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All season, Southern California has fought through the lack of motivation that comes with being ineligible for a bowl.
Arizona coach Mike Stoops, though, has little time to regroup his team from a loss that essentially ended its Pac-10 title hopes as the 18th-ranked Wildcats host the Trojans on Saturday.
USC (6-3, 3-3) has been uneven at times in Lane Kiffin’s first year as coach, often displaying a high-octane offense that has been undermined by a sieve-like defense. The Trojans rank 14th in FBS in both total offense (470.8 ypg) and scoring (36.4 ppg), but they are 97th in total defense (423.9) and 76th in scoring defense (28.4).
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They had enough mettle last week to bounce back from a loss to No. 1 Oregon, rallying to beat Arizona State 34-33 after blowing a 15-point lead - using a 2-point defensive PAT conversion and field goal before surviving a late missed field goal by the Sun Devils.
“We just haven’t had so many things go our way, whether it was kicks or clock management, so it was just great for our kids for something to finally go our way in a roller-coaster game,” Kiffin said. “Hopefully it’s one of those games that brings you together and helps you finish off the year strong.”
Matt Barkley threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns for USC, which is out to avenge a surprising 21-17 home loss to Arizona (7-2, 4-2) last Dec. 5. Barkley was held to 144 yards in that game, his second-worst total in 21 games with the Trojans.
“They’re very tough to deal with, especially when you have to go into a hostile environment,” Kiffin said of the Wildcats. “They just happened to not play well last week and ran into a team as hot as anyone in the country. This is a really good team with some dynamic offensive players.”
Indeed, the Wildcats have been a solid offensive team, averaging 30.9 points while ranking 19th in total offense at 450.6 yards per game. Arizona, though, could not keep up with then-No. 10 Stanford in a 42-17 defeat last week that dropped it five spots in the AP Top 25.
The Wildcats are currently third in the Pac-10, two full games behind the Ducks and one behind the Cardinal with three remaining. Arizona, which visits Oregon on Nov. 26, would have to run the table and get some help to have any shot of winning the conference title.
“We’re still a good football team, still a top 20 team,” Stoops said. “There’s a lot of possibilities out there, one game won’t make or break us either way.”
Stoops will be counting on quarterback Nick Foles to be sharper after he threw for 248 yards following a two-game absence due to injury. Additionally, tailback Nic Grigsby may be closer to 100 percent after getting just one carry last Saturday due to a high ankle sprain.
Arizona must also regroup defensively after allowing a season-worst 516 yards to the Cardinal, including 217 on the ground. The Wildcats, who lead the Pac-10 in scoring defense at 17.4 points per game, also lead the conference in rushing defense (102.7 ypg).
Arizona snapped a seven-game losing streak to USC with last year’s win and has not won consecutive games in the series since 1999-2000. The Trojans, who lead the all-time series 26-7, have won four straight in Tuscon.
Arizona coach Mike Stoops, though, has little time to regroup his team from a loss that essentially ended its Pac-10 title hopes as the 18th-ranked Wildcats host the Trojans on Saturday.
USC (6-3, 3-3) has been uneven at times in Lane Kiffin’s first year as coach, often displaying a high-octane offense that has been undermined by a sieve-like defense. The Trojans rank 14th in FBS in both total offense (470.8 ypg) and scoring (36.4 ppg), but they are 97th in total defense (423.9) and 76th in scoring defense (28.4).
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They had enough mettle last week to bounce back from a loss to No. 1 Oregon, rallying to beat Arizona State 34-33 after blowing a 15-point lead - using a 2-point defensive PAT conversion and field goal before surviving a late missed field goal by the Sun Devils.
“We just haven’t had so many things go our way, whether it was kicks or clock management, so it was just great for our kids for something to finally go our way in a roller-coaster game,” Kiffin said. “Hopefully it’s one of those games that brings you together and helps you finish off the year strong.”
Matt Barkley threw for 219 yards and three touchdowns for USC, which is out to avenge a surprising 21-17 home loss to Arizona (7-2, 4-2) last Dec. 5. Barkley was held to 144 yards in that game, his second-worst total in 21 games with the Trojans.
“They’re very tough to deal with, especially when you have to go into a hostile environment,” Kiffin said of the Wildcats. “They just happened to not play well last week and ran into a team as hot as anyone in the country. This is a really good team with some dynamic offensive players.”
Indeed, the Wildcats have been a solid offensive team, averaging 30.9 points while ranking 19th in total offense at 450.6 yards per game. Arizona, though, could not keep up with then-No. 10 Stanford in a 42-17 defeat last week that dropped it five spots in the AP Top 25.
The Wildcats are currently third in the Pac-10, two full games behind the Ducks and one behind the Cardinal with three remaining. Arizona, which visits Oregon on Nov. 26, would have to run the table and get some help to have any shot of winning the conference title.
“We’re still a good football team, still a top 20 team,” Stoops said. “There’s a lot of possibilities out there, one game won’t make or break us either way.”
Stoops will be counting on quarterback Nick Foles to be sharper after he threw for 248 yards following a two-game absence due to injury. Additionally, tailback Nic Grigsby may be closer to 100 percent after getting just one carry last Saturday due to a high ankle sprain.
Arizona must also regroup defensively after allowing a season-worst 516 yards to the Cardinal, including 217 on the ground. The Wildcats, who lead the Pac-10 in scoring defense at 17.4 points per game, also lead the conference in rushing defense (102.7 ypg).
Arizona snapped a seven-game losing streak to USC with last year’s win and has not won consecutive games in the series since 1999-2000. The Trojans, who lead the all-time series 26-7, have won four straight in Tuscon.
