USC pounds Oregon and looks for a bounce in polls

USC Coach Pete Carroll hoped for a bounce, a performance that would restore his team's confidence after its embarrassing loss at Oregon State.

The Trojans had been manhandled on both sides of the line of scrimmage.

They had tumbled from No. 1 to No. 9 in the polls.

A slow start against No. 23 Oregon on Saturday did not exactly inspire optimism, but the Trojans came roaring back for an impressive 44-10 victory before 82,765 at the Coliseum who saw USC reestablish itself as a contender for a spot in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

"This was exactly what we needed to do," Carroll said. "This is the game we were looking for."

USC had hoped that Oregon State might further the Trojans' case with pollsters by knocking off No. 15 Utah of the recently-dreaded Mountain West Conference. But the Beavers' loss Thursday night had put even more of an onus on the Trojans against another opponent from the Northwest.

USC stayed in the BCS picture by overcoming a 10-3 deficit with a 24-point second quarter en route to scoring 41 unanswered points.

"I guess they answered the wakeup call after Oregon State," Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti said.

The score belied what early on appeared to be a game that might not be decided until the second half.

Oregon, with an offense averaging 47 points and 503 yards a game, drove for a touchdown on the opening series and was ahead, 10-3, early in the second quarter after taking advantage of a fumbled snap by Trojans quarterback Mark Sanchez.

But that's when Sanchez and his receivers began a highlight show that helped improve USC's record to 3-1 overall and 1-1 in the Pacific 10 Conference.

"We came out a little sluggish -- not as bad as last week -- and we really turned things around quickly before Oregon got too much momentum," said Sanchez, who led an offense that rolled up 598 yards.

Sanchez completed 19 of 28 passes for 332 yards and three touchdowns without an interception. USC, however, got a scare when the junior stayed on the ground for several minutes after he was sacked by former Mission Viejo High teammate Nick Reed with 3:45 left in the third quarter.

Sanchez was taken to the sideline and trainers examined the left knee he hurt during training camp. Sanchez, however, missed only one series before returning.

"I was more scared than anything but I think it will be fine," said Sanchez, who was wearing sweat pants with a large ice pack on his knee by the end of the game. "It's a little sore, not bad."