Anthony McCoy News

Nothing compares to the challenge facing coach Pete Carroll right now. Not preparing for an undefeated Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl.

USC is 10 games into the season, but the Trojans' offense is still making mistakes indicative of the early season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller Some results in college football are shocking. Their dramatic, unexpected flash imprints on our brains like a photograph.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller USC is banged up, but it may be a bit healthier when Stanford comes to town on Saturday.

USC believes it fixed its defensive problems last week. It should have a much better idea about that today against Stanford and its centerpiece running back, Toby Gerhart.

USC, with an outside chance of winning an eighth consecutive Pacific 10 Conference title, plays the first of three consecutive home games to end the regular season.

It is not unusual for USC to lose two games by early November. The Trojans were an identical 7-2 just two years ago.

It is appearing more likely that the Trojans will be without star wideout and punt return extraordinaire, Damian Williams , for Saturday's homecoming game against the Stanford Cardinal.

USC rarely breaks from routine in its practice format. But continuing problems converting third downs have forced the 11th-ranked Trojans to double their emphasis this week as they prepare for Saturday's game against No.

Pete Carroll wouldn't go there, but Matt Barkley did. Asked about the USC offense's struggles in the past six quarters, the freshman quarterback pointed the finger squarely at himself.

USC freshman Devon Kennard might start at strongside linebacker against Stanford on Saturday despite his limited experience with the position - only two days.

For the first time since the middle of the 2002 season, the separation between USC and the Pac-10 is not evident.

It ended with safeties Will Harris and Taylor Mays playfully wrestling for the football in the end zone, not unlike the conclusion of any number of USC practices.

Pete Carroll is navigating uncharted territory. After his team suffered the worst loss in the last 12 years of the program, the USC coach is starting from scratch.

Frankie Telfort, a USC freshman linebacker barred from playing because of a heart condition, said he will see cardiologists in December with the hopes of convincing the Trojans' medical staff he can resume his football career.

USC's defense was under fire during and after the Trojans' blowout loss against Oregon, media and fans alike assessing the damage and possible causes.

Saturday evening the winner of the USC vs Oregon game could be this year's Pac 10 champion at the end of the season.

The one thing Trojan fans can take consolation in is that the best team won. Nothing cheap, no luck involved, simply the best team won.

One of the more intriguing subplots of Saturday's game between No. 4 USC at No.10 Oregon was supposed to be the match-up between two of the nation's premier tight ends, USC's Anthony McCoy and the Ducks' Ed Dickson.

The Trojans will definitely try to put their best foot forward on Saturday, but it may be somewhat gimpy.A What amounts to the biggest Pac-10 game of the year comes at a time when the Trojans are bruised and banged up.