No. 14 USC resumes old-time rivalry matchup with Stanford
LOS ANGELES >> For the first time in many years, Stanford’s annual way-too-early meeting with No. 14 Southern California actually feels overdue this month.
That’s because the Pac12’s two California private schools didn’t face each other at all last year, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic. A rivalry dating to 1905 was interrupted for the first time since 1945.
With the matchup set to resume Saturday night at the Coliseum, both schools are grateful their dual commitment to an annual showdown with Notre Dame means their own head-tohead matchup must be held in mid-September.
For 11th-year Stanford coach David Shaw and his players, not facing USC (1-0) last year felt strange.
“Absolutely missed playing them last year,” Shaw said. “I’m a West Coast kid. I’m a Pac-8, Pac-10, Pac-12 guy, and Stanford-SC always play. There’s a lot of crossover with our alumni, a lot of communication with our alumni. It’s always a special game. When we were becoming the Pac-12, I was one that raised Stanford and Cal need to play SC and UCLA, regardless. We have some great traditions there. I did miss playing them.
QB SWITCH >> Stanford (0-1) will start sophomore quarterback Tanner McKee after Shaw used both McKee and senior Jack West in a 24-7, season-opening loss to Kansas State.
WELCOME BACK >> Inside linebacker Jacob MangumFarrar is expected to return for the Cardinal after he didn’t play last season with an injury and appeared in only two games in 2019 before a seasonending injury. Stanford’s linebacking corps is one of the deeper units on the team this season after struggling through multiple injuries in 2020.