Trojans, Cardinal Looking for Answers

USC and Stanford started the season ranked in the Top 25, but each is 4-4 overall and they’re tied for fifth in the Pacific 10 Conference.

Stanford was 18th in the preseason poll and USC was 22nd, but when they meet at the Coliseum on Saturday, there will be no Rose Bowl implications.

Instead, the loser will have to win its final two games and beat a ranked opponent to avoid a losing season. The winner still will have a decent shot at six victories and perhaps the Aloha Bowl or the Las Vegas Bowl.

“Our football team is much like Stanford’s,” USC Coach John Robinson said. “UCLA did to Stanford what Washington did to us. We both keep looking for the answer.”

Said Stanford Coach Tyrone Willingham: “I lump both teams together to some degree. We’re kind of licking our wounds and both need this ballgame to have some success as we finish the season.”

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Receiver R. Jay Soward missed practice Tuesday, and a spokesman said it was because of a slight illness unrelated to the concussion he suffered in Saturday’s game.

Tackle Phalen Pounds and assistant coach Doug Smith also were ill. Offensive guard Chris Brymer sat out because of back spasms and running backs Malaefou MacKenzie and Ted Iacenda did not practice because of shoulder injuries.

NEXT FOR USC

Who: Stanford

Where: Coliseum

When: Saturday, 12:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

Radio: KLSX-FM (97.1)