It's hard not to root for Karl Dorrell, UCLA's increasingly likable second-year coach. He had promised that his Bruins would be better than last season's 6-7 squad that lost its final five games, and on Saturday at the Rose Bowl against Oklahoma State, the offense showed that it has potential and talent. Although the Cowboys won, 30-21, rushing for over 400 yards, 261 by Vernand Morency against a depleted and inexperienced UCLA line, the Bruins had chances to keep pace and even win the game. The offensive line blocked well for quarterback Drew Olsen and it opened holes for Maurice Drew and Emanuel Whte.

Four turnovers, though, did in UCLA's otherwise passable work, but the coaches and players were optimistic afterward, saying they looked forward to this Saturday's nonconference tilt against Illinois on the road. The game will be televised in Los Angeles by ABC at 9 a.m.

Was it a surprise that Oregon State nearly upset No. 3 LSU in the rain at Baton Rouge? Not to those who have followed the Beavers since they trounced Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl a few years ago. It was no fluke that OSU's defense shut down the Tigers offense in the first half, and outplayed LSU for over 59 minutes until the Beavers lost in overtime, 22-21. Mike Riley coaches an experienced defensive team, what some had rated better than USC's last season.

Defensive tackle Bill Swancutt, a bonafide All-American, turned Outland Trophy candidate Andrew Whitworth into a spinning blur of purple and gold on the soggy field, and the defending co-national champions looked like they needed lifesavers.

Quarterback Derek Anderson, who passed for 500 yards against USC last year, played well even though the Beavers had virtually no running attack. They could have used tailback Steven Jackson, who left school early for the NFL. Anderson hit Joe Newton in the end zone on fourth and four from the 19-yard line in OT to put OSU within a point of a tie. But redshirt freshman Alexis Serna pushed his PAT try to the right, his third miss of the game.

Oregon State earned $1 million for its heartbreaking troubles, but the Beavers are banking the big payday will profit them in good recruiting and respect from critics east of the Rockies as the season progresses.

Another West Coast team that always seems to be shouting the Aretha Franklin mantra is Fresno State. The Bulldogs opened their season Sunday against Washington at Huskie Stadium and came away with an impressive 35-16 victory. It was the first time that FSU had beaten a Pacific 10 team on its field. Quarterback Paul Pinegar completed 13 of 21 passes for one touchdown and outplayed junior Casey Paus, who made a less-than-impressive debut in his attempt to replace Cody Pickett as the offense's leader. Pickett now plays for the San Francisco 49ers.

FSU coach Pat Hill regularly schedules tough nonconference games, looking for respect from the polls and the BCS. In past seasons, the WAC-ky Bulldogs have had games against Wisconsin, Oregon State and Oregon, and this week they travel to Lawrence, Kan., to play always-tough Kansas State, which will be televised on ESPN.

COASTAL SIGHTINGS: After a bye last week off, USC opens at home against Colorado State, which narrowly lost its season opener to rival Colorado. The Trojans, ranked No. 1, will see if they have sorted out the situation at wide receiver after saying goodbye to All-American Mike Williams, whose request for reinstatement to the team was denied by the NCAA just hours before USC's opener against Virginia Tech. The game gets a 5 o'clock start in L.A. on ABC.