Field Pass: Matchups, starters and stats to know for Arizona-USC

Game info

Who: USC Trojans (2-2, 1-1) at Arizona Wildcats (2-2, 1-0)

Where: Arizona Stadium

When: 7:30 p.m. Saturday

Watch: ESPN2

Listen: 1290-AM, 107.5-FM

Follow: @TheWildcaster on Twitter / TheWildcaster on Facebook

Head to head: Colin Schooler vs. Stephen Carr

7 Colin Schooler, LB, Arizona

Like counterpart Cameron Smith, Schooler is the do-it-all leader of the UA defense. His ability to diagnose run plays is top-notch, and Arizona has started to use him more as a blitzer. He leads the team in tackles (44) and TFLs (10).

7 Stephen Carr, RB, USC

USC hasn’t fully committed to its running game or a running back as of yet, but this could be the time. Carr is the most talented and explosive of the bunch. If he’s the lightning, 215-pound Vavae Malepeai will be the thunder.

Head to head: Shawn Poindexter vs. Iman Marshall

19 Shawn Poindexter, WR, Arizona

Poindexter knows what to expect from Marshall and his fellow defensive backs. “They’re aggressive,” Poindexter said. “The corners are very aggressive. They’ll put hands on you. I’ll just have to adjust my style of play.” 

8 Iman Marshall, DB, USC

The veteran has been so effective that opposing QBs aren’t throwing his way that much. Marshall — whose nickname is “Biggie” — is also as sturdy and strong a corner as you’ll find in college football. He has six career interceptions.

When USC has the ball...

USC fans have been clamoring for a firmer commitment to the run game. Tailbacks have totaled 92 carries; freshman QB JT Daniels has attempted 143 passes. Given the Trojans’ talent on the outside, you can understand the temptation to air it out. Arizona’s defense is coming off its best performance of the season. But despite its struggles this year, USC represents a significant step up from Oregon State.

When Arizona has the ball...

New week, same question: How much will Khalil Tate run, and how effective will he be? He won’t rush as much as he did in last year’s matchup — a career-high 26 attempts — but we should see more than we’ve seen so far if his ankle is sound. Whether it’s Tate or his teammates, look for Arizona to try to continue to establish the run. J.J. Taylor is coming off a career game (284 yards, two TDs).

Lev's prediction

USC is the more talented team — and the more desperate one. The Trojans have played well below expectations so far and know they can’t afford to fall to 1-2 in Pac-12 play. They haven’t played well on the road under Clay Helton, though, and Arizona is trending up. To spring the upset, the Wildcats will need a Herculean effort from Tate and some #Pac12AfterDark magic in the form of a pick-six or special-teams TD.

USC 34, Arizona 27

Trojans projected starters

Offense

WR 21 Tyler Vaughns 6-2 185 So.

WR 1 Velus Jones Jr. 6-0 190 So.

TE 82 Tyler Petite 6-4 250 Sr.

RT 70 Chuma Edoga 6-4 295 Sr.

RG 72 Andrew Vorhees 6-6 315 So.

C 50 Toa Lobendahn 6-3 2 95 Sr.

LG 77 Chris Brown 6-5 310 Sr.

LT 73 Austin Jackson 6-6 305 So.

WR 6 Michael Pittman Jr. 6-4 215 Jr.

QB 18 JT Daniels 6-3 210 Fr.

TB 7 Stephen Carr 6-0 205 So.

Defense

DE 89 Christian Rector 6-4 275 Jr.

NT 91 Brandon Pili 6-4 325 So.

OLB 45 Porter Gustin 6-5 260 Sr.

ILB 35 Cameron Smith 6-2 250 Sr.

ILB 10 John Houston Jr. 6-3 220 Jr.

OLB 56 Jordan Iosefa 6-2 230 Jr.

CB 8 Iman Marshall 6-1 205 Sr.

NB 27 Ajene Harris 5-10 185 Sr.

SS 15 Talanoa Hufanga 6-1 215 Fr.

FS 7 Marvell Tell III 6-2 195 Sr.

CB 4 Olaijah Griffin 6-0 180 Fr.

Wildcats projected starters

Offense

WR 18 Cedric Peterson 5-11 193 Jr.

SLOT 6 Shun Brown 5-10 188 Sr.

