USC’s Matt Barkley ‘pretty beat up,’ Coach Lane Kiffin says

USC quarterback Matt Barkley took a pounding in USC’s 21-14 loss at Stanford.

Barkley, now 0-4 against the Cardinal, was hit “more often and harder than he’s ever been hit while we’ve been here,” not only while passing but also on running plays, USC Coach Lane Kiffin said Sunday.

“He’s pretty beat up, mentally and physically,” said Kiffin, whose team plays California on Saturday at the Coliseum. “You can imagine the disappointment of a 22-year-old.

“He’s come back, and all you put into it and a game goes the way that it did and he’s never beaten those guys. So, he’ll be fine. He’ll rally like he has before, and he’ll play great this Saturday.”

Barkley, who was sacked four times, entered the game having thrown 10 touchdown passes, with only one pass intercepted. Stanford intercepted two consecutive passes in the second quarter.

“Probably two of his worst decisions in our three years together,” Kiffin said, adding, “Really poor decisions by him. Ones he’d like to have back. Ones he usually doesn’t make, and I think that he won’t make those in the future.”

It marked the first time Barkley did not throw a touchdown pass since a 36-7 loss at Oregon State on Nov. 20, 2010.

Asked after the game whether he ever felt in rhythm, Barkley said, “Yeah, at times. But we didn’t finish.”

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