By Mike Lopresti
Gannett News Service Columnist

So what now? USC and Oklahoma, having just survived their high-profile weekends, in the fast lanes to the Orange Bowl?

Well, maybe.

Yes, USC has a relentless nature that wears opponents down - outscoring them 80-17 in the second half, no touchdowns allowed yet in the fourth quarter - and a knack for winning the close ones.

And yes, Oklahoma's defense seems to be rediscovering its malice, while the offense features Heisman winner Jason White handing off to freshman prodigy Adrian Peterson, who has yet to be held under 100 yards rushing, even though he has never started a game yet.

But while the Trojans looked resilient against California and the Sooners uncompromising against Texas, there are tricky rapids ahead.

USC has only one opponent left that is currently ranked, unbeaten Arizona State this Saturday. But UCLA is showing signs of life, and trips to Washington State can be tricky, and USC keeps playing chicken with these tight finishes, barely surviving Stanford and California.

"This game is the mark of a champion," defensive tackle Shaun Cody said of the comeback against California, which had 11 more first downs, ran 29 more plays and outgained the Trojans 424-205, the lowest offensive output in a USC win since 1986.

Maybe that shows grit, or maybe some luck. Or both. "Nine out of 10 times," said California safety Ryan Gutierrez, "we'd beat USC."

Oklahoma's defense, a tad cushy this season with heavy personnel losses, looked totally revived in its annual suffocation of Texas.

"I don't think our defense has played with that edge, until today," said end Dan Cody.

But there are consecutive trips later this month to 5-0 Oklahoma State and resurgent Texas A&M. Oklahoma State seems particularly troublesome, averaging 41 points a game.

"We're going to be a force to be reckoned with," said running back Vernand Morency, the nation's leading rusher, after the Cowboys crushed Colorado 42-14.

So the past week's showdowns were entertaining, but hardly definitive.

"We can't look at this," USC coach Pete Carroll said, "as the highlight of our season."

No slips allowed for either USC or Oklahoma. Not with Miami at the top of the waiting list.

Streak breakers

In one afternoon, down went Texas' run of 281 straight games without being shut out ... Ohio State's 18-game home winning streak ... Georgia's 17-game home winning streak ... and Army's 19-game losing steak (leaving Central Florida's nine as the longest in the nation).

Purdue quarterback Kyle Orton's interception-free streak this season ended on his 166th pass. Then he threw another on his 167th.

Dark days at Nebraska

The 70-10 loss at Texas Tech was the worst in 115 years of Cornhuskers football.

In 1980, with one of Tom Osborne's customary defenses, Nebraska gave up 93 points. For the entire regular season.

Clearly, the Bill Callahan regime is off to a wobbly start, the season after Frank Solich was fired for going 10-3.

"It's gut-wrenching to go through an experience like this," Callahan said, whose first Cornhusker team is 3-2, but doomed if one thing doesn't change. Nebraska leads the nation with 23 turnovers.

Coming attractions

Navy is 5-0. But 0-40 vs. Notre Dame since 1963. Saturday in the Meadowlands looks interesting.

Purdue is 5-0 for the first time since 1945, averaging 41.8 points a game. Wisconsin, 6-0, comes calling Saturday with a defense that has allowed 39 points all season.

Stat of the week

One opponent may get Mack Brown deported from Texas. While he is 0-5 the last five seasons against Oklahoma, he is 45-6 against everyone else.

Thumbs of the week

Up to Kansas. Their first win in 12 years over Kansas State means the Jayhawks can show their faces at home again. They hadn't had a lead against Kansas State since 1996, and had lost the past two years 106-6.

Down to Ohio State. What ails the Buckeyes, 0-2 in the Big Ten for the first time in 12 years? Start with the offense, rated 97th in the nation. They had the ball less than nine minutes in the second half in Saturday's Wisconsin loss.