ADMIT IT, GUYS: YOU'RE THINKING ABOUT IT.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

It's out of their control. It's just the system. The only concern is winning the conference outright. They're just not thinking about it.

OK, stop right there. The Trojans are not thinking about winning a national title?

What a lot of hooey. They have an opportunity to compete for their first national championship since 1978 and their complete focus is on stopping Oregon State today?

That sounds swell. Sounds smart. Sounds suspiciously rehearsed.

Certainly, a very good Beavers team is capable of upsetting USC at the Coliseum if the Trojans are not focused on the immediate task. And the Trojans seem well versed on teams that have stumbled on the eve of a national-championship game invite.

Let's just not get carried away. It's the last regular-season game of the season. It should be all right by now to recognize what today's game means.

``We're just going to treat this like we've treated every other game so far this season,'' offensive tackle Jacob Rogers said. ``This game is a little bigger for us because we have a chance to win the Pac-10 Conference championship outright.

``As far as BCS stuff, we're not thinking about that because it's out of our control. We have no say in that.''

Come on, stop it. USC is supposed to want to play for the national championship. It's supposed to be thinking about it. It should be pumped up about it and not afraid to admit it.

There's a national-championship opportunity on the line today.

``They know that,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``We never avoid the truth about what's going on. We never don't talk about things that need to be addressed. But to put inordinate amount of emphasis on it is a total waste of time.

``It's really not time. We know it's there. What are you going to do about it? Have fun and enjoy it. We're thrilled we're in the Rose Bowl now, but we'd like to be in the Rose Bowl by owning that championship spot. At least, that's what I've told them they should be thinking about.''

This is only the biggest game at USC in 25 years. Yeah, against the 7-4 Beavers.

Win and USC is playing Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl for the Bowl Championship Series national championship. Probably, anyway. At least that's the most likely scenario. Unless, of course, Louisiana State slips in.

``I really haven't figured it out,'' Carroll said. ``I can't get it. I'm incompetent in understanding it. I don't have a chance.

``I do know we better our chances by winning. I got that part nailed.''

This has been a Carroll theme all season. And has inadvertently helped the Trojans with their one-game-at-a-time focus because nobody in America truly understands the BCS formula.

It's incomprehensible. A country that can't master the four-way stop has no chance of digesting all the ridiculous variables that go into determining these rankings.

It's the only system in sports designed to determine a champion that fans, sports writers and coaches do not understand.

``I'm glad I'm not alone,'' Carroll said. ``I thought I was the only one who didn't get it.

``Some people talk like they get it, but then they always say, `Oh, yeah, but. ... And in case this happens.' I don't know who gets it. There has to be some guy somewhere. Sitting up there laughing at all of us.''

Let's see, Miami of Ohio's blowout Thursday of Bowling Green could knock USC out of the No. 2 spot. Or if Notre Dame loses to Syracuse in the battle of 5-6 teams, then LSU's strength-of-schedule component could leap it past USC.

``I didn't know that,'' Carroll said. ``It doesn't make sense. The Notre Dame game has a barring on what happens?''

Or even more absurd, LSU has to beat Georgia today but not the bejeezus out of it, or it might knock the Bulldogs out of the top 10 and erase LSU's bonus for having previously beaten Georgia.

``I find that particularly interesting,'' Carroll said. ``They're playing a team they've already played, and they can't beat them by too much - at least that's my understanding - or it hurts them?''

It's all too convoluted. The strength of a team's opponents already are subjectively figured into the two wire-service polls and the computer rankings, yet it merits a separate point factor? It's overkill.

``I don't get it, and I don't want to get it,'' Carroll said. ``Tell me where we're going, then we'll try to win that game.''

Carroll said he's an optimist, and should USC win today, he expects a Sugar Bowl invitation.

And if USC wins, and LSU still somehow jumps ahead?

``Well, then I'll have an opinion,'' he said. ``I'll have something for you.''

For now, Carroll and his Trojans are sticking to the control-what-you-can approach that has served them so well. He is certain of one thing if USC and LSU finish with one loss.

``Somebody is going to be upset,'' he said. ``I'm honestly not worried about it. I don't think you guys believe that, but I'm really not worried about it. To put it bluntly, I don't give a (hoot).

``We're just out to have a hell of a season, and we're on our way to doing that. We have one more regular-season game left, and then we'll see what is next.''

It should be a national-championship game, or one very ticked off USC team. And it's OK to admit it.

CAPTION(S):

photo

Photo:

(color) Coach Pete Carroll says not understanding the BCS has helped the Trojans keep their one-game-at-a-time focus.

Edna T. Simpson/Daily News