More Than a Game, It’s a Yardstick : College football: SDSU measures its program today against USC.

They will tell you they have closed the talent gap. They will showcase the handful of players on their roster who were recruited by Pac 10 schools but chose San Diego State instead.

But sort through all the talk, and one fact remains.

It has been seven years since the Aztecs have defeated a team outside of the Western Athletic Conference or Big West Conference.

That’s one reason why it is not a gross exaggeration to call today’s first SDSU-USC game, which begins at 12:30 p.m. (Channel 10) in San Diego Jack Murphy Stadium, possibly the biggest in Aztec history.

For a program that has been desperate to grow into a national football power ever since it moved into Division I in 1969--for financial reasons as well as for prestige--this is another springboard.

This time, though, the Aztecs believe it won’t come back and slap them in the face.

“I know it’s a coaching cliche but, if we can out-execute them, I believe at this point in our program, we’ll beat them,” SDSU Coach Al Luginbill said.

Take away WAC and Big West opponents, and the Aztecs, 8-4-1 in 1991, have lost 18 consecutive games--and 21 of 22. They have lost 13 consecutive games to Pac 10 teams.

“That goes back a lot of years,” Luginbill said. “I don’t necessarily look at it in those terms, other than we have a another opportunity to get over the hump. Obviously, it’s important to us.”

Luginbill has talked about winning a “hump” game for more than three seasons. But not only have the Aztecs annually stumbled against the UCLAs and Miamis of the world; they are 0-2-1 against Brigham Young under Luginbill.

Yes, SDSU qualified for its second major bowl last season. But Tulsa defeated SDSU in the Freedom Bowl, 28-17.

The last time SDSU won a non-WAC or non-Big West game was Oct. 5, 1985, when the Aztecs defeated Stanford, 41-22.

While the upperclassmen have at least gotten to play in a bowl, they have not won a major game in their SDSU careers. Now SDSU seemingly has the right mix--players, time, place.

They have the overall talent and makeup, Luginbill believes, to be successful.

They have a Heisman Trophy contender in tailback Marshall Faulk.

They have a schedule that allows them to gain national attention; they open against USC, BYU and UCLA.

Because of the attractive schedule, they will play a minimum of three games on network television--either nationally or regionally.

And it begins today against a USC team that went 3-8 in 1991 and enters 1992 having lost six in a row and 10 of its last 13.

“This game is real important,” said senior SDSU cornerback Gary Taylor, who started each of the past two seasons. “To beat a Pac 10 team would be such a boost to this program. Everyone knows the Pac 10 is dominant.”

Said Joe Heinz, senior offensive lineman: “It’s like a pinnacle for our team. This will set the tone for the season--how we do against these guys.

“If we do beat them, it will prove to our team that we can play with the big boys. I don’t see us being intimidated. If we play well, good things are going to happen.”

About the only thing the Aztecs know is that USC will attempt to get the ball to receiver Curtis Conway as often as possible. Otherwise, though, after the Trojans completed only their second losing season in 30 years, Coach Larry Smith spent some time tinkering.

Wanting a faster, more aggressive defense, he moved several players to new positions--two of whom are now starting. Donn Cunningham, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound former defensive back, is a first-team outside linebacker. Shannon Jones, a 6-4, 265-pound former linebacker, will start on the defensive line.

Wanting more offensive production, Smith named sophomore Rob Johnson as quarterback. Johnson became the first true freshman to start at quarterback for USC in the post-World War II era when he was given the nod against Arizona in USC’s second-to-last game.

“I hope you can expect a lot of points,” Smith said. “Rob got some very valuable experience a year ago. He moved the ball well. He’s an excellent athlete. He’s got a very fine touch on the ball.

“He’s a very heady quarterback who has a tremendous amount of poise.”

Like the Aztecs, USC has some speedy offensive weapons. Conway, a 6-2, 180-pound junior who is probably USC’s most dangerous weapon, also returns punts and kickoffs. Receiver Johnnie Morton (13.5 yards per catch in 1991) and tailback Estrus Clayton (6.9 yards per carry) also will help fulfill Smith’s wish of becoming a big-play team.

Across the line of scrimmage, the Aztecs will be attempting to employ Faulk (158.8 yards and 15.56 points per game in 1991) as much as possible, although some of that figures to be as a decoy.

Quarterback David Lowery, who threw for 2,575 yards after being named as SDSU’s starter five games into the season, will be looking to Darnay Scott, among others. Scott averaged 20.9 yards per catch in 1991 and hauled in touchdown receptions of 79 and 75 yards in last season’s 52-52 tie against BYU.

But as is usually the case for SDSU, today’s key probably rests with the Aztec defense. It yielded more than 400 total yards in three of their final four games in 1991, and it finished 103rd in the nation in total defense.

“We know what we need to do,” Taylor said. “Great teams always have great defenses. To accomplish what we need to accomplish, we’re going to have to have great play in the secondary.

“The key to defense is making big plays. When it is your turn to make a big play, you need to make it.”

Especially if they want national recognition.

“This is real big,” said Tony Nichols, SDSU senior offensive tackle. “We’ve always wanted to beat those big teams. We’ve come close but haven’t done it.

“We plan on beating more than one Pac 10 team.”

Aztec Notes

There are still some tickets left, although more than 50,000 have been sold. San Diego Transit is not running buses, therefore, ticket-holders are urged to car pool, use public transportation where available and arrive early. For anyone interested in purchasing tickets, stadium ticket windows will open today at 8 a.m. . . . Although SDSU Coach Al Luginbill has not announced who will start at either tight end or an outside linebacker spot, the probable candidates are Alex Semenik over Marc Ziegler (tight end) and Chad Provensal over Shawn Smith (linebacker). . . . One thing to keep in mind about USC: The last two times USC has had a losing season, the next year’s Trojan teams (1962 and 1984) came back to win the Pac 10. The 1962 team went on to win the national championship.