Pete Carroll may have been mockingly "lost for words" in response to USC’s opening at No. 5 in the first Bowl Championship Series standings, but there are still 26 letters on my computer keyboard — not counting the exclamation point!

The question USC fans should be asking today is not how the Trojans got to

Pete Carroll has no use for BCS standings in October, no matter where Southern California is in them.

"I couldn’t care less," USC’s coach said after his Trojans (5-1, 3-1 Pac-10) destroyed woeful Washington State 69-0 on Saturday for their biggest shutout victory since 1931.

"It doesn’t matte

Tailback Joe McKnight overcame several injuries and ailments during nearly 1 1/2 seasons at USC to play in 18 consecutive games.

But the sophomore from Louisiana, who had a career-best rushing performance last week against Arizona State, said Wednesday that he probably would not play Saturday against struggling Washing

Southern California coach Pete Carroll vowed that his team wouldn’t take any game for granted after the Trojans fell out of the No. 1 spot in the country following a loss to an unranked opponent. He hopes to live up to his word during this week’s meeting with woeful Washington State.

In their first game away from home sinc

Mark Sanchez’s long weekend finally ended Monday when the USC quarterback got back onto the practice field to prepare for Saturday’s game at Washington State.

Sanchez said he had put behind his four-turnover performance against Arizona State, a game that included a fumble and three interceptions on consec