USC coach Clay Helton expects his team to be in for its toughest test of the season to date when the Trojans play Ohio State in the Cotton Bowl on Friday.
While the Trojans finished with the same record as the Buckeyes (11-2), likewise won their conference championship and have faced three teams this season that finished in the top 18 of the final College Football Playoff rankings, Helton says the Trojans haven’t played any opponent that compares to the No. 5-ranked Buckeyes.
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11-2, 8-1 PAC-12 ROSTER / SCHEDULE |
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8:30 P.M. – FRIDAY, DEC. 29 AT&T STADIUM DALLAS, TEXAS |
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ESPN WatchESPN |
"This will be our biggest challenge of the year," Helton said Saturday during USC’s arrival press conference in Dallas. "It's by far the best team that we have played and, when you watch them on tape, the most complete team. And we look forward to the challenge."
Helton is particularly impressed by what he has seen on film from Ohio State’s offense, which ranks fifth in the nation in scoring offense (42.5 points per game) and sixth in the nation in total offense (523.6 yards per game), led by J.T. Barrett at quarterback, J.K. Dobbins and Mike Weber at running back and the six-man group of Parris Campbell, K.J. Hill, Terry McLaurin, Johnnie Dixon, Binjimen Victor and Austin Mack at wide receiver.
"You look offensively, basically scoring 42 points a game, have an unbelievable quarterback in J.T. ... over 700 yards rushing, 35 touchdown passes, 3,000 yards passing," Helton said. "He's got J.K. behind him, Mike Weber behind him, about six wideouts that are as good as anybody in the country."
“This will be our biggest challenge of the year. It's by far the best team that we have played and, when you watch them on tape, the most complete team. And we look forward to the challenge.”– USC coach Clay Helton on facing Ohio State
USC linebacker Cameron Smith is likewise impressed with Ohio State’s offense, especially with the synergy he has seen from the Buckeyes in the way they play collectively as a unit.
"I think they work really well as a whole unit, watching their offensive line work. And they've got some big names up there who have done a really good job and that have a lot of experience. So I think it starts there," Smith said. "I think they're just overall very balanced as an offense. They run the crap out of the football, and that's what they are going to start out with. And the way that they work off of that is just pretty impressive. So they're a great bunch, and it's going to be a challenge for us."
From the other side of the matchup, Ohio State coach Urban Meyer is also impressed by what he has seen from USC’s offense, which ranks 14th in the nation in total offense (489.5 yards per game) and 24th in scoring offense (34.5 points per game). In particular, Meyer has been impressed by USC quarterback Sam Darnold and running back Ronald Jones.
"Dynamic team," Meyer said of USC. "Their running back is ridiculous; I finally had a chance to really watch him. And very good receivers. And the quarterback is obviously going to be a top two or three draft pick in the NFL. So that's the biggest issue we're dealing with."
Helton also expects his offense, though, to get a stiff challenge from the Buckeyes defense, which has performed much better statistically this season (eighth in total defense, 19th in scoring defense) than the Trojans defense (77th in total defense, 62nd in scoring defense).
"This is a complete football team, in my opinion, that's coached by a guy that's a legend in our game, in Coach Meyer," Helton said of Ohio State.
