Arizona State is riding high after winning their first ever Big 12 series, beating TCU by one run in the decisive third game of the weekend stretch. That kind of win should give the Sun Devils confidence as they embark on their brand new conference schedule, but first they've got a date with an old foe: USC.
The Sun Devils and Trojans have squared off plenty of times over the years as Pac 12 opponents. Perhaps their most notable squabble came in 1998, when current Arizona State head coach Willie Bloomquist was one of several players who led the team to the College World Series. They advanced all the way to the national championship game, where they lost to USC by a wild score of 21-14.
Now Bloomquist is in his fourth season in Tempe and hoping to take the Sun Devils back to Omaha for the first time since 2010, the first year after Arizona State moved on from legendary skipper Pat Murphy, Bloomquist's coach back in 1998.
Leading the Trojans is Andy Stankiewicz, who actually coached under Murphy in Tempe. He spent four seasons as one of Murphy's top assistants, including one season that saw the Sun Devils lead the nation in fielding percentage.
After Murphy was let go, Stankiewicz took the head job at Grand Canyon, staying in the Valley. In nine seasons there, Stankiewicz led the Antelopes to a 341-239-2 record, making the NCAA Tournament in each of his final two seasons there. That's when USC came calling, and Stankiewicz has had success there with 31+ wins in each of his first two seasons, but no tournament invites yet.
This year, the Trojans got off to a red hot start, finishing up their non-conference schedule with a 9-1 record. Conference play offered a rude awakening, though, as they dropped six straight with losses to UCLA, No. 21 UC Santa Barbara, and a series sweep from No. 9 Oregon.
The Trojans saved face in their most recent series against Michigan, winning the first two games to ensure their first series win as Big Ten members. But the Wolverines beat them 11-0 in the third game, winning in seven innings to offer a bit of a blow to the team's morale.
The rivalry between the Sun Devils and Trojans has been fairly tight in the Bloomquist era. The Sun Devils swept USC in Bloomquist's first year, and the Trojans returned the favor the next year. Last season saw Arizona State win the series 2-1, giving them a 5-4 record under Bloomquist.
They'll surely be hoping to make it six wins tonight and carry over the momentum from that series win over TCU, but Stankiewicz's Trojans won't go down without a fight. Make sure to catch all the action.
How to watch Arizona State vs USC
The Sun Devils and Trojans will throw out the first pitch at 6:30 PM MST at Phoenix Municipal Stadium in Phoenix, Arizona.
The game will air on ESPN+ (subscription required).
Betting information
Arizona State comes into this game as a 1.5-run favorite, according to DraftKings sportsbook.
The Sun Devils are -200 on the moneyline, while the Trojans are +154.
The over/under on total runs is 12.5.