Come and get it: attention, heavyweight hopefuls: the Trojans dare you climb between the ropes with marvelous Matt Leinart and the big bad champs and you'll find out the hard way there's nowhere to hide

Matt Hayes

You want some of this? The throwdown in SoCal town. The extreme-a in Pasadena. Trading blows in the "Rose."

"We play our game," says Reggie Bush, "and nobody beats us."

All would love this. Southern California has the title, the talent and the bravado. Who the hell cares what anyone else thinks?

I'm a baaaad man.

"Really, we're not concerned with any other team," says quarterback Matt Leinart. "Our focus, our goal, is to do it again."

Like we should be surprised. The Trojans saw their coaching staff, which nurtured and developed this monster of a program until it ran on remote, get overhauled. A few star players are gone from last season, and USC isn't as experienced defensively. But, really, who has a chance of sideswiping this ride?

It starts with Leinart, the Heisman Trophy-winning, Hollywood-scripted star who simply doesn't miss. Come on, the guy celebrated his 22nd birthday in May with a party at the posh Hollywood Club Mood. Celebs were invited.

Then there's the nation's most dynamic player (Bush), a ridiculously gifted receiving unit and a defense that seemingly becomes more talented with each season and each replacement. But as with every prizefighter, there are strengths and weaknesses. OK, maybe not weaknesses. How about slight imperfections?

Jab, jab, jab. It's easy to rattle off Leinart's record as a starter (25-1) and Bush's average per touch last season (10.4 yards) and the three receivers who are potential first-round picks (wideouts Dwayne Jarrett and Steve Smith and tight end Dominique Byrd). But, please, let's not forget burly, bruising tailback LenDale White. Yeah, he has trouble getting in shape. He drags sometimes and doesn't go full speed every carry. And ... he's still one of the top five backs in the nation. Says one Pac-10 defensive coordinator: "When he decides there's something in it for him, get out of his way."

We saw a glimpse of it in last season's national championship game, when White had 118 yards on 15 carries against Oklahoma's staunch defense--and did it with a severely sprained ankle. The USC staff was hoping Chauncey Washington would gain academic eligibility this fall and force White to get in top shape. Washington didn't make it, but White is said to be in the best shape of his career.

Why is this important? Because Bush is not an every-down back; he can't take the punishment of a 25-carry game. More than anything, his game is better suited for touches in space than grinding away between the tackles. White wears down defenses and sets up USC's dynamic play-action passing game. And for all the grief he has taken about his conditioning--he was pushing 250 pounds going into last season--White still had 1,103 yards rushing and 15 touchdowns in 2004 while sharing time with Bush. If White were playing anywhere else, he'd be a Heisman contender.

And the overhand. Again, let's look beyond Leinart's gaudy numbers (71 career touchdowns in 26 starts) and the fact he could be the greatest quarterback in college football history by the end of the season. Let's look at the USC defense, a relentless unit that often sets up the offense with short fields and demoralizes opponents. The Trojans forced 38 turnovers last season and were plus-19 in turnover differential. Over the past three years, USC has a plus-57 turnover differential. "You make a mistake," says Oklahoma offensive tackle Davin Joseph, "and they're all over you."

Even the losses of tackle Manuel Wright, who was selected in the NFL's supplemental draft after having academic issues, and cornerback Eric Wright, who had off-field problems, won't slow the unit. The defensive front--and its ability to pressure the quarterback and shield linebackers from blocks--is the foundation of the scheme. The Trojans have four ends who could start just about anywhere--Frostee Rucker, Lawrence Jackson, Jeff Schweiger and Rashaad Goodrum--and a rising star in sophomore tackle Sedrick Ellis. The back seven is fleet, aggressive and plays a gambling style that can bring big rewards because of the constant pressure supplied by the front four.

As good as the Trojans were in the back seven last year, they'll be even better this year because of their improved overall athletic ability. A prime example: Linebacker Keith Rivers, who played behind All-American Matt Grootegoed last season, has bulked up to nearly 240 pounds and is one of the fastest players on the team.

