LOS ANGELES — The USC defense started Saturday’s game against Washington State shorthanded, with captain linebacker Shane Lee on the sidelines in a cast. Further strain was put on the Trojans when standout safety Calen Bullock was ejected for targeting in the second quarter.
But the sixth-ranked Trojans still had their best defender, Tuli Tuipulotu, on the field. And that was more than enough.
The defensive lineman’s three-sack performance, as well as gutsy play by the defense as a whole, helped carry USC to a 30-14 win over the Cougars as the Trojans improved to 6-0 halfway through the 2022 season.