USC to start new QB against feisty Arizona State

LOS ANGELES — The recent history between Arizona State and Southern California has been light on competitive games, with only one of the past seven games decided by fewer than 21 points.

That could change when the Sun Devils and Trojans meet Saturday as new Arizona State coach Herm Edwards has shown a preference for one-possession games.

“I think they are doing a great job defensively of holding the points down,” USC coach Clay Helton said. “That’s keeping their offense in the games and keeping them close games.”

Arizona State (3-4, 1-3 Pac-12) has played five games decided by seven points or fewer, with each of their three conference losses coming by seven points. It is a string of results that has Helton warning his team and USC fans not to overlook Arizona State based on their record.

Edwards said the close defeats are weighing on a young team, but expects those results to turn into wins soon enough.

“They know that it was right there in front of us,” Edwards said of the 20-13 loss to Stanford last week. “They watched the tape. They get it. I like their resolve because they continue to fight and they understand we are that close. We just have to continue

to be playing that way and eventually, we will get one to go our way again and we will feel a lot better. I will not be sitting in here saying that we lost by seven again.”

USC (4-3, 3-2) has been on the right side of its only two close games this season, defeating No. 14 Washington State 39-36 at home and Arizona 2420 on the road.

But with redshirt freshman quarterback Jack Sears making his first career start, a game that goes down to the wire might not be in the best interests of injury-riddled USC. Helton confirmed Friday that the thirdstring quarterback will make his collegiate debut against the Sun Devils.

Freshman starter JT Daniels didn’t clear concussion protocol by Thursday after leaving the 41-28 loss at Utah in the second half. Backup Matt Fink also broke three ribs while playing in relief of Daniels and will miss three to four weeks.

Here are some other things to watch for when Arizona State and USC meet for the 35th time: