Riley Has Oregon State Ready

Mike Riley left USC to coach at Oregon State after last season, and he has a 3-2 record for the Beavers’ best start since 1988. It’s the first time Oregon State, which plays UCLA on Saturday at the Rose Bowl, has swept its nonconference schedule since 1957.

He’s doing better than his former employer.

“I think that’s probably true,” Riley said Monday.

“You know, I’m surprised they’re 2-3,” Riley added of the Trojans, “but I have a hard time even knowing what’s going on because I have not seen any film on them or watched any games. We don’t play them for a long time, and I can’t even say what they look like or anything.”

The Beavers play host to USC on Nov. 15.

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Saturday’s game will be Oregon State’s first on the road after five games in Corvallis. The Beavers’ last road victory in the Pacific 10 was over UCLA, 23-14, in 1994.

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UCLA’s coaching staff took at look at freshman Freddie Mitchell returning punts and kicks on Monday. Mitchell, who became academically eligible last Thursday after signing a letter-of-intent in February, told Coach Bob Toledo he wanted to play this season, even though there are only five games remaining on the schedule, rather than sit out as a redshirt.

With that in mind, he is getting a look on special teams and will be taught as much of the offense as he can absorb. That, probably, is little in the time available.

“But as a returner, all you have to know is left, right and middle,” Toledo said. “He can do that.”

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Bruin quarterback Cade McNown is second in the nation in passing efficiency at 171.1. Washington’s Brock Huard is first at 172.0. . . . UCLA’s Skip Hicks, sidelined because of a bone bruise for the second half of the Bruins’ 39-31 victory at Oregon, underwent an MRI test and should be available Saturday.

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NEXT FOR UCLA

Who: Oregon St.

Where: Rose Bowl

When: Saturday, 3:30 p.m.

TV: Channel 9

Radio: AM 1150