(Sports Network) - The third-ranked USC Trojans begin their quest
for an eighth straight Pac-10 title, when they travel to the Pacific Northwest
for a conference showdown with the Washington Huskies this weekend.

Pete Carroll's troops come into this contest following an 18-15 narrow victory
at Ohio State last weekend. With the win over the Buckeyes, USC has now won 12
straight games and enters league play having won eight straight conference
matchups.

Steve Sarkisian has breathed new life in a stagnant program at Washington and
the results speak for themselves in the early going. The team opened the year
against nationally-ranked LSU and although the Huskies didn't get the win,
they gave the Tigers all they could handle in a 31-23 setback. To Washington's
credit, the team took care of business in last weekend's clash with Idaho,
posting a rather easy 42-23 victory over the Vandals. The win brought an end
to the nation's longest losing streak (15 games).

Sarkisian will be taking on his mentor in this one, as he was on Pete
Carroll's staff at USC for seven of the last eight seasons.

USC holds a 49-26-4 series advantage and has won the last seven meetings
overall. Last year, the Trojans embarrassed the Huskies in Los Angeles, 56-0.

It wasn't easy in Columbus this past weekend, but freshman QB Matt Barkley led
the Trojans on an impressive drive to cap off the comeback win, as he
completed two long passes for first downs and converted a fourth-down chance
with a QB sneak to extend the drive, leading to a two-yard TD run by Stafon
Johnson with a minute to play.

Barkley thrived when the spotlight was the brightest and expressed his
confidence in the last minute victory over the Buckeyes.

"We're Trojans. That's what we do," Barkley said. "This is what we dreamed of,
coming back like this. "Doesn't matter where we are in the score. We found a
way. I love this."

Barkley has been superb in his first two games under center and Pete Carroll
may just have another future All-American on his hands. The numbers are good,
with Barkley completing 60 percent of his passes, for 428 yards and one TD,
but it is his composure that may be his best asset to date.

However a shoulder injury could have Barkley missing this contest, according
to Carroll.

"In this case, Matt's got to be able to throw the football and be all right
doing that. We have to wait to see if he is."

Aaron Corp will fill in if Barkley can't go and the sophomore will likely rely
heavily on a solid ground game that is netting 230 yards per game. A
unrivaled stable of backs is headlined by Joe McKnight (6.8 ypc, two TDs) and
Johnson (4.5 ypc, four TDs).

When looking downfield, it is junior wideout Damian Williams (eight
receptions, for 118 yards) that is the first option.

Coming into the season the biggest question mark outside of the QB, was how
well a completely overhauled defense would play. The early indications are
that there won't be much of a letdown, as USC is allowing just 9.0 ppg and 193
yards of total offense. Several defensive All-Americans moved on to the NFL
after 2008, but there is still plenty of talent remaining. A revamped
linebacking corps is now spearheaded by sophomore Chris Galippo, who has been
all over the field thus far (tied for the team-lead in tackles with 14, 3.0
TFLs, one INT, one forced fumble). Perhaps the best safety in the country
resides in the USC secondary in the form of three-time All-American Taylor
Mays (14 tackles). Up front, junior end Everson Griffin (one sack) is a force
at 6-3, 280 pounds, while freshman end Nick Perry (two sacks) has made an
immediate impact.

Sarkisian has an offensive system that is paying immediate dividends in
Seattle. A healthy Jake Locker makes all the difference in the world and
Washington is a much better team with him under center. Locker has made up for
lost time (missed most of last season due to injury) and has completed 60
percent of his passes in the first two games, for 574 yards, with five TDs. He
is a threat to run as well, with 69 yards on the ground and one rushing TD.

The ground game, which nets a modest 139 yards per game, is led by redshirt
freshman tailback Chris Polk (4.2 ypc, one TD).

When Locker does get vertical, freshman James Johnson gives him a reliable
target. Johnson is the first true freshman in UW history to catch a TD pass in
his first two games and currently leads the Huskies with 11 receptions, for
111 yards.

In the win over the Vandals, Locker was impressive, completing 17-of-25
passes, for 253 yards and three TDs, while adding a fourth on the ground.

Sarkisian thinks he has some something real special in Locker.

"I think Jake - and I'm going to keep saying it - has all the tools to be as
special a player and quarterback as there is in the country, if not the best.
He keeps showing it. He shows it to us every day, and I think as we keep
moving forward here, he's going to keep showing it to the rest of our
conference and the rest of the country."

This game marks the second ranked opponent in the first three games for
Washington, so the defensive numbers may be skewed a bit. While the unit
hasn't put up any eye-popping statistics (five TFLs, four sacks, two forced
turnovers), it has been competitive and will get better as the season wears
on.

Senior linebacker E.J. Savannah has gotten off to a strong start, leading the
team with 19 tackles in the first two games. Fellow veteran LB Donald Butler
ranks second with 14 stops, followed by junior LB Mason Foster (11 tackles,
one INT, one forced fumble, one fumble recovery).

Junior strong safety Nate Williams (nine stops) is the anchor in a secondary
that could feature a pair of freshman in free safety Justin Glenn and
cornerback Desmond Trufant.






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