Trojans Get Another No. 1 Nod

USC will begin the college football season exactly where it hopes to finish it.

The Trojans are ranked No. 1 in the Associated Press media poll that was released Saturday. They also are ranked first in the ESPN/USA Today coaches’ poll.

“As long as these guys don’t get that No. 1 in their heads, we’ll be fine,” sophomore receiver Steve Smith said.

Last season, USC ended the regular season No. 1 in both polls but finished behind Oklahoma and Louisiana State in the bowl championship series standings. Louisiana State defeated Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl to win the BCS title and the No. 1 spot in the coaches’ poll. USC defeated Michigan in the Rose Bowl and won a share of the national championship by finishing first in the AP poll.

USC, which opens its season Aug. 28 against Virginia Tech, is ranked No. 1 going into the season for the first time since 1979. Florida State in 1999 was the only team to spend the entire season at No. 1 in the AP poll.

“Wire to wire would be a lovely thing, but all we’re thinking about right now is Virginia Tech,” senior safety Jason Leach said.

Oklahoma is ranked second, Georgia third, Louisiana State fourth and Florida fifth in the AP poll.

USC Coach Pete Carroll said his team’s ranking was not a concern.

“It’s nice, it’s respect and all that kind of stuff, but it doesn’t mean a thing,” he said.

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Matt Leinart completed 12 of 19 passes for 81 yards, but no Trojan quarterback passed for a touchdown during a 76-play scrimmage that featured 11 penalties.

“We need to clean up a little bit on the line of scrimmage -- flinching, the wrong formations -- but other than that I thought the intensity is there and I think all that little stuff will be fixed by the time game-time comes,” Leinart said.

Leinart, who passed for 3,556 yards and 38 touchdowns last season, did not throw during the summer because of tendinitis that set in during spring practice. Trojan coaches limited his work at the start of training camp and have gradually increased his repetitions.

“In the next week, he’s going to have to kind of crank it to see if he can get to full velocity,” Carroll said.

Leinart acknowledged that he has been holding back while gaining arm strength.

“Anytime you have a minor injury or minor setback where you’re resting, there’s always that mental block where you’re in there and you don’t want to really let go because you don’t want to risk or whatever. I think I’m past that stage now,” he said. “I just have to get my confidence back in throwing like I used to.”

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Desmond Reed rushed for 54 yards in 11 carries and caught two passes for 28 yards. Reggie Bush had 37 yards in three carries and Hershel Dennis scored on three- and one-yard runs. Andre Woodert rushed for a touchdown....Defensive lineman Shaun Cody did not participate in the scrimmage because of an abdominal strain and running back LenDale White sat out to protect stitches in his right hand. Safety Darnell Bing again did not practice because of a sore shoulder. Carroll said Bing would have an MRI exam Tuesday....The Trojans will work out tonight at the Coliseum.

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AP Preseason Top 25

*--* Rk. Team Record Pts. Prv. 1. USC (48)...12-1 1,603 1 2. Oklahoma (11)...12-2 1,529 3 3. Georgia (5)...11-3 1,480 7 4. LSU (1)...13-1 1,446 2 5. Florida State...10-3 1,291 11 6. Miami...11-2 1,287 5 7. Texas...10-3 1,236 12 8. Michigan...10-3 1,223 6 9. Ohio State...11-2 1,005 4 10. West Virginia...8-5 937 _ 11. Florida...8-5 836 24 12. Kansas State...11-4 763 14 13. California...8-6 744 _ 14. Tennessee...10-3 658 15 15. Clemson...9-4 638 22 16. Virginia...8-5 627 _ 17. Auburn...8-5 540 _ 18. Missouri...8-5 525 _ 19. Iowa...10-3 518 8 20. Utah...10-2 446 21 21. Wisconsin...7-6 328 _ 22. Maryland...10-3 310 17 23. Oregon...8-5 200 _ 24. Purdue...9-4 153 18 25. Minnesota...10-3 142 20

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Others receiving votes: Louisville 125, Nebraska 112, N.C. State 76, Memphis 56, Boise State 47, TCU 39, Toledo 33, Oregon State 29, Washington State 24, Fresno State 13, Oklahoma State 13, Alabama 12, Hawaii 11, Boston College 7, Northern Illinois 7, Texas Tech 7, Marshall 6, Mississippi 6, Southern Miss. 6, Virginia Tech 6, Georgia Tech 5, Miami (Ohio) 4, South Carolina 4, Arkansas 3, Texas A&M; 3, Bowling Green 2, Connecticut 1, North Texas 1, Notre Dame 1, Penn State 1.