USC WON: Silas Redd rushed for 155 yards and a touchdown as No. 11 USC (5-1) held off Washington (3-3) in Seattle, 24-14, on Saturday. Matt Barkley went 10 of 20 for 167 yards and one touchdown, and wideout Robert Woods caught five passes for 88 yards. Cornerback Anthony Brown scored a touchdown after blocking a Huskies punt. Keith Price led Washington with 195 yards passing and two touchdowns, but he threw two interceptions. USC's defense forced four turnovers and sacked Price five times. USC has now won nine of its last 11 against Washington.
WHEN USC WON: After a horrible third quarter in which the Trojans managed just 63 yards of offense, Washington grabbed the momentum early in the fourth and drove to the USC 3-yard line. The Huskies appeared poised to cut the lead to 24-21 and maybe pull out the win. But Trojan defensive tackle George Uko crushed Price on a keeper and the ball popped loose. USC recovered and Washington never threatened to score again.
WHY USC WON: The Trojan offense turned in another anemic performance in the passing game, but it found plenty of success on the ground. Redd set the tone early with a 57-yard run on USC's first play from scrimmage and, with Matt Barkley struggling, he and Curtis McNeal (58 yards) bailed the Trojans out the rest of the way with 213 yards between them.
WHAT USC WON: The Trojans avoided what would have been yet another puzzling loss against an outmanned team and kept their faint national title hopes alive in the process. USC may also have found its identity for the season. Suddenly, USC isn't the high-flying offensive team it was supposed to be, but a grind-it-out running team with a big-play defense. Coach Lane Kiffin appears satisfied with that identity, as evidenced by his two-to-one run/pass ratio against the Huskies.
WHAT WASHINGTON LOST: The Huskies had a golden opportunity to upset the Trojans. The Washington defense played well, holding USC to just 17 offensive points, but Steve Sarkisian's troops couldn't take advantage. A third consecutive bowl bid looks to be in jeopardy.
