zach Banner.

Washington State defensive tackle Xavier Cooper has three sacks. The Cougars had 11 tackles for losses, including seven sacks in a 38-31 loss to Oregon on Sept.21.

Linebacker Darryl Monroe has a team-best 59 tackles, including three sacks.

Making a run

USC tailback Javorius Allen has rushed for 100 yards or more seven times in eight games, including the last five.

Allen is averaging 126.2 yards rushing a game and he has run for eight touchdowns.

Washington State ranks 124th among 125 major-college teams in rushing, averaging only 45.9 yards a game.

Gerard Wicks has rushed for four touchdowns.