By Ken Peters
The Associated Press

LOS ANGELES - Unless Southern California wins Saturday, all the hoopla over bowls and BCS rankings won't mean much.

The Trojans, second to Oklahoma in both the polls and the BCS standings, must defeat Oregon State to remain in the hunt for their first national title in 25 years.

"We have to beat the team we're playing," USC center Norm Katnik said. "That's all we can control."

Trojans coach Pete Carroll is looking forward to the big game.

"This is really an exciting time for us," Carroll said. "This is a great game, with everything riding on it. There will be tremendous focus on the outcome. This is kind of the exclamation point of the regular season."

The Trojans (11-1, 6-1 Pac-10) have clinched at least a tie for the Pac-10 title and will play in the Rose Bowl if they don't finish in the top two in the BCS. Those rankings will be announced Sunday and will determine who meets for the national championship in the Sugar Bowl.

"We can't lose. It's the Rose Bowl or the Sugar Bowl," Carroll said. "What an awesome opportunity."

USC has beaten Oregon State (7-4, 4-3) at the Los Angeles Coliseum 19 straight games dating to 1960. The Trojans had won 26 in a row overall against the Beavers until a 31-21 loss at Corvallis three years ago.

The Beavers already are set for the Dec. 24 Las Vegas Bowl, where they will play New Mexico.

Although USC is favored by 21 points, Carroll believes Oregon State will be at its best.

"It's a good matchup," he said. "They've got some firepower and they've got defense and they've got experience. They'll be freewheeling and going for it."

An upset would be special to Beavers coach Mike Riley, a USC assistant under John Robinson from 1993-96. When he was coaching the San Diego Chargers three years ago, Riley initially was considered for the USC job that eventually went to Carroll. Riley wound up back in Corvallis for his second stint with the Beavers.

"I really enjoyed the people at USC, and the time I coached there will always be a great time in my career," Riley said.

He's duly impressed by the Trojans, who have scored 40 or more points in their last six conference games, the longest such streak by a Pac-10 team.

Both USC and Oregon State are coming off byes. The Trojans beat UCLA 47-22 in their last game, and Oregon State lost 34-20 to Oregon.

"Their one outstanding common denominator is team speed," Riley said. "They appear to be playing with too many guys on offense. They do a great job of getting people the football.

"Their defense is really versatile and fast. They swarm to the football."

The USC offense features Matt Leinart's passing to Mike Williams and Keary Colbert, and the running of tailbacks Hershel Dennis, LenDale White and Reggie Bush.

Leinart was chosen the Pac-10 offensive player of the year, the first sophomore to win the award since Stanford's John Elway in 1980.

The Trojans' quarterback has passed for 2,951 yards and 30 touchdowns. He has thrown seven interceptions - none in his last 197 passes - and is fifth nationally with a 164.5 pass efficiency rating. His numbers are comparable to Heisman winner Carson Palmer's statistics last year for USC.

Williams has 1,167 yards on 80 receptions, with 14 touchdowns.

The Beavers rely on the running of Steven Jackson and the passing of Derek Anderson. Jackson is 10th nationally in rushing with an average of 121.3 yards a game. Anderson has thrown for 3,251 yards and 20 touchdowns, but has been intercepted 19 times.