Trojans Are First and Last

Winless USC ranks first and last in the nation this week--first in difficulty of schedule as determined by USA Today, and dead last in rushing.

After an open date Saturday, the Trojans’ 28-yard rushing average fell from next to last to No. 112 out of 112 Division I-A teams.

Brigham Young leapfrogged USC into 110th place at 50.5 yards a game after rushing for 99 yards in its victory over Arizona State. Iowa State is No. 111 at 33 yards a game.

As for USC’s schedule, this week’s game at California is one of only five this season against unranked opponents--and even Cal is getting votes in the Associated Press poll.

Two of USC’s ranked opponents have already been played: No. 4 Florida State and No. 15 Washington State. Still ahead: No. 25 Arizona State, No. 10 Washington, No. 20 Stanford and No. 24 UCLA.

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Cal receiver Bobby Shaw leads the nation with 11 catches and 181 yards receiving a game. . . . The Bears, who upset USC last season, 22-15, haven’t beaten the Trojans in consecutive seasons since 1957 and 1958. . . . USC linebacker Chris Claiborne had 19 tackles in last season’s game, the most since Mark Carrier had 20 against Notre Dame in 1987. . . . USC defensive end Sultan Abdul-Malik, expected to start over Lawrence Larry this week after his two-sack performance against Washington State, is the son of former Trojan linebacker Ed Powell. Powell, now Wali Abdul-Malik, played on the 1972 and 1974 national championship teams and was on three Rose Bowl teams.

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NEXT FOR USC

WHO: California

WHERE: at Berkeley

TIME: Sept. 27, 4 p.m.

TV: Channel 7

RADIO: KLSX-FM (97.1)