Top-ranked USC takes shot at Bears

LOS ANGELES — Southern California has waited a year for this.

The top-ranked Trojans get a chance to avenge their lone defeat since October 2002 when they face No. 7 California today before a sellout crowd of 92,000.

“This is a great moment for the Pac-10. This is prime time, the best of times,” Southern California coach Pete Carroll said. “We have two top-10 teams playing in the Coliseum with a giant crowd.

“There is a really fun buildup to this game. What happened last year adds to it all, brings more excitement.”

Cal safety Ryan Gutierrez, a fifth-year senior, thinks it may be the biggest game of his career.

“I’ve never seen a West Coast game of this magnitude. You’ve got two highly ranked teams, two power offenses, the great defenses,” he said. “This happens on the East Coast once in a while, but it’s pretty special when we get one out here.”

The Trojans, back as a national power under Carroll, have lost once in 25 games.

The Bears upset then-No. 3 USC 34-31 in triple overtime in late September 2003.

The Trojans went on to win The Associated Press national championship, but the loss at Berkeley cost them an undisputed title. LSU won the BCS crown.

Cal quarterback Aaron Rodgers said the rematch gives the Bears a chance to make a statement that they belong among college football’s elite.

“People are still doubting us, so it’s going to be a great chance for us to show people what Cal football is all about this season,” Rodgers said. “Win or lose, I think it’s great for the program to get this type of exposure. It’s a real good chance to show we’re a top-echelon team.”

The Trojans (4-0, 1-0) are riding a 13-game winning streak and have won 13 in a row at home. The Bears (3-0, 1-0) have won six consecutive games.

Coach Jeff Tedford, who has turned around the Cal program since taking over before the 2002 season, said he thought USC should have been the undisputed national champion last season, and that the Trojans certainly deserve their No. 1 ranking this year.

“They are very well-coached in all phases of the game,” Tedford said. “There is not a hole anywhere with the talent they have. Great players, great coaches and great schemes – they have it all going.”

USC had a bye last weekend — its second of the season. The Bears, meanwhile, scored a surprisingly easy 49-7 victory at Oregon State.

In a game featuring several outstanding matchups, the best might be between the quarterbacks.

USC’s Matt Leinart, who threw three interceptions in the loss last year, went on to finish sixth in the Heisman Trophy voting and is having another outstanding season.

Rodgers, who started against USC last season but was replaced by Reggie Robertson after throwing a costly interception, ranks among the nation’s passing leaders in several categories, including second in passing efficiency at 190.3.