This rivalry dates back to even before your father was born. It’s
a matchup that neither team
takes lightly.
It began in 1915. And this Saturday, USC and California will duke it out for the 90th time.
Meeting No. 89 between the teams wasn’t exactly beautiful. In 2001, the Trojans reversed a three-game losing streak to Cal and handed the Golden Bears their 12th-straight loss, a 55-14 blowout.
USC had a solid attack in that game and produced 448 yards while the Trojan defense limited Cal to 12 first downs and 223 yards of total offense on four forced turnovers. The Trojans lead the series 55-29-5.
But that doesn’t mean the Golden Bears need to worry. Cal won the last three in the series before the loss last year. Those three games were in Los Angeles, where this weekend’s game will be held.
Cal is riding high after they upset Washington 34-27 and snapped the Huskies’ 17-game home winning streak Saturday. For the Golden Bears, it was the second time this year they beat a nationally-ranked team on the road.
The Trojans have been dominant at home recently and anybody that walks into L.A. Coliseum should worry about their streak. USC has won its last five home games, shutting out Oregon State and UCLA in that stretch.
The numbers game is split between the teams. Bears quarterback Kyle Boller has passed for 637 yards and eight touchdowns over the past two weeks as Cal has outscored opponents 142-38 in the first half over that stretch.
California leads the Pac-10 and is tied for fourth nationally in turnover margin, forcing 13 more turnovers than it’s giving up.
USC leads the Pac-10 and ranks fourth nationally in total defense at 267.2 yards per game. The Trojans also lead the league in pass defense.
The Trojans are all over the top of the Pac-10 leaderboard in statistics as they have allowed a Pac-10-low three touchdown passes and opponents only have a 43.2 completion percentage against them. All of USC’s opponents are 0-5 on fourth-down-conversion attempts.