GAME NOTES: The fourth-ranked USC Trojans may have a little revenge on their minds this weekend, as they welcome the Oregon State Beavers to the Coliseum for a Pac-10 showdown.

The Trojans' lone loss last year came at Oregon State. This season, USC dropped its league-opener to Washington, but has since won three straight games, including a thrilling 34-27 victory at Notre Dame last weekend. Pete Carroll's troops are 2-1 in conference action with wins over Washington State and California and are tied with Arizona, Arizona State and Oregon State at 2-1, sitting behind only Oregon (3-0).

Mike Riley's Beavers have had an extra week to get ready for USC, sitting idle last weekend. OSU is 4-2 on the year with back-to-back losses to Cincinnati (28-18) and Arizona (37-32) to close out the month of September. The Beavers have bounced back in October with a pair of conference victories over Arizona State (28-17) and most recently, Stanford (38-28).

USC holds a huge advantage in the all-time series (58-10-4), but Oregon State has won two of the last three matchups, including a stunning 27-21 upset of top-ranked USC a year ago in Corvallis.

The Beavers bring a balanced offensive attack into this game, with the team rolling up nearly 400 yards of total offense, with 132.5 yards coming on the ground and 254.8 through the air. The real key to the offense however, is tailback Jacquizz Rodgers. The talented sophomore is a real workhorse, averaging 5.4 yards per carry and 116.2 yards per game. He has also scored all 13 of OSU's rushing TDs to date.

QB Sean Canfield presents a problem with his arm and keeps defenses from solely concentrating on Rodgers. Canfield has completed an impressive 67.9 percent of his passes, for 1,405 yards, with eight TDs and just four INTs.

His top targets downfield are the Rodgers brothers and Damola Adeniji. James Rodgers leads the way with 43 catches, for 544 yards and four TDs. Jacquizz has 38 receptions on the year, for 269 yards. Adeniji has caught 26 balls, for 341 yards and two scores.

Coach Riley speaks in glowing terms about the Rodgers brothers.

"Oh they're playing great. They are two great kids I just love them. They are hard workers, good guys and obviously very talented and have meant a lot to our team and to our program in general. We're excited about them and about what they've done. They're just fun. They're the last two guys out every day and they're out there playing some kind of game with the ball boys. They just have fun doing this and both good kids."

The OSU defense has played to mixed reviews thus far. The team has shown the ability to stop the run (97.7 ypg), but has been torched by the pass (275.3 ypg). A lack of a pass rush has been reason for concern, with just four sacks on the season. The squad has also struggled in forcing turnovers (six).

Senior LB Keaton Kristick paces the team in tackles (50), with 4.5 TFLs, one INT and one fumble recovery. Sophomore LB David Pa'aluhi is next in line with 36 tackles. Sophomore safeties Cameron Collins (34 tackles) and Lance Mitchell (31 tackles, one INT) highlight the play in the secondary.

Freshman QB Matt Barkley threw for a career-high 380 yards and helped USC build up a 20-point fourth quarter lead, before barely holding on for the victory in South Bend.

Barkley has been solid under center despite his youth, completing 60 percent of his passes, for 1,338 yards and five TDs. Damian Williams is the top target on the outside, as the 6-1 junior leads the team in receptions (28), receiving yards (467) and TD catches (three).

The USC ground game is potent, averaging 193.5 yards per game, on 5.2 yards per carry. In addition, the team has amassed 15 rushing TDs, headlined by tailback Joe McKnight's seven scores. McKnight has certainly made the most of his 86 carries on the year, averaging 6.4 yards per carry.

Despite a huge turnover in terms of talent on the defensive side of the football, USC has thrived defensively, ranking among the nation's best in scoring defense (11.7 ppg), rush defense (67.7 ypg) and total defense (260.0 ypg).

Sophomore LB Chris Galippo has emerged as a real leader in the middle of the field and currently paces the team in tackles (41), with 5.0 TFLs, 1.5 sacks and one INT. Fellow LB Michael Morgan has been a disruptive force as well, leading the way with 9.5 TFLs and three sacks. The play in the secondary is highlighted by two-time All-American safety Taylor Mays (38 tackles, one INT) while both rush ends Everson Griffen (22 tackles, 7.5 TFLs, 7.0 sacks) and Nick Perry (8.0 TFLs, 7.0 sacks) have paced a tremendous pass rush that has accounted for a whopping 26 sacks thus far.

The Beavers certainly present a problem with their playmakers both in the backfield and on the outside. Something that Carroll is aware of.

"They've got an offense that really does stretch the field to compliment their running game. He's (Canfield) doing a really good job of working the ball around. The Rodgers brothers are ridiculous. They're both terrific football players. They can get you a number of different ways. They can both catch it, they both can run it if you don't look out there and you see something happening in the kicking game as well."

Still, with a bit of revenge on their minds, coupled with getting this game at home, expect the Trojans to settle in on both sides of the football and earn the victory here.