Trojans try on their game face a day before the game

USC arrived at Reser Stadium on Friday afternoon for the walk-through the Trojans do before away games, but the mood was different as players and coaches made their way down a walkway and onto the field.

Absent, at least initially, was the usual jocular banter.

The Trojans quietly, and determinedly, crossed the artificial surface before breaking into position groups. The players eventually loosened up and filled the empty stadium with their usual cheers and laughter, but the businesslike attitude that characterized practices, especially after last week’s open date, remained.

“It’s been like that all week,” Coach Pete Carroll said. “We’ve had two great weeks and they’re right on it.”

Afterward, USC went by bus to its hotel in Eugene about 40 minutes away.

The Trojans will return this morning for the 12:30 p.m. kickoff, and when they arrive they could encounter foggy conditions similar to those during their game here in 2004.

On Friday, fog enshrouded the city and surrounding areas for most of the morning before clearing at about 11 a.m.

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Oregon State quarterback Matt Moore did not face USC last season because the teams did not play each other.

But Moore, who starred at Newhall Hart High, played against the Trojans as a freshman at UCLA in 2002. He completed seven of 11 passes for 64 yards and a touchdown in a 52-21 loss at the Rose Bowl.

“That was a long time ago, I remember I didn’t play much,” Moore said after the Beavers completed their walk-through.

Asked if playing against USC had special significance, Moore said, “The Trojans are the Trojans; they’ve always been good throughout my college career so it’s definitely a big game.

“It’s tough when they’re coming in No. 3 in the nation, but we just have to focus on ourselves and get ready to play.”

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Oregon State’s Sammie Stroughter ranks fourth nationally in punt returns, averaging nearly 18 yards. The junior from Sacramento has returned two punts for touchdowns.

“We have a punt team that we think can challenge it against a good guy like that, but you just never know,” Carroll said. “We’re not looking for the ball to be kicked real far. You want to kick the ball up and give us a lot of hang time to allow us to get under there so he’s going to have to fair-catch some balls.”

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USC quarterback John David Booty says he prefers the midday kickoff. “I like 12:30 games because we get back [home] and it’s not 4 in the morning,” he said. “We get back at a decent hour so we can get some good rest.

“College football is meant to be played in the daytime.”

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USC leads the series against Oregon State, 57-8-4.... USC has no players from Oregon on its roster. Oregon State has 45 Californians.... USC safety Kevin Ellison’s brother, Keith, played linebacker for Oregon State in 2004 and 2005. Linebacker Dallas Sartz’s father, Jeff, played safety at Oregon State.

gary.klein@latimes.com