Good morning! Don’t miss out on the USC volleyball home opener in just two weeks. Get tickets for only $5 in this Flash Sale through Friday, August 30 at 5 p.m.

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

🏈 Paige was named to a national award watch list
👟 Trojans add Gatorade Athlete of the Year to the roster
⚔️ And much, much more!

📈 STOCK UP

🔼 Trojans Represent. USC will have two athletes in action at the 2024 Paralympic Games, which began yesterday in Paris, France. The Trojan’s most veteran Paralympian, Cindy Ouellet of Canada, is competing in her fifth Games in wheelchair basketball. Now a two-time Paralympian, USC true freshman Ezra Frech, who competes for Team USA in track and field, also is no stranger to the international stage.

🏀 Cindy Ouellet will be looking to help lead Canada's women's wheelchair basketball team to a medal. She is a three-time Wheelchair Basketball Canada Female Athlete of the Year and boasts gold medals won at the 2014 World Championships and 2019 Parapan American Games.

👟 The current world record holder in the high jump, Ezra Frech will be looking to improve on his 2020 Paralympic Games performance. He placed fifth in the high jump T63 and eighth in the long jump T63 in Tokyo and will compete in those events along with the 100-meter dash T63 while in Paris.

🔼 Fresh Fit. USC offensive lineman Elijah Paige was named to the Shaun Alexander Freshman of the Year Award Watch List, an award presented to the most outstanding freshman player (true freshman or redshirt freshman) in college football. After seeing action in five games last season, the redshirt freshman looks to have a breakout season with an increased role on the Trojan offensive line. 

🔼 New Man on Campus. USC track and field made an addition to the Trojan Family with the addition of thrower Preston Beery. The Nevada native won both shot put and discus titles and was named the state’s 2023-24 Gatorade Boys Track and Field Athlete of the Year.

🔼 Quick Hits. On the latest edition of Quick Hits with Keely Eure, head coach Lincoln Riley shares how his team is challenging its player-led leadership this season. Plus, a few highlights from fall camp leading up to this weekend’s game against the Tigers.

🗣️ “We [want] the best and most deserving leading us out each and every week. And like this game of college football, every week you’ve got to earn it.” - Lincoln Riley

🏈 COUNTDOWN TO KICKOFF

3 days until kickoff, Trojan Family!

We are officially a Carson Palmer number of days until the Trojans take the field to start the 2024 season. Palmer became USC’s first Heisman-winning quarterback in 2002 after he, at the time, broke school records for most completions (309), passing yards (3,942) and passing touchdowns (33) in a single season. Following his senior season, Palmer was selected with the first-overall pick in the 2003 NFL Draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. He played as a pro for a total of 14 seasons and was named to the Pro Bowl three times.

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📅 THE WEEK AHEAD

*All times Pacific

Friday, August 30
🏃 Cross Country @ Pepperdine Waves Invitational in Malibu, CA
🏐 Volleyball vs. Pepperdine @ 6:00pm in Malibu, CA | ESPN+

Saturday, August 31
⚽️ Soccer vs. Portland @ 4:00pm in Portland, OR | ESPN+
🏐 Volleyball vs. Pepperdine @ 6:00pm in Malibu, CA | ESPN+

Sunday, September 1
🏈 Football vs. LSU @ 4:30pm in Las Vegas, NV | Tickets

⚔️ Click here to view the full USC Trojan Athletics Calendar

⚔️ Have a great Thursday, everyone!