Even though USC had a bye last week, Coach Pete Carroll drove his team in practice like its season was on the line. In the process, starting outside linebacker Matt Grootegoed reinsured his ankle, a high sprain that will likely keep him out of this week's contest against the lowly Wildcats, who somehow upset Washington last week for their first conference win.

Defensive end Omar Nazel will likely miss the trip to Tucson, too, because his dislocated right thumb, which he injured in the Notre Dame game, has been fitted with a new cast. And weakside linebacker Melvin Simmons is sidelined with a leg injury.

So, the Trojans are banged up and not only is Oklahoma waiting, so are Arizona, UCLA and Oregon State. Even if USC wins all three games, even if it pulls off routs such as the one the Sooners lopped on to Texas A&M last week (77-0), all may not be enough to guarantee a trip to New Orleans Jan 4. If Ohio State beats Purdue on Saturday, then knocks off Michigan at Ann Arbor on Nov. 22., the BCS would consider those victories higher quality wins against stronger opponents and the Buckeyes would likely vault over USC, whose "matching" competition would be three mediocre Pac-10 also-rans. To hang on to the No. 2 BCS spot, USC would need Washington State to jump back into the top 10 of both AP and coaches' polls. The Trojans overwhelmed the Cougars in their last game, 43-16.

Right now, the worst the Trojans can do is go to the Rose Bowl, which usually turns out to be the best bowl game of the New Year's bunch. They would be home in cozy Pasadena and have a good chance to end up No. 2 anyway, with a much-anticipated shot at the national championship next season.

COASTAL NOTES: UCLA coach Karl Dorrell did an about face and tabbed Drew Olson as the starting quarterback against Oregon on Saturday, two days after he said that Matt Moore would remain the starter. Moore returned three games ago from a leg injury that he sustained against Colorado, but has played poorly in losses to Stanford and Washington State...Fox Sports Net asked UCLA to switch the time of its game with Oregon from 12:30 p.m. to 7, so that the network could have an evening game to televise. UCLA would also be paid over $40,000. But athletic director Dan Guererro turned down the request, saying that UCLA expected a lot of recruits to attend and wanted the game played in the best circumstances. So, the Bruins, who still have an outside chance of winning the Pac-10, won't be seen on TV in Los Angeles this weekend...Finally, rumors are swirling around Tucson this week as to whom will be the Wildcats' new coach for next year, replacing the fired John Mackovic. One of the candidates: Mike Price.