A moving performance by Booty

Looking back at No. 8 USC’s 44-24 victory over No. 13 Arizona State:

Rewind

As expected: USC took advantage of Arizona State’s porous offensive line and sacked quarterback Rudy Carpenter six times with aggressive hits.

The Trojans moved up three spots, from 11th to eighth, in both the Associated Press media poll and the Bowl Championship Series standings.

Unexpected: Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian put quarterback John David Booty on the move to get him into rhythm.

The fifth-year senior showed the skills that had made him a preseason Heisman Trophy candidate, passing for four touchdowns and rushing for another.

Stepped up: Booty played with verve and emotion not always obvious through his two seasons as a starter.

Senior defensive end Lawrence Jackson had four sacks and finished with a school-record 5 1/2 tackles for losses.

Junior linebacker Kaluka Maiava started in place of Keith Rivers and made a team-best 10 tackles.

The receiving corps was more sure-handed than in perhaps any other game this season. Tight end Fred Davis continued a push for postseason honors with five receptions for 119 yards and a touchdown.

Stepped back: David Buehler kicked three field goals and Ronald Johnson shined on kickoff returns, but the special teams had two major miscues.

After the offense zipped to a touchdown on the game’s first possession, the kickoff return team allowed Rudy Burgess to race 98 yards to a touchdown. USC also allowed a fourth-quarter punt to be blocked, setting up another touchdown.

Coach’s quote: Pete Carroll on whether he was concerned about what might have been had the Trojans played throughout the season as they did against Arizona State: “I’m not worried about that stuff. Right now, we have to win a game. Maybe when it’s all over you look back and think about that.”

If the Trojans finish strong against UCLA and in a bowl game Carroll would not argue with pundits who might call USC the best team in the country.

“I don’t mind challenging the bowls or the BCS system,” he said. “I wish we could be in that situation, but we’re not there yet.”

Carroll said he had spoken to Ed Orgeron, fired Saturday as Mississippi’s coach, and expected USC’s former defensive line coach to explore many opportunities, especially in the NFL.

“He understands they did everything in the world he could possibly do to make it work,” Carroll said of Orgeron’s three-year stint at Ole Miss.

Injury report: Rivers (ankle) was available but did not play against Arizona State. He will try to make it back for his final game in the Coliseum.

Offensive tackle Sam Baker (hamstring) started but was rested at times against the Sun Devils. He too intends to start in his Coliseum farewell.

Defensive tackle Fili Moala (concussion) will be evaluated throughout the week.

Looking ahead to the game vs. UCLA (Saturday, Coliseum, 1:30 p.m., Channel 7):

Fast forward

First look: UCLA is coming off a 16-0 victory over Oregon, the first time the Ducks were shut out in more than two decades.

A possible Rose Bowl bid is at stake for UCLA, which needs Arizona to defeat Arizona State.

Topic of the week: Revenge.

USC players have heard “13-9” for a year and many believe the Bruins’ victory over them last season was a fluke.

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gary.klein@latimes.com

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Season log (9-2)

Sept. 1: Idaho (1-11); Won, 38-10.

Sept. 15: at then-No. 14 Nebraska (5-7); Won, 49-31.

Sept. 22: Washington State (5-7, 3-6 in Pac-10); Won, 47-14.

Sept. 29: Washington (4-8, 2-7);

Won, 27-24.

Oct. 6: Stanford (3-8, 2-6); Lost, 24-23.

Oct. 13: Arizona (5-6, 4-4); Won, 20-13.

Oct. 20: at Notre Dame (3-9); Won, 38-0.

Oct. 27: at then-No. 5 Oregon (8-3, 5-3); Lost, 24-17.

Nov. 3: Oregon State (7-4, 5-3);

Won, 24-3.

Nov. 10: at then-No. 24 California (6-5, 3-5); Won, 24-17.

Nov. 22: at then-No. 7 Arizona State (9-2, 6-2); Won, 44-24. The Trojans finally played the way most prognosticators thought they would this season.

Saturday vs. UCLA (6-5, 5-3): The Bruins’ offense produced only 16 points against Oregon. It took 13 to beat USC last season.