What a year for the USC Trojans. They were ranked as high as #2 in the nation and had an opportunity to be ranked #1 with only Stanford standing in their way. We all know what happened in that one; a 24-23 embarrassing home loss. They then loss to another Pac-10 rival Oregon a few weeks later. Despite the losses and drop in the polls, they find themselves back in contention for the Pac-10 title. Beat Arizona State and then UCLA and a berth in the Rose Bowl is theirs.

But let’s not get ahead of ourselves just yet, as Arizona State controls their own destiny and may have something to say about whether the Trojans make it back to the Rose Bowl. If they close out the season with wins over both USC and Arizona, they will be representing the Pac-10 in the Rose Bowl. Coach Erickson, in his 1st year with the Sun Devils, made it his priority to restore the program when he took over last December. What he has done this season is unbelievable quite frankly when you consider that they were just 7-6 last year and a poor 4-5 in conference play.

“I told them that I hoped that I could take them to places like this, where they would have this opportunity, and its here,” Erickson said Monday. “It’s going to be fun for them, and its fun for me to watch them react to where they’re at right now. That’s the fun part of coaching.” “Now, playing USC, I don’t know how much fun that’s going to be.”

Both teams are coming off a bye and should be rested for this one. Their health is more of a concern with Booty dealing with a cracked finger for the past couple of weeks and State QB Carpenter is battling a sprained thumb.

“It hurts taking a snap because that’s where the ball hits on that part of your thumb,” Carpenter said Monday. “Handing off with my right hand doesn’t feel good, and throwing — all those things. It hurts, and I’m going to play until I can’t any more, I guess. Hopefully I’ll make it through the U. of A. game.”

History is definitely on the Trojans side as they have owned the Sun Devils having won the last 7 outscoring them 274-141 in those games combined. But when State is ranked, SC is just 2-4.

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