USC @ Hawai'i preview

Last Meeting ( Sep 1, 2012 ) Hawaii 10, Southern California 49

The Matt Barkley era is over at Southern California and his replacement as quarterback is still in flux as the No. 24 Trojans visit Hawaii in Thursday’s season-opening contest. Coach Lane Kiffin said that sophomores Max Wittek and Cody Kessler will share the duties against the Warriors and that he won’t name a starter until after the squad arrives in Honolulu. Former USC offensive coordinator Norm Chow is head coach of Hawaii and is also running the offense.

The Warriors also feature a new quarterback as Ohio State transfer Taylor Graham – son of former NFL signal caller Kent Graham – beat out incumbent Sean Schroeder (11 touchdowns, 12 interceptions in 2012) for the starting job and is being counted on to rev up an attack that ranked 118th out of 120 FBS teams in total offense (297.4 yards) and scored only 21.2 points per game last season. While the Trojans are sorting out the quarterbacking situation, there are no issues with junior Marqise Lee, who finished fourth in Heisman Trophy voting and won the Biletnikoff Award as the nation’s best receiver after setting a school record with 118 receptions. USC senior running back Silas Redd (905 rushing yards, nine TDs in 2012) will miss the contest after undergoing knee surgery five months ago to repair a meniscus tear.

TV: 11 p.m. ET, CBS Sports Network. LINE: USC –23.

ABOUT USC (2012: 7-6, 5-4 Pac-12): Wittek had five interceptions and passed for just 293 total yards in starts against Notre Dame and Georgia Tech last season after Barkley suffered a season-ending shoulder injury, and he failed to separate himself from Kessler in fall camp. If Redd sits out, dynamic freshman Justin Davis or sophomore Tre Madden — a converted linebacker who missed all of last season with a knee injury — will draw the start. The Trojans defense returns several standouts, including senior outside linebacker Morgan Breslin (13 sacks in 2012), sophomore defensive end Leonard Williams (eight sacks) and junior safety Dion Bailey, who had six interceptions as a starting linebacker over his first two college seasons.

ABOUT HAWAII (2012: 3-9, 1-7 Mountain West): Schroder had offseason back surgery, which opened the door for Graham to get a long look in the spring and eventually win the job. Leading running back Joey Iosefa (1,011 career yards) is sidelined with a foot injury, so the Warriors will use unproven freshmen Steven Lakalaka and Aofaga Wily and senior transfer Marcus Langkilde as the ball-carrier rotation. Hawaii allowed a whopping 35.7 points per game last season and eight starters are back, including sophomore safety Marrell Jackson (team-tying high 56 tackles), senior outside linebacker Art Laurel (13 career sacks) and junior defensive end Beau Yap (10.5 tackles for loss in 2012).

EXTRA POINTS

1. USC is 8-0 against Hawaii – including five victories in Honolulu – and routed the Warriors 49-10 last season in Los Angeles.

2. Chow is also serving as Hawaii’s offensive coordinator duties after dismissing Aaron Price on the eve of fall camp.

3. Lee had 10 receptions for 197 yards for one touchdown and added a 100-yard kick return score in last season’s trouncing of the Warriors.

PREDICTION: USC 34, Hawaii 13