USC at Cal by the Numbers
Here’s a look at some of the statistics and the number to know heading into this afternoon’s game between the No. 24 USC Trojans (6-2, 4-1) and the California Golden Bears (3-4, 1-3).
Team Statistics and Rankings
USC offense vs Cal Defense
| Stat | USC offense | Pac-12 rank | FBS rank | Cal defense | Pac-12 rank | FBS rank |
| Points per game | 45.4 | 2nd | 3rd | 31.1 | 10th | T-110th |
| Total yds per game | 480.4 | 3rd | 10th | 392.1 | 8th | 89th |
| Pass yds per game | 323.3 | 5th | 9th | 247.4 | 8th | 100th |
| Rush yds per game | 157.1 | 7th | 65th | 144.7 | 8th | 70th |
| 3rd down % | 42.5% | 6th | 47th | 38.3% | 7th | 74th |
| Turnovers | 10 | T-6th | T-64th | 14 | 2nd | T-12th |
Cal offense vs USC defense
| Stat | Cal offense | Pac-12 rank | FBS rank | USC defense | Pac-12 rank | FBS rank |
| Points per game | 29.9 | 9th | T-53rd | 30.5 | 9th | 107th |
| Total yds per game | 406.0 | 9th | 57th | 407.6 | 9th | 107th |
| Pass yds per game | 210.6 | 11th | 90th | 243.4 | 7th | 96th |
| Rush yds per game | 195.4 | 3rd | 20th | 164.3 | 12th | 100th |
| 3rd down % | 41.1% | 9th | T-63rd | 36.4% | 4th | 55th |
| Turnovers | 12 | T-9th | T-90th | 9 | T-6th | T-79th |
* Cal has played three AP Top-25 teams this season. In those games, the Golden Bears are allowing 48.3 points, 491 total yards, 220 rushing yards and a third down conversion rate of 51.2%
Top-5 Conference stats from players on Cal and USC
USC quarterback Caleb Williams
Passing yards – 5th (284.6 per game)
Passing touchdowns – 1st (23)
Rushing touchdowns – T-2nd (7)
USC running back MarShawn Lloyd
Rushing yards – 5th (81.4 per game)
USC wide receiver Brenden Rice
Receiving touchdowns – T-1st (8)
USC rush end Jamil Muhammad
Sacks – T-3rd (6)
Tackles for loss – T-2nd (10)
USC defensive end Solomon Byrd
Tackles for loss – T-5th (8.5)
Cal running back Jaydn Ott
Rushing yards – 1st (100.3)
Cal running back Isaiah Ifanse
Rushing touchdowns – T-2nd (7)
Cal linebacker Kaleb Elarms-Orr
Tackles – 1st (65)
Team notes
* USC has 54 plays this season of at least 20 yards from scrimmage. That ranks first in the Pac-12 and is second nationally behind only LSU.
* When Cal wins, Ott typically has a big game. He’s 6-12 in his career with the Golden Bears. In the six wins, he’s averaging 146.7 rushing yards and eight yards per carry. He’s scored eight touchdowns in those six games and in four of them, he’s rushed for 100 yards or more. In the 12 losses, he’s been held to an average of 51.6 yards and a 3.8 yards-per-carry average.
* Cal is in the middle of a run of four-straight games against ranked opponents. The Golden Bears haven’t posted a win against a ranked team since 2020. They beat No. 9 Oregon that year but are 0-3 against them this season and 0-7 since beating the Ducks.
* In Cal’s three wins, they’ve run for 269.7 yards per game. In the four losses, they’ve been held to 139.8 yards per game on the ground.