LT 58 Layth Friekh 6-5 297 Sr.

LG 76 Cody Creason 6-4 294 Jr.

C 50 Josh McCauley 6-3 292 So.

RG 54 Bryson Cain 6-4 306 So.

RT 78 Donovan Laie 6-4 318 Fr.

TE 81 Bryce Wolma 6-3 252 So.

WR 19 Shawn Poindexter 6-5 218 Sr.

RB 21 J.J. Taylor 5-6 184 So.

QB 14 Khalil Tate 6-2 215 Jr.

Defense

DE 12 JB Brown 6-3 263 So.

NT 99 Dereck Boles 6-2 306 Sr.

DT 52 PJ Johnson 6-4 335 Jr.

STUD 14 Kylan Wilborn 6-2 248 So.

MLB 7 Colin Schooler 6-0 236 So.

WLB 1 Tony Fields II 6-1 230 So.

SPUR 31 Tristan Cooper 6-1 194 Jr.

BANDIT 3 Jarrius Wallace 6-1 180 So.

BC 2 Lorenzo Burns 5-10 181 So.

FC 8 Tim Hough 5-11 195 Sr.

FS 19 Scottie Young Jr. 5-11 195 So.

USC statistics

Passing

Daniels 84-143-3 Cmp-Att-Int, 1,060 Yds, 4 TDs, 53 Lg

Fink 1-2-0 Cmp-Att-Int, 3 Yds, 0 TDs, 3 Lg

Rushing

Carr 4 games, 33 Car., 196 Yds, 1 TD, 5.9 Avg

Ware 4 games, 33 Car., 162 Yds, 1 TD, 4.9 Avg

Malepeai 4 games, 26 Car., 146 Yds, 5 TDs, 5.6 Avg

Jones Jr. 4 games, 2 Car., 10 Yds, 0 TDs, 5.0 Avg

St. Brown 4 games, 2 Car., 9 Yds, 0 TDs, 4.5 Avg

Fink 2 games, 3 Car., 3 Yds, 0 TDs, 1.0 Avg

Receiving

St. Brown 4 games, 20 Rec., 342 Yds, 2 TDs, 17.1 Avg

Vaughns 4 games, 21 Rec., 221 Yds, 1 TD, 10.5 Avg

Pittman Jr. 4 games, 10 Rec., 189 Yds, 1 TD, 18.9 Avg

Defense

Smith 40 Tk, 1 Sk, 0 Int, 0 FR

Houston Jr. 19 Tk, 0 Sk, 0 Int, 0 FR

Gustin 19 Tk, 4.5 Sk, 0 Int, 0 FR

Tell III 17 Tk, 0 Sk, 0 Int, 0 FR

Marshall 16 Tk, 0 Sk, 0 Int, 0 FR

Arizona statistics

Passing

Tate 63-116-2 Cmp-Att-Int, 1,039 Yds, 8 TDs, 75 Lg

Rodriguez 6-7-0 Cmp-Att-Int, 49 Yds, 0 TDs, 16 Lg

Rushing

Taylor 4 games, 71 Car., 477 Yds, 3 TDs, 6.7 Avg

Brightwell 4 games, 44 Car., 263 Yds, 1 TD, 6.0 Avg

Mariscal 4 games, 11 Car., 68 Yds, 1 TD, 6.2 Avg

Smith 2 games, 15 Car., 62 Yds, 1 TD, 4.1 Avg

Brown 4 games, 1 Car., 37 Yds, 0 TDs, 37.0 Avg

Tate 4 games, 23 Car., 31 Yds, 2 TDs, 1.3 Avg

Receiving

Poindexter 4 games, 16 Rec., 369 Yds, 2 TDs, 23.1 Avg

Ellison 4 games, 12 Rec., 241 Yds, 2 TDs, 20.1 Avg

Brown 4 games, 18 Rec., 223 Yds, 3 TDs, 12.4 Avg

Defense

Schooler 44 Tk, 1 Sk, 0 Int, 0 FR

Fields II 34 Tk, 0 Sk, 0 Int, 0 FR

Hayes 20 Tk, 0 Sk, 0 Int, 1 FR

Wallace 18 Tk, 0 Sk, 1 Int, 0 FR

Burns 16 Tk, 0 Sk, 0 Int, 0 FR