Jordan Addison responds to bold claim from Dorian Thompson-Robinson ahead of rivalry game

This year’s battle for Los Angeles between USC and UCLA is more significant than it has been in recent years, and both teams have had some things to say about the upcoming showdown. UCLA quarterback Dorian Thompson-Robinson got the ball rolling on the talking, making a bold claim that the Bruins would score 60 on the Trojans. And on Tuesday, USC star wide receiver Jordan Addison responded to that take ahead of the matchup.

“I didn’t see any of that but, who wouldn’t want to put 60 up on us?” said Addison. “I mean we are USC. But they are going to have to stand behind that. He’s going to have to stand on those words.”

Addison has not been apart of the matchup as long as Thompson-Robinson, who has spent his entire college career at UCLA. But the meaning of this huge rivalry game is not lost on him.

“You just go to realize it’s bigger than you. It’s for the team; it’s for this city. So, once you realize it’s bigger than you, you gotta play for it. You gotta play for your teammates.”

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UCLA might need more than 60 to keep up with the Trojans’ offense. USC has been putting up big numbers offensively, including 55 points in their previous victory over Colorado. But if the Bruins can’t make it to 60 points, except for Addison and the Trojans to shoot for that number and remind UCLA who is the dominant program in Los Angeles.

Lincoln Riley not going overboard on rivalry rhetoric ahead of USC – UCLA

Lincoln Riley is plenty familiar with college football rivalry games. Just like USC has two major ones with Notre Dame and UCLA, Oklahoma plays yearly against Oklahoma State and Texas. It’s safe to say Riley found just a bit of success in those matchups. He went 5-1 against Texas, including one win in the Big XII Championship Game. And he went 4-1 against Oklahoma State. And he tossed in a win against Nebraska as well.

This will be Riley’s first taste of the USC – UCLA rivalry. It’s different than every other major college rivalry because the schools share the same city. But Riley said they aren’t looking to treat this game any differently than the first 10.

“We’re not going anything honestly too specific with this rivalry,” Riley said after Tuesday’s practice of how he’s addressed the team this week. “Not to discount it in any way. We’ve acknowledged that this game, in some ways, is going to feel different. Right? We’ve acknowledged that it is a rivalry game. There’s a lot of history behind it. It’s going to be a great game to play in. But past that, I think we’re really zeroed in on what we believe is going to help us play well. And that’s where our focus is going to be.”

Riley called rivalry games “awesome” and added they’re one of the best part of the job. He said the emotion, intensity and excitement makes it fun for everybody involved. But Riley said that “other than both teams wearing home jerseys, I don’t know if there’s a whole lot different, to be honest.”

Make no mistake, this is a big one between the Trojans and Bruins. A USC win will guarantee the Trojans a spot in the Pac-12 Championship Game.