(12) U-S-C (6-2) at Arizona State (4-4)

Published online on Wednesday, Nov. 04, 2009

GAME NOTES: After an embarrassing loss last weekend, the 12th-ranked USC Trojans get back to action this weekend against Pac-10 foe Arizona State.

USC was still in contention for a national title heading into last weekend's clash with Oregon, but the Trojans were crushed by the Ducks, 47-20. That beating dropped Pete Carroll's team to 6-2 overall, including 3-2 in league play. The setback halted a four-game winning streak and could prevent the Trojans from winning their eighth straight Pac-10 title.

Arizona State has suffered back-to-back losses to fall to 4-4 overall, including 2-3 in conference action. The Homecoming crowd at Sun Devil Stadium watched in disappointment last weekend as ASU fell to California by a 23-21 final. The Sun Devils play Oregon next week, so this two-game stretch is brutal to say the least.

USC has won its last nine meetings with Arizona State to take a 16-9 advantage in the all-time series between the teams.

Freshman Matt Barkley completed 21-of-38 passes for USC against Oregon for 187 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. While those numbers are certainly solid, the offense simply didn't do enough to hang with the Ducks. Joe McKnight rushed for 95 yards on 15 carries, and Damian Williams made nine catches for 82 yards and a score.

"You never think about this stuff," said a dejected Barkley after the loss. "Tonight was not one of these nights. Before this season I never thought this could happen".

Defensively, USC was downright dreadful against the Ducks. Oregon rolled up 31 first downs and 613 total yards against the Trojans, including 391 rushing yards at a clip of 8.0 yards per attempt. Oregon scored five offensive touchdowns in the game, four of which came on the ground.

"We couldn't keep up with the fast paced offense of Oregon, and we couldn't settle the ball," coach Carroll said. "It was a real mess with the running game, they out ran us and we couldn't make the tackles."

USC is scoring 30.0 ppg this season to go along with 426.2 total ypg. Of the 28 touchdowns scored by the offense this season, 18 have come via the ground attack that is gaining 5.4 yards per carry. McKnight has rushed for 712 yards and seven touchdowns, and Allen Bradford has contributed 397 yards and four scores. As for Barkley, he has connected on 59.3 percent of his throws for 1,727 yards with nine touchdowns and six interceptions. Williams paces the receivers with 43 grabs for 607 yards and four touchdowns.

Defensively, the Trojans are allowing 19.1 ppg and 331.9 total ypg. They are limiting opponents to 3.4 yards per rushing attempt, but they have only intercepted three passes this season. Safety Taylor Mays remains the most overrated player in college football. Sure, he leads the team with 57 tackles, but he never makes impact plays, the type expected of a "star".

Against Cal last weekend, Arizona State generated a mere 82 rushing yards on 26 attempts and finished with 329 total yards. Three touchdowns were scored by the Sun Devils, including one scoring pass from quarterback Danny Sullivan, who finished with 244 yards. Unfortunately, Sullivan was intercepted twice, key to the setback. Cameron Marshall rushed for 71 yards and a touchdown on 16 carries to lead his club.

California is loaded with talent in the backfield, so the fact that ASU limited the Golden Bears to 57 rushing yards on 30 carries was extremely impressive. Unfortunately, the Sun Devils yielded 351 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air. A total of 408 yards were permitted, and while two takeaways were generated, the overall play of the defense simply wasn't good enough.