USC ended last season as the hottest team in the nation and the No. 4 Trojans will try to pick up where they left off against Western Michigan at the Coliseum on Saturday.
USC won its final nine games behind freshman quarterback Sam Darnold, but even that streak didn't top Western Michigan's string of 13 straight wins to start last season.
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Western Michigan, USC's first-ever MAC opponent, features a new head coach this season but the same backfield of Jarvion Franklin and Jamauri Bogan, who combined for 2,276 rushing yards last season. The Trojans have their top rusher back as well, and Ronald Jones II won't have to split carries this season with Justin Davis, now with the Los Angeles Rams. Jones totaled 1,082 rushing yards last season after gaining 987 as a freshman in 2015, and should join Darnold in the early Heisman Trophy discussion.
Leading receivers JuJu Smith-Schuster and Darreus Rogers have also moved on to the NFL, leaving Deontay Burnett as the main target for Darnold with Jalen Greene also expected to have a much bigger role this season.
TV: 5:15 p.m. ET, Pac-12 Network. LINE: USC -27.
ABOUT WESTERN MICHIGAN (2016: 13-1):
The Broncos will need to reset a passing game that was led last season by senior quarterback Zach Terrell, who ranked fourth in the FBS with a 175.2 passer rating, and wide receiver Corey Davis, a Biletnikoff Award finalist who finished with 97 receptions for 1,500 yards and 19 touchdowns before getting selected fifth overall in the NFL Draft by the Tennessee Titans. Jon Wassink is set to take over at quarterback, and he'll guide an offense that not only is without Davis, but its next two best receivers and top offensive lineman from last season.
Tim Lester, who takes the helm after serving as quarterbacks coach at Purdue last season, will likely lean on his experienced running backs against the Trojans.
ABOUT USC (2016: 10-3):
Darnold will experience his first season opener as starting quarterback at USC and many believe it will be his last. Darnold, a redshirt sophomore, took over as the starter in Week 4 last season and led the Trojans to a 9-1 mark the rest of the way, passing for 2,950 yards with 29 touchdowns and eight interceptions as a starter. Cameron Smith was USC's leading tackler last season, and the third-year starter at middle linebacker should be a key figure against Western Michigan's powerful run game.
EXTRA POINTS
1. USC's nine-game winning streak is its longest since winning 12 in a row in 2008-09.
2. USC has no players on its roster from Michigan, and Western Michigan has no players from California.
3. Western Michigan opened the season against No. 6 Michigan State two years ago and lost 37-24.
PREDICTION: USC 45, Western Michigan 28