USC looks to stay alive in the Pac-12 race against a dangerous Cal team at the Coliseum on Thursday (7:30 p.m. PT, ESPN). Here are some things to keep in mind going into the game:
The year of the “running raid?” Washington State has had success by adding a ground game to complement the Air Raid. The Bear Raid has always been a little more run-centric than Washington State’s rendition. But Cal has now rushed for more than 300 yards in back-to-back games for the first time since 2004. Granted, it took back-to-back overtimes (a first in school history) to get there.