USC lost more than a game and its perfect season in Week 5.
During Friday night’s loss to Washington State, Viane Talamaivao went down with what at the time looked to be an upper-body injury. This week, further evaluation revealed that the starting right guard sustained a torn pectoral muscle, ending the senior’s season.
Not only that, but, because the injury came in the Trojans’ fifth game, it ends Talamaivao’s collegiate playing career as well as he won’t be eligible for a medical hardship waiver that would’ve given him another season.
Talamaivao started 37 games during his time with the Trojans, including all five this season. The 6-2, 315-pound interior lineman had also started 21 games in a row.
With Talamaivao out, USC will turn to true freshman Andrew Vorhees as the new starter. A three-star 2017 signee, Vorhees was an early enrollee who participated in spring practice this past offseason.
There was some good news on the linemen injury front as Toa Lobendahn is expected to return for Saturday’s game against Oregon State. The starting left tackle, who has started 21 games for the Trojans at four positions along the line, sat out the loss to Wazzu because of a staph infection.