PAC-12 CHAMPIONSHIP GAME
RECORDS: No. 14Stanford (North champion) is 9-3 overall, 7-2in Pac-12. No. 11USC (South champion) is 10-2, 8-1.
KICKOFF: 5p.m. Friday at Levi’s Stadium, Santa Clara. TV: ESPN. RADIO: KTCT 1050.
SERIES HISTORY: USC leads 61-32-3, including a 42-24win Sept. 9at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. Stanford has won seven of the past 10 meetings. One or both of the teams has been ranked in each of the past 17meetings, with the higher-ranked team winning 12times. PAC-12TITLE GAME HISTORY: This is the seventh Pac-12championship game. Stanford is playing in the event for the fourth time, having won each of its previous visits: 2012over UCLA, 2013over Arizona State and 2015over USC. Thatwas the Trojans’ only appearance in the Pac-12 title game. The South Division champion is 0-6in the game. STORYLINES: The Cardinal, after starting the season 1-2, has a chance to win its fourth Pac-12championship game, exceeding the total of all other teams in the conference. … A victory also would make Stanford the only Power 5team with at least four conference championship-game victories and no defeats. … Stanford canwin a 10th game for the seventh time in eight seasons. … The winner will be slotted as an at-large team in the Cotton, Fiesta or Peach bowl. … The game features USC quarterback Sam Darnold, a preseason Heisman Trophy favorite, and Stanford running back Bryce Love, who is expected to be a Heisman finalist. Love said after last week’s Notre Dame game that his month-old sprained ankle was feeling good. … Stanford has won three consecutive games, including over Top-25foes Washington and Notre Dame, while USC haswon four in a row … The Trojans were off last weekend after playing 12consecutive weeks. … Stanford might have an edge in the kicking game: Jet Toner is 20of 24 on field-goal attempts and Jake Bailey leads the Pac12with a 45.1-yard punting average. STATS THAT MATTER: Love is second nationally with 1,848rushing yards, but is the FBS leader in 13statistical categories, including yards per game (168.0), yards per carry (8.6, whichwould be an FBS record if it holds), 100-yard games (10) and 50-yard runs (11, an FBS record). Amazingly, 1,015 of his rushing yards have come after contact. … Darnold has passed for 3,462 yards with 24touchdowns and 12interceptions. But only three interceptions have come in the past six games. Darnold is 19-3as a starter. … Running back Ronald Jones II has rushed for 674yards and eight touchdowns during the Trojans’ four-game win streak. …With 3,415career rushing yards, Jones needs nine to move past O.J. Simpson into the No. 5spot at the school once known as Tailback U. … Stanford receiver JJ Arcega-Whiteside has at least three receptions in eight consecutive games. … USC is tied for first nationally with 41sacks, but Stanford ranks first in the Pac-12, allowing only 1.17 sacks per game. … Stanford leads the Pac-12with a plus-14turnover margin. USC is sixth at plus-2.