The first week of the college football season has arrived. Both Los Angeles-based teams kick off the season on Saturday -- USC is at Fresno State, while UCLA plays Virginia on the road.
The battle for Los Angeles is about to get underway. But if you ask Minnesota Vikings starting quarterback Matt Cassel, there is no battle, because USC has always been on top.
The former USC quarterback was on Tuesday's Dan Patrick Show and was asked what it's like to have seven players in the locker room from the rivalry -- four players from USC, three from UCLA.
USC: QB Cassel, TE Rhett Ellison, DE Everson Griffen, LT Matt Kalil
UCLA: G Jeff Baca, LB Anthony Barr, P Jeff Locke
"Rivalry-wise, it's great," Cassel said. "Because we just basically dominate, until this last year. It was the first of many that the UCLA guys could even say anything. But overall, USC runs, like normal, runs this locker room like we run the city of Los Angeles."
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Cassel's comment was good natured, but it also speaks to how former players view the rivalry. USC absolutely has owned Los Angeles. Entering this season, USC leads UCLA 40â30â7. USC's total does not include the nine wins the school had to vacate due to NCAA violations.
The interview didn't end without Cassel saying something nice about Jim Mora Jr.'s UCLA team.
"Great job so far; the Trojans are coming, baby," Cassel said.
No matter how USC fans want to look at this rivalry, you cannot deny the potential of this Bruins team. In the latest AP Top-25 poll, UCLA is ranked No. 7, USC sits at No. 15.
For those wondering, USC and UCLA do face off this season, but it won't happen until the second to last week, Nov. 22.
