Next opponent : Trojans answer doubters

LINCOLN, Neb. – They came to the heartland to rediscover their heart, to reclaim their land.

Today, the amber waves of grain cracked and stuck to the bottom of their cleats, there is no doubt about either.

“We showed everyone that we still play Trojan football,” USC defensive end Kyle Moore said. “We showed everyone that we are going to continue to play like No. 1.”

Moore stood on a chilly field an hour before midnight Saturday, a new season having finally dawned in USC’s second game, a 49-31 flattening of 14th-ranked Nebraska.

Moore stood surrounded by the screams of red-clad fans and the honks of a red-tinged marching band. There was red on the giant logo under his feet. There was red covering the end zones.

There was red everywhere, it seemed, except on Moore, who had but a few flecks on his white shoulder pads, as if chipped off a bike that had just been steamrolled by a truck.

After a passionless opening victory against Idaho, some folks wondered about USC.

In the ensuing two weeks, with Oklahoma and Louisiana State and Florida winning big while the Trojans watched, that wonder increased.

USC showed up here needing to show that, after all the summer hype, the most talented team in the country deserved to start this season ranked as its best.

Questions, anyone?

Their first possession started on their 4 -yard line. Four plays later, they were in the end zone.

Yeah, the far end zone, a drive that featured runs of 50 and 40 yards through holes 100 miles wide.

“It was pretty cool,” tackle Sam Baker said.

After reckless penalties led to a 10-7 deficit, they scored the next 35 points to take a 42-10 lead .

Those five touchdowns were scored by four players, followed two forced turnovers and occurred during a span in which the defense was holding Nebraska, in five possessions, to 87 yards.

“Yeah,” Baker said. “I guess it was sort of a statement.”

It is a statement that will be heard this week in Norman, Gainesville and Baton Rouge.

Somebody else No. 1?

Who else could come into the home of a Big 12 bulldozer and outrush Nebraska 313-31?

That’s right, the entire Cornhuskers running attack accounted for less yards than those two first-possession runs by Stanley Havili (50) and C.J. Gable (40).

The Trojans knew their running game couldn’t be stopped when, at the beginning of a drive in the second quarter with Nebraska leading by three points, coach Pete Carroll told the offense that it would run the ball every play.

Five plays later and 45 yards and countless Nebraska bruises later, they were in the end zone.

“We knew we had a chance to do that from that point on,” Carroll said. “I was very, very pleased with that.”

Somebody should be ranked higher?

Who else is deep enough to win a game in the home of a ranked opponent in which six running backs carry the ball, 10 people catch a pass and second-stringers play much of the fourth quarter?

First, Oklahoma and Florida have not even played a road game, and Louisiana State has played only Mississippi State on the road.

Second, those teams are fast, but after watching USC on Saturday, can any of them be faster?