USC benches Browne in favor of Darnold vs. Utah

Clay Helton is making a change at the quarterback position for USC, benching starter Max Browne for redshirt freshman Sam Darnold for the Trojans game Friday versus No. 24 Utah.

The two quarterbacks battled in training camp for the starting position, with Browne eventually getting the nod. In three starts this season, the redshirt junior completed 55-of-87 passes for 474 yards and two touchdowns.

Darnold has seen action throughout this season, throwing for 136 yards and two touchdowns. The former four-star recruit was ranked as the eighth-best pocket-passing quarterback in the country coming out of high school.