The USC football team will try to beat Stanford again in 2017 but this time it's for the Pac-12 Championship. On September 9 at the Coliseum the Trojans beat the Cardinal 42-24. The problem is Stanford has gotten better and the Trojans have basically stayed the same.

USC is ranked No.11 in the nation and Stanford is No. 21 and they will battle for the Pac-12 Championship on Friday at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara. The Trojans are 10-2 and the Cardinal is 9-3. The biggest difference in Stanford is they have found a consistent quarterback in K. J. Costello who threw four touchdown passes in the fourth quarter last Saturday against Notre Dame in a 38 to 20 win.

Stanford this year is a lot like USC was last year. They started the season 1-2 and everyone said David Shaw's team was not a regular Stanford team that we have been accustomed to seeing. Last year. USC started 1-3 but ended the season with a Rose Bowl win over Penn State.

To beat Stanford for the second time this year USC's quarterback Sam Darnold will have to play his best game of the season and his receivers will to run near perfect routes if they expect to win the game.

USC's running game is in good hands with Ronald Jones II, Stephen Carr and Aca'Cedric Ware. The Trojans offensive line has been consistent all year so that won't be a problem.

What may be a problem is the Trojans' defense. They have played a bend-don't-break style this season and that might not be able to stop Stanford which has an All-American running back in Bryce Love.