Trojans occupy Oregon and win

PAC-12

Matt Barkley was confident that No. 18 USC was headed for an upset all along, even when fourth-ranked Oregon mounted a comeback.

"We expected to shock everybody except ourselves," he said after throwing for 323 yards and four touchdowns in a 38-35 victory over the Ducks on Saturday night at Eugene, Ore.

The loss snapped a 21-game winning streak for Oregon (9-2, 7-1 Pac-12) at Autzen Stadium, which was the longest in the nation. It also stopped a 19-game winning streak in conference games.

But even more significantly, the loss derailed Oregon's hope for a second-straight berth in the BCS championship game. The Ducks were poised to move up in the BCS standings after No. 2 Oklahoma State lost to Iowa State 37-31on Friday night.

"I think this was a defining game for us," Barkley said. "We set ourselves apart on both sides of the ball."

Trailing 24-7 in the third quarter, Oregon launched a comeback and narrowed the margin to just three points on LaMichael James' 1-yard touchdown run with 7:05 left in the fourth quarter.

Barkley led his team to the Oregon 15, but Marc Tyler fumbled and the ball was recovered by the Ducks with 2:54 to go. Oregon marched down the field but Alejandro Maldondado's 37-yard field goal attempt, which was brought 5 yards closer because of a USC penalty, went wide left.

Afterward, Ducks' fans stood stunned while the Trojans (9-2, 6-2) celebrated on the field. Once in the locker room, the team was so boisterous that they at times drowned out coach Lane Kiffin speaking to reporters in an adjoining room.

The victory was huge for USC, which cannot play in the postseason because of NCAA sanctions.

"We needed this," Barkley said.

Robert Woods, who was held out of some practices this week with ankle and shoulder injuries, caught seven passes for 53 yards and two scores. Freshman Marqise Lee caught eight passes for 187 yards and a score.

Darron Thomas threw for 265 yards and a score for Oregon, while Kenjon Barner ran for 123 yards and two touchdowns. The Ducks, ranked fifth in the nation with nearly 292 rushing yards per game, were held to 209 yards by USC's defense.

"We lost a game," said James, who rushed for 78 yards and a touchdown. "Life goes on."

Against the Trojans, Oregon was playing catch up from the start.

The Trojans scored first on Barkley's 59-yard touchdown pass to Lee in the first quarter, then added Barkley's 12-yard scoring pass to Woods early in the second to go up 14-0.

The Ducks didn't' look like themselves until an efficient scoring drive midway through the second quarter. Thomas hit freshman Colt Lyerla with a 35-yard pass before hitting fellow frosh De'Anthony Thomas with a 29-yarder for the touchdown. The seven-play drive covered 88 yards in just 2:15.

But USC answered with Barkley's 4-yard touchdown pass to Woods. The TD, Barkley's 73rd, moved him past Carson Palmer for second on Southern California's career touchdown list. Matt Leinart had 99 for the Trojans.

The Ducks had a chance to narrow it before the half, but De'Anthony Thomas was out of bounds when he pulled down a Darron Thomas pass to the end zone. On the next play, James fumbled and the ball was recovered by USC.

No. 8 Stanford 31, California 28: At Stanford, Calif., Andrew Luck completed 20 of 30 passes for 257 yards and two touchdowns, and Stanford (10-1, 8-1 Pac-12) held off Cal (6-5, 3-5).

Oregon State 38, Washington 21: At Corvallis, Ore., Sean Mannion threw for 339 yards and two touchdowns as Oregon State beat Washington.

The Beavers (3-8, 3-5 Pac-12) beat the Huskies for the seventh time in their last eight meetings.

Nick Montana was 11 of 21 passing for 79 yards for the Huskies (6-5, 4-4) in his first career start.

UCLA 45, Colorado 6: At Pasadena, Calif., Kevin Prince threw for 225 yards and hit tight end Joseph Fauria with two of his career-high four touchdown passes, and UCLA moved within one victory of an improbable Pac-12 South title with a win over Colorado (2-10, 1-7).

Johnathan Franklin rushed for 162 yards and a score, while Shaq Evans and Nelson Rosario also caught TD passes for the Bruins (6-5, 5-3), who would play in the Pac-12's inaugural title game if they can beat archrival Southern California next weekend.

Arizona 31, Arizona State 27: At Tempe, Ariz., backup quarterback Bryson Beirne connected with Juron Criner on a 23-yard touchdown play with 5:18 remaining and Arizona held on for a Territorial Cup victory over Arizona State.

The game ended with the Sun Devils (6-5, 4-4) on the Arizona 15-yard line, where two passes by Brock Osweiler fell incomplete.

Beine had just come on in relief of game MVP Nick Foles, who completed 35 of 51 for 370 yards and two touchdowns before being shaken up and leaving the game. Criner caught nine for 134 yards for Arizona (3-8, 2-8).

Louisiana Tech 24, Nevada 20: At Reno, Nev., Colby Cameron passed for three fourth-quarter touchdowns and Louisiana Tech stunned Nevada (6-4, 4-1).

Cameron's 8-yard touchdown pass to Taulib Ikharo with 51 seconds left completed the comeback in which the Bulldogs (7-4, 5-1 Western Athletic Conference) faced a 20-3 fourth-quarter deficit.

San Jose State 27, Navy 24: At San Jose, Calif., Brandon Rutley rushed for 132 yards and two touchdowns and caught a career-high eight passes for another 101 yards, lifting San Jose State (4-7) past Navy (4-7).

BYU 42, New Mexico State 7: At Provo, Utah, Jake Heaps completed 21 of 36 passes for 238 yards and four touchdowns, leading BYU (8-3) past New Mexico State (3-8).

Fresno State at Hawaii: Late