USC, Stanford will put it all on the line

Hayes Pullard welcomes a challenge from Stanford, especially one that never seems to stop growing.

USC’s gritty middle linebacker has played against the Cardinal three times, and he savors the opportunity to again face a Stanford offensive line that morphs from a standard five-man configuration to as many as nine players.

“I’m saying like, ‘Dang, nine offensive linemen … this is the type of game I want,’” Pullard said this week, adding, “It’s hard-nosed football, you know, just how it was back in the day.”

On Saturday, USC returns to Stanford Stadium for a Pac-12 Conference opener that could set the tone for the Trojans’ season.

USC routed Fresno State, 52-13, in its opener. But Stanford is a more quantifiable test for the Trojans and first-year Coach Steve Sarkisian.

The game pits a USC defensive front seven led by Pullard and lineman Leonard Williams against Stanford’s offensive line, a position group that developed a reputation for toughness under former coach Jim Harbaugh and has gained national acclaim under fourth-year Coach David Shaw and Mike Bloomgren, the Cardinal’s offensive coordinator and line coach.

“When Jim got there, I think the attitude piece of it started to evolve,” Sarkisian said. “What they’ve continued to do over the last six years or so is recruit high-level players.”

USC and Stanford competed in 2012 to recruit several linemen who will be on the field Saturday.

The Trojans landed Max Tuerk, a starting tackle and guard his first two seasons and now the starting center.

USC lost out on tackles Andrus Peat and Kyle Murphy, the Cardinal’s left and right tackles, respectively.

The 6-foot-7, 316-pound Peat is the only returning starter for a position group that produced four NFL draft picks in the last three seasons. But Murphy and others gained experience while rotating into games.

“They’ve made a name for themselves,” Sarkisian said of Stanford’s line. “Sometimes their reputations precede them for what they are.”

Stanford defeated UC Davis, 45-0, in its opener. The Cardinal, which had a 38-0 halftime lead, generated 461 yards and gave up two sacks.

“First-half-wise for the offensive line — it was a solid B — not perfect but good,” Shaw said. “Second half, we still had the starters in there, I’d say B-minus, C-plus.”

USC’s hopes of countering Stanford’s offensive surge begin with Williams. The junior suffered an ankle injury during practice Tuesday, but he is expected to play Saturday.

Williams, a projected first-round NFL draft pick, made seven tackles and intercepted a pass against Fresno State.

“We’ll know where he is every play and line up accordingly,” Shaw said.

Williams will be flanked at times by Antwaun Woods, Delvon Simmons and Claude Pelon.

Simmons, a transfer from Texas Tech, and Pelon, a transfer from Mesa (Ariz.) Community College, made their debuts against Fresno State.

“They flashed at times,” Sarkisian said. “We’re looking for more consistency.”

Pullard anchors a linebacker corps that includes starters Anthony Sarao, J.R. Tavai and Scott Felix. Safety Su’a Cravens, whose interception set up the game-winning field goal in last season’s 20-17 upset victory over the Cardinal, also could be deployed close to the line of scrimmage.

“They’re starting to open it up a little,” Cravens said of the Cardinal offense, “but they’re still going to try and control the clock and be physical on the line.”

That’s fine with Pullard — “I love it” — and also with Woods, who is looking forward to what he described as “my favorite type of football.”

“It’s like fighting in a phone booth,” he said. “Hit or be hit.”

gary.klein@latimes.com

Twitter: @latimesklein