USC’s previous two games at the Rose Bowl against UCLA were memorable for all the wrong reasons.
An upset loss in 2012 caused a frustrated Lane Kiffin to tell reporters he already knew he was coming back in 2012 and athletic director Pat Haden confirmed it with text messages saying he was 110 percent behind his coach.
When the Trojans were routed, 38-20, in 2014, Steve Sarkisian faced questions whether the team quit in the second half.
But after USC’s 36-14 victory over the Bruins on Saturday night, the Trojans’ seventh consecutive victory, expectations for success are so high that no one will be satisfied with a victory over the crosstown rival.