LOS ANGELES (AP) — The usual rivalry week platitudes were present before 94th game between Southern California and UCLA on Saturday night.

“There’s going to be a lot of emotion playing, and guys are going to be excited, because there’s nothing like playing against your friends or people you know,” said Bruins head coach DeShaun Foster, who went 1-3 at guard. 1998-2001.

And then there was Trojans wide receiver Kyle Ford, who has a perspective on the battle for the Victory Bell unlike anyone else.

“I don’t think this week ever gets too normal, especially the last three,” said Ford, who played his first three seasons at USC, transferred across town to UCLA in 2023 but returned to the Trojans for one more year.

That route meant Ford won as visitors in each of the last two installments of the series. The electrifying 48-45 triumph at the Rose Bowl 2022, which confirmed quarterback Caleb Williams as the Heisman Trophy favorite before going on to become USC’s eighth honoree, is Ford’s favorite.

“I tell everybody it’s one of the most fun games I’ve ever played in,” Ford said. “Not just because I had a touchdown or anything, it was just competitive, it was fun. It was back and forth. Like, so many memories in the game that I could always tell people.

“Being a kid from Southern California, just wanting to contribute to those games is what you dream of, and I feel like that was one of the games where I finally got my opportunity to do that.”

Ford has ties to many parts of the local football scene. A native of Corona, Calif., he split his high school career between two Orange County powers in Servite and Orange Lutheran.

His first two seasons at USC (5-5, 3-5 Big Ten) were limited by knee injuries before Ford became a steady role player in 2021-22. He had 20 receptions for 365 yards in Williams’ transcendent 2022 season, including three catches for 73 yards and a touchdown on the first play of the fourth quarter against the Bruins.

After seeing more playing time as a fourth-year senior, a jump to UCLA (4-6, 3-5) seemed to make sense. But it just didn’t work, something Ford realized during last season 38-20 win by the Bruins at the Coliseum.

Ford couldn’t enjoy the moment “because I was more frustrated with my own team than USC at the time,” he said. “That’s why I’ve said this game has been on my mind longer than any other.”

Despite again putting up modest numbers in his return to USC, making 17 receptions for 217 yards and two touchdowns, Ford has been a valuable mentor to the young group of receivers. He’s happy with that role, especially if it leads to a win this week.

“I mean, whatever personal things I feel, it doesn’t matter because I would never put myself before the team,” Ford said. “Like, I’m just going to do everything, and hopefully whatever I have in my mind helps the team in a positive way.”

Ford may not be the only person on the USC sideline dealing with mixed emotions this week. Defensive coordinator D’Anton Lynn, safety Kamari Ramsey and cornerback John Humphrey were all part of the UCLA defense that dispatched Williams with a loss in his last college start and home appearance.

Lynn and Ramsey both described the crosstown showdown as just another game.

That is certainly not the case for Ford.

“It’s something that, you know, when you move and you leave, it’s something that you dream about and you sleep over and think about,” Ford said. “And now here it is. So I’m just trying to keep all my emotions under wraps until that clock starts rolling.”

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