USC facing lesser of bowl evils

This is not only the game after, not only a chance to bounce back.

For ninth-ranked USC, Saturday night's game against No. 23 Oregon holds ramifications arguably greater than any regular-season game in six seasons.

Forget the ones that kept alive winning streaks. Dismiss those that clinched conference titles or berths in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

The six-time defending Pacific 10 Conference champion Trojans, reeling from an upset loss to Oregon State last Thursday, are in danger of not only falling out of the hunt for the national title, but also finding themselves way off the Pac-10 pace in early October.

"This one holds a lot of clout," senior defensive tackle Fili Moala said.

Oregon, leading the conference and an offensive juggernaut, comes to the Coliseum 4-1 overall and 2-0 in conference.

Say what you will about Oregon's schedule -- its victories came against Washington, Utah State, Purdue and Washington State, which are a combined 4-13 -- but the team's spread attack is operating at full power despite an injury-fueled revolving door at quarterback, making the Ducks a threat for their first Rose Bowl appearance since 1995.

Previously top-ranked USC, meanwhile, still has its sights set on traveling to Florida for the BCS championship game. A third straight Rose Bowl appearance without a BCS title at stake would be regarded as a consolation prize.

But if Oregon knocks off USC, the Trojans could be contemplating a second-tier bowl game for the first time since their Christmas Day loss to Utah in the 2001 Las Vegas Bowl.

Holiday Bowl, anyone? How about New Year's Eve in El Paso at the Sun Bowl?

It could happen if the Trojans do not shore up the problems that plagued them in their loss to Oregon State, a 25 1/2 -point underdog.

"Just the taste of that loss hopefully fuels some things than can get guys going in the right direction," offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian said.

USC's offensive and defensive lines traveled mostly backward against Oregon State, the Beavers pushing the Trojans off the line of scrimmage like no team since Texas in the 2006 BCS championship game.

A national television audience watched freshman Jacquizz Rodgers run and spin right through the middle of a USC defense that was ranked second nationally.

Coach Pete Carroll said the Trojans might have been "rusty" and victims of their own success. USC routed Virginia and Ohio State in its first two games and for the most part did not have to defend the run.