Troy fecta: USC will win its third straight national championship with a glut of talent that's downright offensive

And we all know what that can lead to.--M.H.

Getting a read on Young

You know the current conventional wisdom, accompanied by a smirk, of course: Southern California is a pro team playing in a college game. Well, wouldn't it be fitting if the big, bad Trojans were taken down by the little ol' read option? USC hasn't faced a team that runs the read option--the new hot scheme in college football--as well as Texas.

Check that, as well as Texas quarterback Vince Young.

The Longhorns, for the most part, are an I-formation team that wants to run the ball and execute play-action. Except, that is, when Young, their Superman quarterback, stands in the shotgun and runs the read option.

There is no more dangerous and dynamic play from any team or any player because of all that the read option encompasses. The play allows Young to get to the edge and have to beat only an end or linebacker to get into the secondary, or it allows tailback Jamaal Charles or Ramonce Taylor a cutback run against overpursuing linemen and linebackers. More important, when run properly, the read option forces defenses to honor the option and allows the Texas wide receivers to run against man coverage in the secondary.

"When (Young) is on," says Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy, "That offense is almost impossible to stop."

During USC's 34-game winning streak, no team has done a better job of slowing the tempo of the game and keeping the USC offense off the field--and keeping the score manageable--than Virginia Tech did in the Trojans' 2004 season opener. The Hokies did it by running the read option and using a short passing game. But with all due respect to Virginia Tech's Bryan Randall, he's no Vince Young.

"They haven't seen anyone that can compare to Young," says one Pac-10 defensive coordinator. "It's going to take at least a quarter, maybe a half, for them to figure it out."

And if Texas has a big enough lead, that clock will run awfully fast in the second half.--M.H.

Why USC must sell the run early and often

Let's state a few simple facts, shall we? The Southern California offense is better than last year's unit. It's more efficient and more productive, averaging more yards and points.

Someone, please, tell Lane Kiffin to take a bow. Not so much for what the 30-year-old offensive coordinator has accomplished in his first season after replacing legendary coordinator Norm Chow but for not succumbing to temptation.

With all of those athletes and all that talent, Kiffin actually has been more conservative than Chow. Granted, it's easy to ride gifted tailbacks Reggie Bush and LenDale White and tell quarterback Matt Leinart to look for matchup nightmare wideout Dwayne Jarrett when he throws. But Kiffin hasn't gotten away from what USC does best: run and set up play-action.

He still uses tight end Dominique Byrd, and Kiffin doesn't shy from running on consecutive plays. He doesn't see elite wide receivers Steve Smith, Chris McFoy, Patrick Turner and Whitney Lewis and think "five-wide" every other play.