Devils in Detail
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ASU Football: Who’s the toughest opponents on the schedule?

By Sam Ficarro

PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils leaps past Adarius Pickett #6, Jamel Cook #21 and Kenny Young #42 of the UCLA Bruins for a touchdown during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images)
PASADENA, CA - NOVEMBER 11: Manny Wilkins #5 of the Arizona State Sun Devils leaps past Adarius Pickett #6, Jamel Cook #21 and Kenny Young #42 of the UCLA Bruins for a touchdown during the first half of a game at the Rose Bowl on November 11, 2017 in Pasadena, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /
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ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 29: The USC Trojans take the playing field before the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images)
ARLINGTON, TX – DECEMBER 29: The USC Trojans take the playing field before the 82nd Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic between USC and Ohio State at AT&T Stadium on December 29, 2017 in Arlington, Texas. (Photo by Ron Jenkins/Getty Images) /

5. USC Trojans

The reigning Pac-12 champions has undergone some changes of their own with quarterback Sam Darnold now in the NFL with the New York Jets.

USC had a bit of an up-and-down season playing in a lot of close games in games they were favored to win big.

Despite the tribulations, USC went 11-2 defeating Stanford in the Pac-12 Championship Game and then losing to Ohio State 24-7 in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic.

Without Darnold under center, the Trojans will decide among three redshirt quarterbacks in freshman Jack Sears and sophomores Thomas Holden and Matt Fink to start this season.

USC will also look to replace Ronald Jones II as the tailback after he was selected in the second round of the NFL Draft. At wide receiver, the Trojans will have Tyler Vaughns back after he caught 57 passes for 809 yards and five touchdowns in his first season of playing action.

The defense should be a solid unit for the Trojans as they might have to pick up the slack if the offense struggles.

Arizona State has struggled against USC in recent years as they will make the trip to the Coliseum this year. The Sun Devils will need to put together a complete performance to leave Los Angeles with a win.

Despite the changes, expect USC to be contending for the division title.

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