Of course, losing at home to Stanford tends to do that, even to a gold standard.

So does losing three of your last nine Pac-10 games, or as many as you lost in the previous 42.

The Trojans, who started the season at No. 1, haven't played like it. The big wins at Nebraska and Notre Dame (again) don't exactly count.

Which brings us to Saturday's trip to once-beaten Oregon. Even if USC can win out, and that's hardly a given, it'll probably need help getting back to the national-title game for the third time in four years (and it should have gone in 2003).

USC is eighth in the USA Today poll, ninth in the Associated Press, 12th in the BCS; Oregon's fifth in all three. The Ducks are favored. It's the first time USC has been an underdog since the 2003 opener at Auburn, where it won, 23-0.

Yes, the Trojans have had injuries, and they're starting to get some guys back. But Oregon has lost players, too. Real good ones. That hasn't stopped the Ducks from continuing to run one of the best offenses in the country. Ask Washington.

So who says there isn't a playoff in I-A?

"You can't write the book before the season's over," said USC coach Pete Carroll, who is dealing with some issues at quarterback. "We feel like we're right in the middle of everything."

With games left against Oregon State, Cal, Arizona State and UCLA, he has a point. Still, he's out of lifelines.

Oregon's closing stretch also includes Arizona State, UCLA and Oregon State. In 2001 the Ducks lost once but Nebraska went to the title game instead. Two years ago their lone loss was to USC and they didn't get invited to a major bowl. Last season they were 5-1 but finished 7-6.

"I (haven't) mentioned the BCS one time," said Oregon's Mike Bellotti, who last beat the Trojans in 2001, by two at home in Carroll's third game.

The last four years, the sport has pretty much gone through Los Angeles. Most folks figured this season would be more of the same. But it just hasn't happened.