/ STAFF WRITER
For the first two months this season, USC coach Clay Helton had a habit.
When he watched film of the Trojans’ upcoming Pac-12 Conference opponent, he liked to view the footage from its game against Washington.
It was, Helton reasoned, because of similarities between the Trojans and Huskies.
After a practice this week, he drew parallels.
The teams often lined up in the same offensive formations. Their personnel mirrored each other, with ankle-breaking skill position players and burly linemen. Both start underclassmen at quarterback. And particularly so, he felt, they featured balance on offense.