Glass jaw. We're not foolish enough to think losing half of a coaching staff won't affect USC. How will new offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin react to pressure situations? If Kiffin had been the coordinator last year when USC was down 13-0 in the fog and cold at Oregon State, would he have panicked and strayed from the game plan? Former coordinator Norm Chow, who now runs the Tennessee Titans' offense, didn't, and the Trojans rallied. And who will supply the emotional jolt of former defensive line coach Ed Orgeron, who's now the coach at Ole Miss? His halftime tirade shook a sleepy team that trailed 28-17 at Stanford and inspired the defense to allow the Cardinal to cross midfield just once in the second half.

Yeah, it's nit-picking to bring up these issues. But there has to be hope for everyone else, right?

Sure there is.

Come and get it.

RELATED ARTICLE: Threepeat after me?

USC is trying to accomplish what no other team has done in modern times: win three consecutive national titles. How the Trojans (36-3 over the past three seasons with a pair of crowns) stack up against the three dynasties since 1970:

ALABAMA (1975-79)

Record: 54-6

National titles: 1978-79

Top this: The Tide won 28 consecutive games--a streak that lasted into the 1980 season. A loss to Missouri in the season opener in 1975-in Birmingham-cost Alabama a chance at another national title.

MIAMI (1986-91)

Record: 67-5

National titles: 1987, 1989, 1991

Top this: Somehow, Miami's best team (maybe the best team in college football history) lost to Penn State in the Fiesta Bowl after the 1986 season. A win would have given the Hurricanes a fourth national title. At one point in the run, the Canes were 45-3, and two of the three losses (Penn State and Notre Dame) were by a combined five points. Miami went 11-1 in 1992, losing the national title to Alabama in the Sugar Bowl

NEBRASKA (1993-97)

Record: 60-3

National titles: 1994-95, 1997

Top this: The most dominant run in the modern era. One of the three losses was by two points to Florida State in the Orange Bowl after the 1993 season. In that game,a last-second 45-yard field-goal attempt was wide left and prevented the Huskers from winning a national title.--M.H.

RANKINGS 1-119

  1 USC
  2 Tennessee
  3 Ohio State
  4 Virginia Tech
  5 Texas
  6 LSU
  7 Miami
  8 Michigan
  9 Oklahoma
 10 Iowa
 11 Florida
 12 Florida State
 13 Georgia
 14 Texas A&M
 15 California
 16 Auburn
 17 Purdue
 18 Georgia Tech
 19 Louisville
 20 Boise State
 21 Bowling Green
 22 Iowa State
 23 Virginia
 24 Arizona State
 25 Utah
 26 Alabama
 27 UCLA
 28 Texas Tech
 29 Pittsburgh
 30 Fresno State
 31 N.C State
 32 Penn State
 33 UAB
 34 Minnesota
 35 West Virginia
 36 Missouri
 37 Notre Dame
 38 Wyoming
 39 Oregon
 40 Southern Miss
 41 Toledo
 42 Miami (Ohio)
 43 Colorado
 44 Maryland
 45 Wisconsin
 46 Memphis
 47 Northern Illinois
 48 Oklahoma State
 49 Michigan State
 50 Kansas State
 51 Boston College
 52 Arkansas
 53 TCU
 54 Clemson
 55 UTEP
 56 Oregon State
 57 Colorado State
 58 Nebraska
 59 Northwestern
 60 Mississippi
 61 North Texas
 62 Houston
 63 Washington State
 64 South Carolina
 65 Kansas
 66 Middle Tennessee
 67 Louisiana Tech
 68 Washington
 69 Akron
 70 Navy
 71 Wake Forest
 72 Illinois
 73 Syracuse
 74 New Mexico
 75 Hawaii
 76 Kent State
 77 Tulane
 78 BYU
 79 North Carolina
 80 Arizona
 81 Troy
 82 Connecticut
 83 South Florida
 84 Nevada
 85 Marshall
 86 Mississippi State
 87 Baylor
 88 Vanderbilt
 89 Kentucky
 90 Eastern Michigan
 91 East Carolina
 92 Army
 93 Rutgers
 94 Indiana
 95 Air Force
 96 Louisiana-Lafayette
 97 San Jose State
 98 Stanford
 99 Duke
100 Cincinnati
101 San Diego State
102 Rice
103 Central Michigan
104 Louisiana-Monroe
105 UNLV
106 New Mexico State
107 Temple
108 Tulsa
109 Ohio
110 Ball State

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