USC hasn't decided who will replace Matt Barkley at quarterback when they travel to Hawaii in the season opener. Head coach Lane Kiffin said that sophomores Max Wittek and Cody Kessler will split time under center in this game and he won't name a starter until after the team arrives in Honolulu.
Max Wittek passed for just 293 total yards with five interceptions against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech last season after Matt Barkley suffered a season-ending shoulder injury. Wittek wasn't impressive in fall camp either and didn't separate himself from Cody Kessler.
While the quarterback situation is still up in the air, there are no issues at wide receiver with junior Marqise Lee, who finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation's best wideout after setting a school record with 118 receptions last season.
Senior running back Silas Redd, who rushed for 905 yards with nine touchdowns last season, is a game-time decision after undergoing knee surgery five months ago to repair a meniscus tear. If Redd can't play, freshman Justin Davis or sophomore Tre Madden will start.
The USC defense will return several standouts, including senior outside linebacker Morgan Breslin (13 sacks last season), sophomore defensive end Leonard Williams (eight sacks) and junior safety Dion Bailey (six interceptions as a starting linebacker over his first two college seasons).
Hawaii will also have a new quarterback as Taylor Graham, son of former NFL signal caller Kent Graham, transferred from Ohio State. Graham won the starting job from Sean Schroeder (11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions last season) and the Warriors expect him to improve an attack that ranked 118th out of 120 FBS teams in total offense (297.4 yards per game) and scored only 21.2 points per game last season.
The bad news for the Warriors is that their leading running back Joey Iosefa (1,011 career yards) is sidelined with a foot injury, so unproven freshmen Steven Lakalaka and Aofaga Wily and senior Marcus Langkilde will have carry the rock against the Trojans. The Warriors allowed 35.7 points per game last season and the defense will bring back eight starters, including sophomore safety Marrell Jackson (tied for a team-high with 56 tackles), senior outside linebacker Art Laurel (13 career sacks) and junior defensive end Beau Yap (10.5 tackles for loss last year).
This is the kind of game that could help USC get the season started off on the right foot. The quarterback situation hasn't been sorted out for USC but this game has the potential to be a blowout. USC is 8-0 against Hawaii, including five wins at Aloha Stadium, and the Trojans routed the Warriors 49-10 last season in Los Angeles.
Look for a big game from Marqise Lee. He had 10 receptions for 197 yards and one touchdown and added a 100-yard kick return score in last season's win against Hawaii.
Game Information:
When: 11:00 PM ET, August 29
Where: Aloha Stadium
Line: USC -23½ at BetAnySports
Total: 53½
Coverage: CBS Sports Network
Weather: 81° F/ 27° C
Rain Showers
Last meeting: 9/1/12 Hawaii 10 USC 49
No. 24 USC Trojans (0-0) vs. Hawaii Warriors (0-0) Preview
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