Decibels and ringing bells

EUGENE, Ore. -- This is not the comfortable familiarity of the Coliseum.

It is far from the staid, mostly quiet environment that was Notre Dame Stadium.

After comparatively unchallenging tests at home against Arizona and on the road against Notre Dame, USC quarterback Mark Sanchez makes his third start at one of college football’s loudest venues: Oregon’s Autzen Stadium.

Ninth-ranked USC hopes to silence the crowd today when it plays fifth-ranked Oregon in a game that will either keep alive or end the Trojans’ hopes for Pacific 10 Conference and national titles.

“This is time for us,” Coach Pete Carroll said.

More than 54,000 Ducks-crazy fans, and acoustics that make Autzen Stadium sound like three times as many, continue to rattle opponents despite a conference ban on inflatable plastic noise makers that was imposed in the aftermath of a USC loss to Oregon in 2001.

USC won here in 2002 and overcame a 13-0 deficit to win in a rout in 2005. Those Trojans teams, however, were led by veteran quarterbacks Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

Today, senior John David Booty will be on the sideline resting a broken right middle finger, an injury that has opened the door for Sanchez. Booty will play only if Sanchez is injured or falters.

Sanchez passed for four touchdowns without an interception against Notre Dame and said this week he was confident the experience helped prepare him for today’s decibel level.

Offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian will monitor the third-year sophomore, noting especially his reaction to fans who are close to the field and not timid about getting personal.

“I just told him, ‘The main thing is keeping your composure. The crowd is going to be into the game and we might make a mistake here or there and you can’t dwell on it. You’ve got to be able to move on and go to the next snap,’ ” Sarkisian said.

Oregon quarterback Dennis Dixon, a 69.3% passer who also can run, has mostly basked in cheers from Autzen crowds while leading one of the nation’s most potent attacks.

The Ducks (6-1, 3-1) are coming off a 55-34 victory at Washington, the fourth time Oregon has scored at least 52 points.

“They’ve really looked like they’re a step ahead of everybody they’ve been playing all year,” Carroll said.

Said Oregon Coach Mike Bellotti: “We haven’t faced a defense the caliber of USC’s yet.”

The Trojans will adopt a simple strategy to neutralize Dixon.

Carroll fired the first shot across the bow at his weekly news conference when he said, “You have to hit this guy,” adding that the Trojans must “make sure that we don’t miss our opportunities to bang him around.”

Middle linebacker Rey Maualuga said Dixon would feel the Trojans’ constant presence.

“From the get-go, when he starts running the ball, we’re just going to have to punish him before he even gets momentum going,” Maualuga said.

According to defensive end Lawrence Jackson, a collective effort will be required to control Dixon, and perhaps the Trojans’ destiny.

“If he gets out and is flying around and controlling the tempo,” Jackson said, “it’s going to be a long day.”

gary.klein@latimes.com