COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : USC : Hard-Pressed at Pullman

In a series that dates to 1921, USC has lost only five times in 51 games against Washington State, its opponent Saturday at Pullman, Wash.

The Trojans have won 19 of the past 20 meetings, 25 of the past 27 and have beaten the Cougars 42 times in all, with four ties, for a winning percentage of .863.

But their last two trips to Pullman have been harrowing.

In 1986, the Trojans took a 4-0 record and No. 9 ranking into Martin Stadium and were promptly blown out, Washington State accumulating 510 total yards and romping to a 34-14 victory, its only victory over the Trojans since 1957.

Two years ago, USC needed a miraculous rally to pull out an 18-17 victory, the deciding points coming on a touchdown and two-point conversion with four seconds left at the end of a 91-yard drive engineered by redshirt freshman quarterback Todd Marinovich.

“They don’t like coming to Washington State,” Cougar Coach Mike Price said of the Trojans, who are 5-2-2 at Pullman.

The starting time for Saturday’s game has been moved back 2 1/2 hours to 3:30 p.m. to accommodate Prime Network, which will televise the game live as its Pac-10 game of the week.

USC, idle last Saturday, has been especially dangerous coming off byes, winning its last nine games following open dates.