Lap Dawgs Klein is a Times staff writer.

USC dropped in the polls but remained No. 5 in the Bowl Championship Series standings after escaping Arizona with a 17-10 victory. Now, for the second time in three games, the Trojans face a struggling team from the Northwest. Times staff writer Gary Klein looks at some of the key issues and matchups when USC plays a winless Washington team that this week learned Coach Tyrone Willingham had been fired, effective at the end of the season:

They’ll pass

USC quarterback Mark Sanchez overthrew wide-open receiver Patrick Turner on his first pass against Arizona and let the miscue affect him through several more.

Sanchez remains the Pacific 10 Conference leader in passing efficiency but is attempting to recapture the poise and game-management skills he displayed in early-season victories over Virginia and Ohio State.

Washington ranks last in the conference with three interceptions and only five sacks.

Huskies quarterback Ronnie Fouch, a redshirt freshman, stepped in after Jake Locker suffered a broken thumb Sept. 27 against Stanford. Fouch has passed for four touchdowns with four interceptions. He goes against a USC defense ranked first nationally in pass defense, though the unit will be without senior safety Kevin Ellison, who suffered a knee injury Thursday.

Motivational

USC’s greatest challenge might be getting up for a winless opponent that is a 46-point underdog.

USC showed two weeks ago in a 69-0 victory over Washington State that it could take care of business in a similar scenario.

With Willingham on his way out, the Huskies might ride an emotional wave in support of their coach and play the Trojans tough -- USC won the last two meetings by a combined total of only nine points. Or they could be drained by the events of the week and make it easy for USC and its homecoming crowd.

They’re carriers

USC tailback Stafon Johnson is coming off the best all-around game of his career and averages 5.4 yards a carry.

C.J. Gable, averaging 5.6 yards a carry, said this week that he wants a larger role. Joe McKnight (7.2 yards per carry) is still nursing a toe injury that kept him out of the Washington State game and limited him against Arizona.

So the greatest beneficiary could again be redshirt freshman Broderick Green, who ran for a career-best 121 yards against Washington State.

Washington freshman Terrance Dailey ran for 102 yards two weeks ago against Oregon State in his first start. He gained 24 yards last week against Notre Dame.

Catching on

Washington receiver D’Andre Goodwin ranks second in the Pac-10 with averages of nearly six receptions and 71.1 yards receiving per game.

However, the former Antelope Valley High star has caught only one touchdown pass. It won’t be any easier against cornerbacks Josh Pinkard, Cary Harris and Kevin Thomas and a defense that has given up only two touchdown passes.

Damian Williams has been Sanchez’s go-to receiver, but the sophomore dropped two passes against Arizona and has a sore shoulder. Washington has given up a conference-worst 19 touchdown passes.

The lineup

USC’s offensive line is looking to clean up its act after missing several assignments against Arizona. Nick Howell starts at right tackle for the third consecutive game, but Butch Lewis also will play.

Freshman nose tackle Jurrell Casey has played his way into USC’s rotation and will play more with Averell Spicer sidelined by an ankle injury. Washington has given up nearly three sacks a game.

Flag days

USC is the Pac-10’s second-most-penalized team and has been assessed the second-most penalty yards per game.

The Trojans appeared to have corrected many of their problems against Washington State but followed it up with 10 penalties against Arizona.

Washington has been called for the second-fewest penalties in the conference.

By the numbers

*--* USC CATEGORY WASH. 38.0 Scoring 16.1 8.1 Points given up 39.6 265.7 Passing offense 198.9 190.9 Rushing offense 92.1 456.6 Total offense 291.0 129.6 Passing defense 244.0 86.0 Rush defense 235.6 215.6 Total defense 479.6 *--*

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gary.klein@latimes.com