Carroll Conducts Night-Time Practice

USC held a two-hour practice under the lights Sunday night at Cromwell Field to simulate conditions it will face Saturday against Oregon in the Trojans’ first night game of the season.

After splitting its first two games of the season, which were 3:30 p.m. starts at the Coliseum, USC (1-1) will play No. 7 Oregon (2-0) at 7:15 p.m. at Autzen Stadium in Eugene, Ore., in the Pacific 10 Conference opener for both teams. The Ducks are riding a school-record 22-game winning streak at home.

The Trojans started to unveil Sunday what Coach Pete Carroll has described as their “full-scale game plan” after spending the previous days of their bye week focused on improving their own deficiencies, which include an offense that produced six points in a loss to Kansas State.

USC practiced in shorts at Cromwell Field instead of Howard Jones Field, its normal practice facility, because the latter field is being re-sodded. The Trojans will be off today before returning to practice Tuesday at Howard Jones Field.

The Trojans are trying to defeat Oregon for the first time since 1997. The Ducks have won the last three games in the series, including a 28-17 victory last season at the Coliseum in which Oregon quarterback Joey Harrington threw four touchdown passes.