Good morning, Trojan Family! It’s only up from here. Check out the team’s highlight reel from Washington as USC men’s basketball gets ready for their weekend battle against Montana State.

What else do we have for you in today's edition of The Three Torches? Check it out below!

🏈 Czaplicki wins Ray Guy Award
📚️ 47 Trojans named to Big Ten All-Academic List
⚔️ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Best of the Best. USC senior punter Eddie Czaplicki was named the recipient of the 2024 Ray Guy Award. He is USC's first-ever Ray Guy Award winner. USC ranked first in the nation in net punting (45.54). He leads the nation in percentage of punts inside the 20 for punters with a minimum of 30 attempts. Twenty-four of his punts have been inside the 20, nine have been inside the 10 and four inside the 5. He has recorded just 1 touchback the entire season. 

🔼 More Than Athletes. Forty-seven USC student-athletes earned a spot on the Fall Academic All-Big Ten team for their work in the classroom. During their first year in the Big Ten Conference, the Trojans increased the number of athletes who earned Fall All-Academic honors to 47 from last year's 42 with athletes from cross country, football, soccer and women's volleyball. There are two Trojans who carry a GPA of 4.0, and they are football's Brandon Shepherd and women's soccer's Hannah Griffin.

🔼 Brand New. With the spring a little over a month away, USC men’s tennis officially announced its 2025 schedule. The Trojans will host some new foes in its first year in the Big Ten with opponents such as Indiana, Michigan and Michigan State coming down to Marks Tennis Stadium.

Today’s Top Tier Performance presented by ARCO goes to USC women’s basketball duo KiKi Iriafen and JuJu Watkins. The two teammates have put up solid numbers with KiKi going on four straight double-doubles while JuJu has eight straight games with 20 or more points.

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!

The Number Is Climbing. USC football’s Eddie Czaplicki became the latest Trojan to be named a First Team All-American for his elite play on the field during the 2024 season. He averaged over 50 yards in four games this season and was named a Ray's 8 Award recipient three times this season.

Our question today: Do you know how many Trojans have been selected as First Team All-Americans in program history?

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

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📅 THE WEEKEND AHEAD

Friday, December 13
No scheduled events

Saturday, December 14
No scheduled events

Sunday, December 15
🏀 Women’s Basketball vs. Elon @ Noon in Los Angeles, CA | Tickets | B1G+ | Listen
🏀 Men’s Basketball vs. Montana State @ 5 p.m. in Los Angeles, CA | Tickets | BTN | Listen

⚔️Click here to view the full USC Trojan Athletics Calendar

🎉 TRIVIA ANSWER

Answer: 177!

After Czaplicki was announced as USC's second-ever punter to be named a First Team All-American, USC now has 177 First Team All-Americans.

⚔️ Have a great weekend, everyone!