Trojans are in full flower in Rose Bowl victory

Prolonged periods of defensive dominance. Flashes of offensive brilliance. And a victory in the end.

But the fifth-ranked Trojans' 38-24 win over sixth-ranked Penn State on Thursday also included the requisite dose of what-might-have-been.

What might have happened if the Trojans had showed up to play at Oregon State in September?

What might the offense have looked like had quarterback Mark Sanchez been turned loose as he was against the Nittany Lions?

And, finally, what would happen if USC played another one-loss team in the Bowl Championship Series title game?

USC Coach Pete Carroll did not have any doubt.

"I don't think anybody could beat us," said Carroll, whose team finished 12-1 after winning the Rose Bowl for the third consecutive year.

Penn State Coach Joe Paterno seemed inclined to agree after the Trojans dropped the Nittany Lions to 11-2 on a clear and sunny day before 93,293.

"It would take a heck of a football team to beat Southern Cal the way they played today," said Paterno, who coached from the press box because of recent hip replacement surgery.

In a game that featured the Trojans' top-ranked defense and the Nittany Lions' fifth-ranked unit, USC's offense stole the show in Steve Sarkisian's final game as offensive coordinator.

"We put a challenge on the offense to come out here and score some points and they answered the call," Trojans middle linebacker Rey Maualuga said.

Sanchez accounted for five touchdowns, passing for four and running for another.

The junior from Mission Viejo keyed a 24-point second-quarter burst that propelled the Trojans to a 31-7 halftime lead, the most points Penn State had allowed in a game all season.

"We're a silent but deadly offense," Sanchez said. "If you think about the defense too much we'll have a day like this."

Sanchez, who will now weigh whether to turn pro or return to USC, had one of the greatest games by a quarterback in Rose Bowl history, completing 28 of 35 passes for 413 yards without an interception. He was selected the game's offensive most valuable player.

Sanchez's touchdown pass to Damian Williams on USC's second possession gave the Trojans a 7-0 lead. His six-yard run on a quarterback draw put them in front, 14-7, and a David Buehler field goal and touchdown passes to Ronald Johnson and running back C.J. Gable extended the margin to 24 points.