USC has been in this spot before
USC FOOTBALL
The Trojans routed previously ranked Oregon and face struggling Arizona State Saturday. It's in the bag? Not quite. Anyone remember Oregon State?
The last time USC came off a game against a ranked opponent, the Trojans stumbled badly, losing its Pacific 10 Conference opener to Oregon State.
Could it happen again this week against struggling Arizona State?
USC Coach Pete Carroll said today that he was "anxious to see" how his team would respond after its 44-10 victory Saturday over previously-ranked Oregon.
"I think this is a different situation," Carroll said. "We're right in the middle of conference right now. I'm hoping that we're going to find out if we can elevate to the kind of level of consistency that we've played with for years around here."
Unlike the Oregon State game, which was televised nationally and played on a Thursday night, USC plays the Sun Devils in a Saturday afternoon game at the Coliseum that will be broadcast regionally.
That is some of the fallout from losing at Oregon State, a game that Carroll has acknowledged having been concerned about because of its spot on the schedule after a highly anticipated and hyped match-up against then No. 5 Ohio State.
"The extra time we had [after routing the Buckeyes], gloating in it or however, it just had an effect," he said. "We didn't play well."
Arizona State has lost three consecutive games and senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter is questionable for the game because of an ankle injury suffered in a loss at California.
USC quarterback Mark Sanchez's status also is uncertain after suffering a bone bruise in his left knee against Oregon. Sanchez said Monday that he would try to practice today if doctors cleared him to do so.
gary.klein@latimes.com
