WSU Football | Tough to find any weakness in No. 1 USC

Last year, Washington State went out and showed Washington that USC was vulnerable.

This year, the Cougars again face the No. 1 Trojans one week before the Huskies play them. But USC hardly looks beatable as the Trojans (2-0) are coming off an impressive 49-31 win at Nebraska.

This year marks only the seventh time that USC plays WSU and then the UW in successive weeks.

Last year, the Cougars almost upset the Trojans in Pullman. The Cougars were driving late but an interception by Seattle native Taylor Mays at the 4-yard line preserved the 28-22 victory.

The next week, the Huskies were driving but failed to get off a final play at the 15-yard line in a 26-22 defeat at the Coliseum.

The Cougars play USC in Los Angeles on Saturday in a 5 o'clock ABC-TV game, and the Trojans will be in Seattle Sept. 29 for another televised 5 p.m. encounter.

"I don't think there is any doubt they are No. 1 after watching them on tape," said Cougars coach Bill Doba, whose team is a 24 ½-point underdog.

USC historically is "Tailback U" and this year has nine scholarship players at the position. The star at Nebraska was sophomore Stafon Johnson, who gained a career-high 144 yards on just 11 carries against the then-No. 14 Cornhuskers.

"They really have a stable," Doba said. "They all look like they came out of the same mold."

However, linebacker might be the most talented position group. Brian Cushing, Rey Maualuga and Keith Rivers form the consensus best trio in the nation.

And quarterback? The Trojans have Heisman candidate John David Booty, who has thrown five touchdown passes and only one interception and completed 65 percent of his passes.

Four passes were dropped against Nebraska, and coach Pete Carroll said, "I'm disappointed we dropped the ball a little bit on offense ... The obvious strength was the running game, the ability to pound it at the line of scrimmage with an offensive line that played very well."

That line features tackle Sam Baker, a two-time All-American.

Receiver is the one position where the Cougars may have an edge Saturday, with their trio of Michael Bumpus, Brandon Gibson and Charles Dillon. Star 2006 USC receivers Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith are now in the NFL.

USC enters with streaks of 34 consecutive home wins and 23 Pac-10 home victories, both league records.

Notes

• WSU starting running back Dwight Tardy (knee, ankle) practiced Wednesday.

• Senior tight end Jed Collins, who dropped a pass at the 3-yard line against Idaho, stayed late after practice and worked with quarterback Alex Brink.

• Practice highlights included two acrobatic catches by Brandon Gibson.