House Will Be Nearly Full Today

The homecoming crowd of more than 80,000 that is expected today for third-ranked USC’s Pacific 10 Conference showdown against sixth-ranked Washington State will be 30,000 to 40,000 more than either team is accustomed to hearing when they play each other at the Coliseum.

The last time Washington State visited the Coliseum, in 2000, the game against USC drew 40,565.

“The place should be rocking,” fullback Brandon Hancock said.

The largest crowd to see the Trojans and the Cougars was 68,282 for the 1946 season opener. That was one of only three times the Cougars have played before 60,000 or more at the Coliseum, the last in 1981.

USC leads its series against Washington State, 50-8-4.

Today’s game marks only the seventh time the schools have played when both teams were ranked in the Associated Press top 25. USC won the first five before Washington State won, 30-27, in overtime, last season.

USC has won 27 of the last 31 meetings, but Washington State has won three of the last five, including the last two at the Coliseum in 1997 and 2000.

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USC punter Tom Malone could lose his status as the nation’s leader against Washington State, but that would be fine with the sophomore, if the Trojan offense is operating as efficiently as it did the last two weeks.

USC has punted five times in the last three games, including only once each against Notre Dame and Washington.

Malone, who is averaging 49.1 yards a kick, must punt four times today to meet the required 3.6 punt-per-game minimum.

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Through eight games last season, Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer had completed 195 of 314 passes for 2,429 yards and 18 touchdowns, with eight interceptions. His quarterback rating was 140.9

Matt Leinart has completed 148 of 237 passes for 2,175 yards and 21 touchdowns, with seven interceptions. His quarterback rating is 162.9.

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At 7-1, USC is off to its best start since 1988, when the Trojans were 8-0.

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Representatives of the Sugar, Holiday and Sun Bowls are scheduled to attend the game.

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The weather forecast: partly to mostly cloudy with scattered showers, temperatures in the 60s.