Brice Butler News

There is a lot of speculation about whether or not USC WR Damian Williams will play on Saturday.

If anyone can play through a sprained ankle - and play effectively - it's Damian Williams .

While emphatically reiterating his support for Matt Barkley, USC quarterbacks coach Jeremy Bates revealed some of the areas in which the touted freshman can improve.

LOS ANGELES - After suffering a second knockout blow in three weeks, USC began to lift itself up off the canvas with a spirited Tuesday practice.

The grades are in for USC's dreadful performance against Stanford on Saturday. The last time something like this happened, I had no choice but to hand out some Fs.

With its second blowout loss in three weeks hanging over the program, USC will attempt to regroup and address issues as it prepares for its Nov.

While Stanford tailback Toby Gerhart rampaged through the Southern California defense in an awfully quiet Coliseum, he and his Cardinal teammates flattened a bunch of recent college football certainties as well.USCs streaks of seven straight BCS bowls, 11-win seasons and top-four AP poll finishes? Those are all finished.The Trojans Pac-10 dominance ...

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 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.

The Trojans' defense rebounded in a big way in an ugly but effective 14-9 victory at Arizona State.

TEMPE, Ariz. - Style points aren't in style anymore in college football. Good thing, because USC 14, Arizona State 9 was Max Headroom wearing a mullet and a Winger T-shirt. Matt Barkley completed just seven passes for only 112 yards, 75 of which came on one play.

Will Harris returned an interception 55 yards for a touchdown, Matt Barkley threw a 75-yard pass to Damian Williams for another score, and No.

Observations from the Coliseum and a few injury updates: Mike Riley is a great coach : Riley proved once again that he is one of the most underrated coaches in the country.

Autzen Stadium fits only 50,000 people, but it's consistently been known to be the loudest in the Pac-10. And when USC visits Oregon Saturday - on Halloween night, nonetheless - it will be loud.

With junior wide receiver Ronald Johnson back from injury and starting again, it raises the question why USC did not redshirt freshman De'von Flournoy this season? Flournoy has not caught a pass this year and did not even play in USC's 42-36 victory over Oregon State last weekend.

With the midpoint of the season in the rearview mirror, college football award speculation is in full swing.

Lost, perhaps, in the hectic finish to USC's 34-27 victory over Notre Dame on Saturday was another outstanding performance by Trojans receiver Damian Williams .

USC flanker Damian Williams has been the Trojans' primary pass receiving weapon since the Arkansas transfer started his first game a year ago.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller Just because USC has a bye this week doesn't mean the Trojans didn't play.

Third-string quarterback Mitch Mustain and starter Matt Barkley stood out Friday during No.