This is an archived article that was published on sltrib.com in 2016, and information in the article may be outdated. It is provided only for personal research purposes and may not be reprinted.

Hollywood, Calif.

When the USC Trojans visit Rice-Eccles Stadium to complete their challenging September schedule, defensive tackle Stevie Tu'ikolovatu will face his former Utah teammates.

In the trade for Tu'ikolovatu, the Utes acquired a backup receiver.

That's not how it works? The Utes have one of the country's strongest, deepest defensive lines, so they could afford to lose a graduate transfer. Just not to USC, though.

The Trojans were caught thin up front this season and Tu'ikolovatu should help them immediately in a defensive scheme that uses three interior linemen. Although coach Clay Helton could not discuss him during the Pac-12 Media Days, prior to his enrollment becoming official, the ex-Ute has the endorsement of offensive tackle Zach Banner as a "great player."

Like the Trojans need any more of those, right? Personally, I tend to mythologize the Trojans, giving their aura and tradition too much credit. But that's unavoidable, with their talent.

The Utahns who have joined the Trojans are good examples. Defensive end Porter Gustin, from Salem Hills, led USC with 5.5 sacks as a freshman and is among "a number of talented players vying for action" in 2016, according to a school news release. Inside linebacker Osa Masina, of Brighton, will have to compete for playing time throughout his career.

Asked if he views USC as the Pac-12 standard, Ute coach Kyle Whittingham said, "Absolutely, yeah. … From a talent standpoint, I still think that is the benchmark. Oregon, Stanford, they have some personnel as well, but I think if you were to say man for man, it's got to be USC."

And that's why the Trojans' program will always be so fascinating to watch in the Pac-12 — especially in the South, competing against Utah. They've provided considerable drama in the first five years of the expanded conference, with NCAA sanctions, two midseason coaching changes and a performance that can be viewed only as underachievement.

Even so, USC won the South title last season with Helton as interim coach and, while they're picked behind UCLA in the official media poll, they intend to do big things. "The fact of the matter is the expectations at USC, the bar is set high," Helton said. "It's about championships. And if you don't like that bar, don't take the job."

USC's September schedule makes it even more interesting. The Trojans open the season against Alabama at Arlington, Texas, then host Utah State before visiting Stanford to begin Pac-12 play and coming to Utah on a Friday night. They'll do so with a new quarterback, Max Browne or Sam Darnold, but the Trojans are loaded elsewhere on offense. Utah undoubtedly would love to have any of USC's seven returning wideouts who caught passes in 2015.

Helton has survived two coaching staff upheavals to reach this point in his life. He became the play-caller in October 2013 when coach Lane Kiffin was fired and Ed Orgeron was named interim coach, then temporarily took over the team last October when Steve Sarkisian was dismissed. Prior to the Pac-12 championship game (a 41-22 loss to Stanford), Helton was awarded the permanent job by former athletic director Pat Haden, who stuck with him rather than try to land a big name in the profession.

The Utes have gone 0-2 vs. Kiffin, 0-2 vs. interim coaches and 1-0 vs. Sarkisian as Pac-12 members. In the coming years, presumably, they'll deal strictly with Helton. He's an unpretentious guy. During his six years in the program, he has figured out what USC needs: less style and more substance. "All about ball" is his mantra. "That was a heavy point of emphasis for us in the spring," he said, "working on fundamentals, techniques, assignment-sound, physical, tough football, taking kind of the flash away from everything."

It just might work. The rest of the Pac-12 should be alarmed by the notion of anyone's maximizing the Trojans' talent, as they keep accumulating it.

Twitter: @tribkurt —

League leaders

Records in Pac-12 football play since the conference's expansion in 2011:

Team Record

Oregon 38-7

Stanford 36-9

USC 30-15

UCLA 28-17

Arizona State 27-18

Washington 23-22

Arizona 20-25

Utah 20-25

Oregon State 15-30

Washington State 15-30

California 13-32

Colorado 5-40