Trojans will strive to stay on top of Pac 12 South by beating Utah

USC is atop the Pac-12 Conference South Division, but the Trojans will be tested against a Utah team that has lost only one game and is going for a sweep of the Los Angeles schools. Gary Klein examines the game’s matchups and story lines:

Fashion forward

Utah chose the Trojans as the opponent for its seventh annual “Blackout Game.” The Utes will be outfitted in black uniforms, and most of the crowd also will wear black.

USC will again wear the metallic-tinged helmets with chrome facemasks that the Trojans debuted last week against Colorado.

Utah is 4-2 in blackout games, including a victory over UCLA last season.

Something special

Utah kick returner Kaelin Clay has returned three punts and one kickoff for touchdowns.

Clay, a senior who played at Long Beach Poly High and redshirted at California before playing at Mt. San Antonio College, scored on punt returns of 66 yards against Michigan, 46 yards against Idaho State and 58 yards against Washington State. He tied the school record for punt returns for touchdowns in a season set in 1999 by current Baltimore Ravens receiver Steve Smith.

Clay scored on a 100-yard kickoff return against Idaho State.

USC’s Nelson Agholor scored on a 53-yard punt return against Arizona State.

On the run

USC’s Javorius Allen and Utah’s Devontae Booker are the Pac-12’s leaders in rushing yards per game.

Allen is averaging 129.9 yards per game. He has eclipsed 100 yards in all but one game this season.

Booker, a transfer from American River College in Sacramento, is averaging 123.7 yards.

USC is sixth in the Pac-12 against the run, giving up 153.6 yards per game. Utah is second in the conference against the run, giving up 114.2 yards.

Different approaches

USC quarterback Cody Kessler passed for a school-record seven touchdowns against Colorado — and temporarily hushed critics who questioned his ability to throw longer routes.

Kessler has completed 69.5% of his passes, 18 for touchdowns, with only one interception. The junior from Bakersfield ranks 10th nationally in passing efficiency.

Travis Wilson, who played at San Clemente High, will start for Utah, but the Utes’ quarterback situation remains unsettled.

The 6-foot-7 Wilson has passed for 833 yards and seven touchdowns, with no interceptions, but he has completed only 57% of his passes. The Utes are 4-1 in games he has started this season.

Kendal Thompson, a transfer from Oklahoma, has passed for 301 yards and two touchdowns, with two interceptions. He has completed 60% of his passes.

Ends of days

USC’s Leonard Williams and Utah’s Nate Orchard are among the most productive defensive linemen in college football.

The 6-5, 300-pound Williams has been projected as the possible No. 1 pick in the 2015 NFL draft. He has five tackles for losses, including 4 1/2 sacks, and has intercepted a pass and forced a fumble. His 45 tackles trail only team leader Hayes Pullard’s 53.

Orchard, 6-4 and 255 pounds, has 10 1/2 sacks, second-most in major college football. It is the most sacks by a Utah player since John Frank had 13 in 1999.

Just for kicks

USC kicker Andre Heidari appears to have recovered from a groin injury, so he could return from a two-game absence to kick field goals.

Two years ago, Heidari missed two second-half field-goal attempts at Rice-Eccles Stadium. Former USC Coach Lane Kiffin said Heidari was “kind of yelling at the fans” and got upset on the sideline.

Heidari rebounded to kick four field goals for USC in a 19-3 win over Utah last season.

Alex Wood has done well on kickoffs in Heidari’s absence, so he could continue in that role. Wood has not attempted a field goal.

Utah kicker Andy Phillips has made 13 of 15 field-goal attempts, nine of 11 from 40 yards or longer. Utes punter Tom Hackett ranks third nationally, averaging 47.1 yards per kick.

Follow Gary Klein on Twitter @latimesklein