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It was perhaps the most resounding and important victory since Utah joined the Pac-12, a 24-21 thrilling win over No. 20 USC at Rice-Eccles Stadium almost a year to the day the No. 3 Utes travel to Los Angeles this week. The two teams have gone in opposite directions since that win, Utah holding a place among the nation's elite while USC attempts to find its way after a mid-season firing of Steve Sarkisian. Still, the Trojans are athletic, fast and dangerous — actually favored in this game by three points. Here's a position-by-position look at this week's matchup and which team will have the edge heading into Saturday's game:
Quarterback
Travis Wilson sat back and chewed up ASU's vulnerable secondary last week to the tune of 297 yards and two touchdowns. Wilson has continued to look the most efficient, poised and confident he has ever been, completing just shy of 68 percent of his passes and holding a 7:3 touchdown to interception ratio this season. Wilson has another juicy matchup this week against a Trojans pass defense that has generated only four interceptions this season and is giving up 235 yards of offense through the air.
Amid a season of turmoil because of Sarkisian, Cody Kessler has been a steadying force and prolific for the Trojans. He's completing almost 69 percent of his passes and has thrown 17 touchdowns to only five interceptions as head of the third best passing offense in the Pac-12. Overall, Kessler is passing for 296 yards per game behind only Jared Goff and Luke Falk. The Utes pass defense gave ASU's Mike Bercovici fits last week and will have to do the same to Kessler to keep the Trojans at bay.
Edge: USC
Running back
Devontae Booker performed well against a tough ASU run defense, racking up 118 yards and two scores on 21 carries. However, after struggling for most of the first half, 87 of those yards came on Booker's two touchdown carries in the game. Utah will need more long runs like those against the Trojans and should be able to conjure them up against a USC defensive front that ranks 66th in the nation at stopping the run. Booker is now tied for second in the Pac-12 with eight rushing touchdowns along with three other players and should find himself in the end zone again this week.
USC splits time between freshman Ronald Jones II and Tre Madden for its offensive rushing production, the duo combining for 736 yards and seven touchdowns this year. Jones has taken a larger role the last few weeks as Madden nurses a knee injury, leading the team with 73 yards against Notre Dame last week — including a 65-yard scamper in the second half. Justin Davis, who has 227 yards and two touchdowns, is the third option for the Trojans' eighth ranked Pac-12 rushing attack. Booker has a clear advantage here.
Edge: Utah
Wide receivers
Kenneth Scott had his best game of the season last week and roasted the ASU secondary for 116 yards and a touchdown on more than 23 yards per reception. Scott seems to have left his early season struggles in the rearview mirror and is stepping up as the Utes hit the meat of their Pac-12 schedule. The Utes lost Siale Fakailoatonga for the year, but have Harrison Handley on deck after his five catch performance against the Sun Devils. Utah will need to convert some explosive plays and take some downfield shots against the Trojans, who have arguably the most receiving talent in the conference.
JuJu Smith-Schuster has been almost like a video game cheat code for USC this year, averaging a ridiculous 19 yards per catch on his way to 758 yards receiving and seven touchdowns. Smith-Schuster can take any ball he touches to the house, scoring a career-long 75-yard touchdown pass against Notre Dame after scoring a 71-yard touchdown pass earlier in the game. Adoree' Jackson, who has worked primarily at cornerback this year, is apparently working almost exclusively at wide receiver this week, according to the Los Angeles Times. Jackson has two touchdowns and 279 yards on only 11 catches this year. USC gets the edge at this spot.
Edge: USC
Offensive line
A normally stout Utah offensive line struggled against ASU's pressure, giving up a season high five sacks. However, that seems like more of an aberration than the norm as the Sun Devils bring extra blitzers on nearly every play. The Utes still reign supreme in the Pac-12 with only seven sacks surrendered and face a USC defense that's generated a seventh best 14 sacks this year in the Pac-12.
The Trojans are also middling at protecting Kessler, giving up 15 sacks this year. Notre Dame brought him down twice last week and after the Utes sacked Bercovici five times last week, Utah could be set for another big pass rushing performance. The Utes are now tied for fourth in the Pac-12 with 16 sacks and have an edge at this spot.
Edge: Utah
Defensive line and linebackers
Utah feasted on ASU's offensive line last week, racking up five sacks. After the defensive front's early struggles, the Utes have kicked it up a notch in Pac-12 play, generating 13 of their 16 sacks against Oregon, Cal and ASU. USC is middling in the Pac-12 at absorbing pressure with 15 sacks given up and should have a tough time containing an opportunistic Utah pass rush.
As with protecting the quarterback, USC is only average at rushing the passer on the defensive side. The Trojans have 14 sacks this year as a whole, but are also coming off a four sack performance against Notre Dame. Outside linebacker Scott Felix leads the team with 2.5 sacks, with former Salem Hills star Porter Gustin not far behind with two sacks. The Trojans also have arguably the best defensive player in the conference in outside linebacker Su'a Cravens. Still, the Utes have a slight edge here.
Edge: Utah
Secondary
The Utes are second in the nation for turnover margin, largely because of a ridiculous 13 interceptions. Cory Butler-Byrd plucked one more last week, moving five Utah players into the top 12 of Pac-12 interception producers. Utah's secondary will be seriously tested this week by Smith-Schuster's speed and Kessler's gaudy passing numbers. However, Kessler also threw two picks last week at Notre Dame.
USC is second to last in interceptions with only four. Freshman Iman Marshall is playing well with 24 tackles and an interception, but the overall lack of experience in the Trojan secondary is something the Utes can exploit. With Adoree' Jackson's likely shift to offense, Utah has a clear edge here.
Edge: Utah
Prediction: Smith-Schuster could give the Utes trouble, but Utah's overall talent is still better than the Trojans. Utah wins this one on the road 31-24.
Twitter: @BrennanJSmith