Palmer’s Last Chance to Be an Autzen Master

His first visit here made him a starter, his second made him a redshirt and his third left him yearning for one last shot at victory in Autzen Stadium.

USC quarterback Carson Palmer gets it today when the 15th-ranked Trojans play No. 14 Oregon in an apparent make-or-break Pacific 10 Conference game for both teams.

Because of quirks in the Pac-10’s scheduling format, this will be Palmer’s fourth appearance before one of the toughest and noisiest crowds in college football. It also makes Palmer, a redshirt senior, one of the rare college players who will have faced an opponent five times in his career.

So far, Palmer is 0 for Oregon.

“I have been waiting for this one for a long time,” Palmer said. “I’ve played well against them a couple of times but not well enough, obviously. I definitely have some unfinished business.”

Palmer, who this week was named one of five finalists for the Unitas award, has completed 60.3% of his passes for 1,981 yards and 13 touchdowns with seven interceptions. Last week, he tied a school record by passing for four touchdowns in a 41-21 victory over Washington that improved the Trojans’ record to 5-2 overall and 3-1 in the Pac-10.

“He’s always been a great athlete, but he’s playing like a great quarterback right now,” Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti said.

Oregon (6-1, 2-1) is not looking forward to facing Palmer after Arizona State’s Andrew Walter torched its secondary for a conference-record 536 yards passing last week. The 45-42 defeat ended the Ducks’ hopes for a national title and their winning streak at 11.

Oregon, however, has won 29 of its last 31 home games -- and Palmer has come out on the losing end in three of them.

In 1998, he replaced Mike Van Raaphorst in the second and third quarters and completed 10 of 19 passes for 179 yards. But he also made a costly error late in the fourth quarter when he let the 25-second clock expire deep in Duck territory and cost USC a possible touchdown in a 17-13 loss. Nevertheless, his performance propelled him into the starting lineup the next week against Washington.

The next year, Palmer broke his collarbone in the Pac-10 opener at Eugene when he lowered his shoulder and tried to get out of bounds on a play in the final minute of the first half. The Ducks won, 33-30, in triple overtime and Palmer had to redshirt.

Last season, after the Trojans had lost to the Ducks at the Coliseum in 2000, Palmer returned to Autzen Stadium and completed 25 of 40 passes for a career-best 411 yards and two touchdowns. But he also threw three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown, and the Ducks won, 24-22, on a 32-yard field goal with 12 seconds left.

The Trojans, who have not defeated a ranked Pac-10 team on the road since 1995, need a strong effort from Palmer and a stellar performance from the conference’s top defense if they hope to defeat the Ducks, who have not lost consecutive home games since 1997.

“After losing like they did last week, they’re going to be in a hurry to show that they are still a good team, that they still can dominate at home,” USC linebacker Melvin Simmons said.

Oregon running back Onterrio Smith ranks sixth in the nation and first in the Pac-10 in rushing, averaging 133.7 yards a game. Jason Fife has not missed a beat after replacing Joey Harrington at quarterback. The redshirt junior is second in the nation and first in the conference with an efficiency rating of 162.1.

“If you can’t stop the run then you can’t stop anything,” USC Coach Pete Carroll said. “If we have trouble stopping the running game, then they’ll beat us because it will give them a chance to mix in the passing game.”

Trojan defensive end Kenechi Udeze said the Trojans also must neutralize the crowd.

“If you’re on your A game and you’re doing all the stuff you’re supposed to, you’ll get the crowd to simmer down,” he said. “Hopefully, we get our job done and the crowd starts to pack up and go home early.”

Given the recent history of close games between the teams, the outcome more likely will be decided in the final minute.

“As long as we win,” Palmer said. “We’re definitely due.”