The first road conference game of a college football season is usually a time when a team and coaching staff tighten up the rotations and reduce the amount of playing time for the backups. However, USC’s road opener against Arizona State does not figure to have the degree of difficulty one would normally associate with such a situation.
As we have told you earlier this week, Arizona State is badly undermanned heading into this game. The Sun Devils have been crushed by injuries, particularly along their offensive line. They got shut out at home by Fresno State this past Saturday, if that offers any indication of how functional this offense is. Five offensive linemen being hurt this early in a season — and all at the same time — is naturally destructive for any team in any context, but for ASU, it’s especially bad because this program is in a full-on rebuild in the first year of new coach Kenny Dillingham’s tenure.
If Arizona State had Alabama-level depth, these injuries would have an impact, but not nearly as expansive as what we’re seeing right now. USC is favored by 35 points for a reason. ASU is a skeletal team with very few bodies available.
As such, this is going to be — or at least, it ought to be — another “preseason” game in which the USC coaches can once again manage snap counts, reducing the workload on the starters. Remember: USC plays nine straight weekends. The team needs to be fresh for Notre Dame on October 14, then Utah on October 21. The roster has to have enough fuel in the tank for the loaded back end of the schedule. ASU being crushed by injuries affords USC one more valuable week in which to manage its resources and not overextend its best players. Staying healthy and fresh is something USC really needs to achieve, even if the Trojans don’t play their best.
Catch all of Ducks Wire’s Pac-12 team previews for the 2023 season:
Arizona — Arizona State — California — Colorado — Oregon State — Stanford — UCLA — USC — Utah — Washington — Washington State