Arizona State

Eager to put behind an embarrassing defensive performance against Oregon, Lane Kiffin could hardly wait for USC's next game against Arizona State. "Saturday," the Trojans coach said this week, "can't come fast enough. " And that was before a controversy over deflated footballs put Kiffin and USC in the middle of another firestorm. So here are the Trojans, with a 6-3 record overall, 4-3 in the Pac-12 Conference and the program reeling from a reprimand, a $25,000 fine and national criticism because a since-fired student manager intentionally deflated footballs that were used by USC during a 62-51 loss to Oregon last week at the Coliseum.

Despite two consecutive losses, USC will play for the Pac-12 Conference title if it can defeat Arizona State at the Coliseum on Saturday and UCLA at the Rose Bowl next week. Staff writer Gary Klein examines the matchups and story lines for the game between the Trojans and Sun Devils. Heisman opportunity Last month, on USC's trip home from Utah, receiver Marqise Lee lobbied Coach Lane Kiffin to let him play defense. Lee might get his chance against Arizona State as Kiffin seeks to enhance the sophomore's Heisman Trophy chances and bolster the Trojans' struggling defense.

The numbers are mind-boggling. After playing fairly well for most of the season, USC goes into Saturday's game against Arizona State having given up 101 points and 1,318 yards in its last two games. Perhaps looking for a bright side, USC Coach Lane Kiffin on Monday referred to last season, when the Trojans regrouped after giving up a combined 84 points in a loss at Arizona State and a victory over Arizona. "We had the same thing happen to us last year in … back-to-back weeks and finished playing really well," he told the school's website.

In practices leading to Saturday night's game against Arizona at the Rose Bowl, UCLA's offensive scout team ran at a pace that its first-team defense thought was impossible. "It was a speed I've never seen," said defensive end Cassius Marsh. "The pace was unreal," said defensive back Sheldon Price. "Chaotic," said linebacker Eric Kendricks. The scout team performed so fast, in fact, that when UCLA faced Arizona and its high-powered, up-tempo offense, the Wildcats . . . started . . . to . . . look . . . slow.

UCLA's defense will have to pick up the pace Saturday against Arizona at the Rose Bowl. The Wildcats play fast. Really fast. "They are frantic," UCLA Coach Jim Mora said. The Wildcats rank fourth nationally in total yards (553.6 a game), fourth in passing yards (354.4) and 20th in scoring offense (39.1). And they do it lickety split. The Bruins' defense appeared gassed at the end of a 45-43 victory over Arizona State last Saturday. The Sun Devils' no-huddle offense rolled up 535 yards and rallied from a 42-33 deficit in the last nine minutes.

In Tucson on Monday, Arizona quarterback Matt Scott declared himself fit and said he would be ready to play when the Wildcats come to Pasadena to face UCLA on Saturday. In Westwood, UCLA Coach Jim Mora said Scott's status didn't matter one way or the other. Scott left a 39-36 victory over USC late in Saturday's game after taking a couple shots to the head, leading to reports that he suffered a concussion. But he told reporters in Tucson on Monday, "I don't really think I had a concussion.

There were two views of UCLA's 45-43 victory over Arizona State. There was Saturday's version … "This game was huge," defensive end Cassius Marsh said. "Arizona State is one of the top teams in the Pac-12 South [division]. We needed it. We came and got it. " And there was Sunday's version … "I think you have to be real careful," Coach Jim Mora said when asked whether the Bruins had cleared a hurdle with the victory. "As soon as you think 'Aha, we've got it,' all of a sudden you don't have it. It's real important to stay grounded and don't overreact.

UCLA gave away a possession, trailed by two touchdowns and, near the end, had 1 minute and 33 seconds to move a freshman kicker into field-goal range. No sweat. The Bruins had a second to spare -- the clock read 0:02 -- as Ka'imi Fairbairn lined up for a 33-yard field goal. And the freshman from Honolulu, who had been automatic from inside 36 yards this season, stayed that way. His kick split the uprights, giving UCLA a 45-43 win over Arizona State at Sun Devils Stadium in Tempe.

TEMPE, Ariz. -- I don't think it was too much to ask. If one has only so many days in a lifetime, and some of them must be spent watching UCLA football, then how about making them more entertaining? I brought it up following the Bruins' last game, helpful as I often am with our local coaches, reminding Jim Mora folks still weren't going to the Rose Bowl because UCLA football hasn't been much fun. Well, I had no idea he would take advice so well, as Mora made even the coin toss entertaining on what would be just a humdinger of an afternoon.

UCLA 45, Arizona State 43 (final) Ka'imi Fairbairn has been automatic on field-goal attempts of less than 36 yards. And with two seconds left in the game and UCLA trailing by a point, he stayed that way. Fairbairn, a freshman from Honolulu, drilled a 33-yard field goal right through the uprights to give UCLA (6-2 overall, 3-2 in Pa-12 play) a victory that made the Bruins bowl eligible. UCLA took over at its own 25-yard line with 1 minute 33 seconds on the clock and drove 60 yards in 10 plays to set up Fairbairn, who is 10 for 10 on kicks from 35 yards and in but 0 for 5 from farther away.