Stand up and cheer

The Big Game is a week away, but there’s no doubt that this week’s California contest is the real big game of the Pac-10 season.

The 17th-ranked Golden Bears travel to Los Angeles to meet No. 4 USC this week, with both teams sporting a 6-1 Pac-10 record.

Simply put, this one is winner takes all, locking up a BCS berth and the Pac-10 title.

For USC, the stakes are higher as last week’s action sent the Trojans into the No. 3 spot in the BCS standings. That could become No. 2 with a win this week, since the current Nos. 1 and 2, Ohio State and Michigan, are playing each other Saturday.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for us to clinch a (Pac-10) championship,” USC coach Pete Carroll said.

The game may have lost some luster after Cal’s loss to Arizona last week, but this is the game that pundits, fans, players and possibly even coaches have looked forward to all season.

“Playing this game, it’s not something where you need to motivate your players,” Cal coach Jeff Tedford said. “I just mentioned it to them after the game and on Sunday. Because we stumbled last week doesn’t mean that some of our goals aren’t still there.”

Reviewing replay

Oregon endured another bizarre instant replay saga Saturday against USC.

In the second half, a Jonathan Stewart touchdown reception was overturned by replay because the running back had stepped out of bounds and then come back in before catching the ball.

But Oregon coach Mike Bellotti used his coach’s challenge to challenge the replay, and after a second delay – essentially making for another halftime – replay officials determined that the ball was tipped first, making Stewart an eligible receiver. The touchdown was awarded to the Ducks.

“I was thinking, ‘Why wasn’t it fixed the first time the right way because the ball was tipped?’ ” asked Bellotti, who said he still supports the idea of instant replay in college football. “I just was shocked that it took so long, to be honest with you.”

Carroll, on the other hand, does not hold replay in such high regard.

“My whole stance is I think the game is designed to be played with a flow to it and a human element,” he said. “We’ve created a potential monster … and it couldn’t have been more evident than it was Saturday night when we had an almost 15-minute break.”

Hot in the desert

Arizona has adopted the title of the hot Pac-10 team of the moment, although that distinction hasn’t been great lately for other conference teams.

Two weeks ago, Washington State had the honor, only to lose to Arizona. Then it was Oregon State, which promptly lost to UCLA.

Now the Wildcats, still in bowl contention after wins against WSU and Cal, are the subject of scrutiny.

“We seem to be playing our best football, our most consistent football, across the board,” coach Mike Stoops said. “There’s a little change in the way our kids perceive themselves. We played some pretty good football throughout the season but just didn’t make plays in games when we needed to make plays.”