No. 25 Stanford at No. 11 USC (12:30 p.m.)
 
The Cardinal are riding a wave of momentum after overwhelming Oregon last week 51-42. Senior running back Toby Gerhart added another chapter to an illustrious career, finishing with a school record 223 rushing yards on 38 carries and 3 touchdowns. Redshirt freshman quarterback Andrew Luck was also remarkably sharp, making tough throws look easy and finishing with 251 yards and two touchdowns. The Cardinal’s defense proved to be vulnerable, giving up 570 total yards to the Ducks. No. 11 USC comes off a surprisingly hard-fought win against Arizona State. The Trojans were held to just 14 points, but their defense bailed them out by allowing just nine.
 
Key stat: Gerhart has scored at least once in eight of Stanford’s nine games so far.
 
Washington at Oregon State (12:30 p.m.)
 
Washington is searching for answers after its third straight defeat, this time against UCLA. This loss was particularly hard to swallow for the Huskies, as they failed to protect a 23-14 third quarter lead and fell 24-23. Junior quarterback Jake Locker threw for 235 yards and two touchdowns, while freshman running back Chris Polk torched the Bruins’ defense for 132 yards on only 15 carries. Oregon State, meanwhile, has seen its fortunes turn in recent weeks with wins over UCLA and California. The Beavers never trailed against California, taking an early 14-0 lead. Senior quarterback Sean Canfield eclipsed 300 yards passing for the third straight game and threw two touchdown passes. Sophomore running back Jacquizz Rodgers was held to just 67 yards on the ground, but also caught nine passes for 30 yards. The Beavers outgained California by nearly 200 yards on offense, and turned the ball over just once.
 
Key stat: Junior wide receiver James Rodgers ran for 110 yards on just three carries in a 34-13 win against Washington last year. He also had 53 yards receiving and three
total touchdowns.
 
UCLA at Washington State (2 p.m.)
 
The Bruins finally earned their first Pacific-10 Conference victory last week in a 24-23 thriller against Washington. Freshman quarterback Kevin Prince threw for 212 yards and a touchdown before leaving with a concussion in the second half. Kevin Craft replaced him, and stepped up in a big way. Unlike UCLA, Washington State remains winless in the Pac-10. Most recently, the Cougars fell 48-7 to No. 18 Arizona. The Cougar defense gave up 471 total yards, and true freshman quarterback Jeff Tuel left the game in the second quarter with a sprained knee. Washington State finally got on the board in the fourth quarter when sophomore wide receiver Jared Karstetter took a pass 64 yards for a touchdown.
 
Key stat: The Cougars have lost 14 of their last 15 Pac-10 games.
 
No. 18 Arizona at California (7:20 p.m.)
 
No. 18 Arizona is fresh off a confidence-building 48-7 win over Washington State. Junior wide receiver Travis Cobb took the opening kickoff 95 yards for a touchdown, and the Wildcats were off and running from there. By halftime Arizona led 34-0, and they got more special teams magic from sophomore wide receiver William Wright, who returned a punt 86 yards for a touchdown in the third quarter. As disappointing as its loss to Oregon State was last week, California is immensely relieved that star running back Jahvid Best was not seriously injured in a terrifying fall. Best sustained a concussion, and will be held out this week as he recovers. The Golden Bears were clearly shaken by Best’s injury, and managed only one touchdown after he left. Without Best, they gathered just 39 rushing yards, and the defense had no answer for Canfield and the Beavers.
 
Key stat: Only one of Arizona’s wins this year has come on the road.


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