CREATE TABLE table_204_294 (id DECIMAL, "date" TEXT, "time" TEXT, "opponent#" TEXT, "rank#" TEXT, "site" TEXT, "tv" TEXT, "result" TEXT, "attendance" DECIMAL)

which opponent comes before usc ?
SELECT "opponent#" FROM table_204_294 WHERE "date" < (SELECT "date" FROM table_204_294 WHERE "opponent#" = 'usc') ORDER BY "date" DESC LIMIT 1
SELECT "opponent#" FROM "table_204_294" WHERE "date" < (SELECT "date" FROM "table_204_294" WHERE "opponent#" = 'usc') ORDER BY "date" DESC NULLS LAST LIMIT 1