 "Photo: Joel Zink | Daily Trojan")
Washington State coach Bill Doba has never been reluctant to praise the Trojans.
And this year isn't any different.
"I don't think there is any doubt they are No. 1 after watching them on tape," Doba said. "They are a very good football team."
When asked if he'd rather play the Trojans (2-0) Saturday at 5 p.m. at the Coliseum or later in the season, Doba said, "I'd rather not play them."
But the Cougars have to play the Trojans and every other Pac-10 team this year. So Doba said he'll use the Trojans' ranking as motivation for his players.
"I look at it as a challenge and as a great opportunity," Doba said. "How many times in a college player's lifetime will he have the chance to go against the No. 1 team in the nation?"
The Cougars have actually played against a No. 1 team in three of the last four seasons - all against USC - and lost each game.
But Doba's Cougars played the Trojans tough last season in Pullman, Wash. USC escaped with a 28-22 victory after Washington State quarterback Alex Brink's last-second Hail Mary pass was intercepted near the end zone by safety Taylor Mays.
This year, though, the game is at the Coliseum, where the Trojans have won 34 straight.
"Last year they played good against us, but now we're at the Coliseum,
so we just have to play our game," defensive end Kyle Moore said. "We can't play down to a level of a team that can beat us at anytime."
The Cougars' (2-1) offense has been prolific this season, averaging 37 points per game.
Brink has thrown for more than 300 yards in each of the last two games - both Washington State wins - and threw for 287 yards against the Trojans last season.
He also has two top targets to throw to this season. Wide receiver Michael Bumpus leads the Pac-10 in receptions with 7.3 catches per game and Brandon Gibson is second with 6.7 catches per game.
Brink has impressed USC coach Pete Carroll this season with his control of the offense.
"We're seeing a guy that knows how to run this offense," Carroll said. "And he's hot as a pistol right now."
But Washington State's defense has not been as hot. The Cougars are last in the Pac-10 in scoring defense, allowing 29 points per game.
The Trojans are hoping to find some balance in their offense against the Cougar defense. USC is averaging 6.5 yards per rush, but only 5.5 yards per pass attempt.
John David Booty has thrown for just 350 yards and five touchdowns, compared to last season when he threw for 518 yards in his first two games.
"We need to balance that thing out," Carroll said. "John David is doing a great job. We need to get the ball caught when we get our opportunities."
But if the Trojans - second in the conference in rushing, averaging 263.5 yards per game - continue to run the ball like they did last week against Nebraska, they won't need a pass-heavy attack.
USC will continue to rotate running backs C.J. Gable, Stafon Johnson and Chauncey Washington. Carroll said there's no reason to choose a primary running back at this point in the season.
"We're going to continue to do what we do, mix the guys in there," Carroll said. "I'm not in any sense of urgency or feel impatient about having to make some decisions or declarations at all in this."
The Trojans know they must continue to win impressively, as they did against Nebraska, to hold onto the No. 1 spot. But Carroll knows it's too early in the season to discuss titles or rankings.
"Talking about championships and all that stuff doesn't mean a darn thing if you don't practice really well and you don't play the game you got to play," Carroll said. "So we don't spend much time on it, and it really doesn't factor into our conversations very much."
