"We can't let another team score like that," defensive tackle Sedrick Ellis said.
USC has trailed at halftime in four games this season, not because its offense cannot produce, but because its defense is slow to adjust. Now the Trojans must prepare for UCLA quarterback Drew Olson, who has thrown 30 touchdowns passes and just 3 interceptions this season.
"We've got to execute at the start instead of figuring everything out in the second half," USC safety Darnell Bing said.
Fresno State exposed flaws that 11th-ranked UCLA will try to attack Dec. 3 at the Coliseum and that No. 2 Texas could exploit Jan. 4 in the Rose Bowl. If Fresno State quarterback Paul Pinegar was able to throw for 317 yards against the Trojans, imagine what Olson and Texas' Vince Young might do.
As Saturday night bled into Sunday morning, Carroll was confronted with the notion of his team's mortality. "Can you win every game forever?" he said. "I don't know. But we're trying."
Happy in Happy Valley
When Penn State returned to State College, Pennsylvania, at 10:45pm Saturday, about 6,000 fans were waiting on campus to congratulate them for clinching the Big Ten title. Coach Joe Paterno, quarterback Michael Robinson and linebacker Paul Posluszny addressed the fans.
Much of the team dispersed to watch Fresno State's upset bid against Southern California -- except Paterno, who said he was going to bed. A Fresno State victory would have put No. 4 Penn State in position for the national title game. Penn State's defensive coordinator, Tom Bradley, said he received several calls after 1am from friends rooting for the Bulldogs.
"You don't root for anyone to lose," Bradley said, "but you do watch a little bit closer."
If USC or Texas loses, Penn State (10-1) is next in line to play in the Rose Bowl because of its computer ranking.
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