Good morning, Trojan Family! The Women of Troy are still climbing the rankings in the latest release of the United Soccer Coaches Poll.

What else can you find in today's edition of The Three Torches?

🏐 Volleyball recap
⛳️ Koo earned Big Ten weekly honors
⚔️ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Went The Distance. On Thursday night, the Women of Troy lost to Michigan State at the Galen Center in five sets. Ally Battenhorst led USC with 23 kills, while Adonia Faumuina and Jadyn Livings each contributed 14 kills. Now, the Trojans will look to bounce back against No. 3-ranked Penn State at home on Saturday.

🔼 Protecting The House. No. 2 USC holds its final home stand of 2024 this weekend, hosting No. 10 UC Davis in a noon clash on Saturday on Alumni Day for the Trojans. At 1:30 p.m. that day, the USC men welcome their alumni to the pool for an Alumni Game in the home waters of Uytengsu Aquatics Center. The last time out, USC recorded a split at Uytengsu last weekend, beating No. 7 Princeton before taking an MPSF loss to rival No. 2 UCLA.

🔼 For Good. USC men’s basketball returns to the court for their final exhibition match of the season against Gonzaga on Saturday. All sales from the game will help support Eisenhower Cardiovascular Institute, supporting their lifesaving work in the Coachella Valley.

🔼 Back In The Boat. In its debut regatta of this year, USC women's rowing will send 17 boats to compete at Head of the American on Saturday. The Women of Troy will enter 10 boats in the Women's Collegiate 2-, four boats in the Women's Collegiate 8+ and four boats in the Women's Collegiate 4+. Additionally, the Head of the American marks the exciting debut of head coach Kelsie Chaudoin, who joined the Trojan Family in June 2024.

Today’s Top Tier Performance presented by ARCO goes to USC women’s golf’s Jasmine Koo. Koo was named the Big Ten Women’s Golfer of the Week for the second time in her collegiate career following her individual win at the Stanford Intercollegiate where she finished 11-under par. She became the first USC freshman since Amari Avery to win back-to-back individual titles as Koo helped lead the Women of Troy to a share of the Stanford Intercollegiate team title.

This season, Abbott and the Big Ten are pitting school against school in the largest blood donation competition of our lifetime to fight the largest blood shortage in a generation.

Want USC to win? Then don't give up. Give blood. Every donation scores one point for your school on the leaderboard.

The winning school will receive $1 million to advance student or community health. Individual donors will be offered a free one-month subscription to B1G+ and will be entered to win a trip to the 2024 Discover® Big Ten Football Championship Game on December 7, 2024. Learn More and Give Blood Today.

Today’s trivia question is brought to you by Smart & Final. With more than 3,000 club-sized items and an assortment of quality, value-priced products, including farm-fresh produce, dairy, deli, meat and seafood, as well as grocery and household essentials. Smart & Final has your every need covered — all without a membership fee!

Pro Ball. USC men’s basketball has had some standout performers over the years, with many going on to play on the world’s biggest stage: the NBA.

Our question today: how many former Trojans are active for the 2024 NBA season?

Think you got it? Scroll down to the bottom of this email for the answer!

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📅 THE WEEKEND AHEAD

Friday, October 25
🏈 Football vs. Rutgers @ 8 p.m. in Los Angeles, CA | Tickets | FOX | Listen

Saturday, October 26
🥍 Lacrosse vs. Navy @ TBD in Annapolis, MD
🤽‍♂️ Men’s Water Polo vs. UC Davis @ Noon in Los Angles, CA | Watch
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Gonzaga @ 5 p.m. in Palm Desert, CA | Tickets | B1G+
🏐 Volleyball vs. Penn State @ 8 p.m. in Los Angeles, CA | Tickets | BTN

Sunday, October 27
🥍 Lacrosse vs. Georgetown @ TBD in Washington, D.C.
⚽️ Soccer vs. UCLA @ Noon in Los Angeles, CA | Tickets | BTN

⚔️Click here to view the full USC Trojan Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 11!

With the addition of Bronny James Jr. and Isaiah Collier, USC men’s basketball has 11 active players playing in the NBA this season.

⚔️ Have a great weekend, everyone!