Former Pac-12 foes USC, Washington set to test mettle

(Photo credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images)

This wasn't the way Washington or Southern California expected their first season of Big Ten Conference football to go.

When the former Pacific-12 Conference powers meet Saturday in Seattle, it won't be for a spot in the College Football Playoff but for mere bowl eligibility.

Both Southern California (4-4 overall, 2-4 Big Ten) and Washington (4-4, 2-3) need to win two of their remaining four games to reach the six-victory threshold to qualify for the postseason.

"I told our team, 'Don't predict the future,'" Huskies coach Jedd Fisch said. "'Don't try to figure out what's going to happen in two weeks, in three weeks, in one week. Just figure out what's going to happen today, and then let's see what Saturday brings.'"

Washington, which has lost its past two games, faces a tougher road to bowl eligibility, as it still has trips to No. 3 Penn State and No. 1 Oregon on the schedule. It also as a home game against UCLA.

The Huskies are 4-0 at home this season, while Southern California is 0-3 on the road.

"It's important to win at home," Fisch said. "It's important to beat a longtime Pac-12 foe. It's important to stop a two-game skid. It's important to get better. And we're going to do everything we can to do that. We know we have a great challenge. It's important for them, also."

The Trojans, who have games remaining against Nebraska and rivals UCLA and Notre Dame, snapped a three-game losing streak with a 42-20 victory last week at Rutgers. Sophomore Makai Lemon had four receptions for 134 yards and a touchdown for the winners.

"I don't know if it's relief as much as affirmation of who we are, what we believe in," Trojans quarterback Miller Moss said. "I give a ton of credit to the guys in that locker room, the staff, with the whole program on how we continue to come together and continue to fight through adversity. It's great to close one out and hopefully get on a run here in the back half of the season."

--Field Level Media