Helton said Stanford has transformed itself into a feared team that runs to set up big play-action strikes. The matchup blossomed into an almost-rivalry as early as 2007, when Jim Harbaugh’s 41-point underdog Stanford team shocked USC. He caught just two passes in USC’s season opener. Quick hitsThis will be the sixth straight season USC has played the Pac-12’s first conference game. … USC has lost three times in a row to Stanford just five times in the history of the rivalry, which began in 1905.

Source: Los Angeles Times September 13, 2016 02:48 UTC