Beavers facing historic challenge.

Byline: Bob Rodman The Register-Guard

CORVALLIS - Mike Riley was 14 years old and one of the 41,494 fans who witnessed Oregon State's historic 3-0 win over No. 1-ranked USC on a dank November day in 1967.

"I remember," said Mike Riley, now 51 and coach of the Beavers.

Others don't. For good reason.

Oregon State linebacker Trent Bray, born 15 years after that game was played in what was then called Parker Stadium, and OSU quarterback Derek Anderson, born 16 years later, had the same reaction when asked what they knew about the first and only Beaver victory over a top-ranked team.

"Nuthin'," they said.

As another Beaver, 20-year-old, sophomore cornerback Brandon Browner, said, "Today is today."

But once again, a No. 1 Trojan outfit rolls into Corvallis, nearly 37 years after that Nov. 11 date with Oregon State destiny.

Scheduled for a 7 o'clock kickoff and a live national telecast on FSN tonight, the Pac-10 Conference game appears to be unbeaten USC's for the taking.

The Trojans, who have won 29 of the last 30 games against OSU, have a 17-game win streak going. In their last three wins - over ASU, Washington and WSU - they have a scoring advantage of 125-19.

They are armed with two Heisman Trophy candidates - quarterback Matt Leinart (who has thrown 48 touchdown passes and just seven picks during the win streak) and tailback/kick returner Reggie Bush (who is so talented he may even punt tonight) - as well as a mauling, stingy defense.

They are favored by three touchdowns.

"And they have that mystique, just like they did in 1967," Riley said.

In 2000, the Beavers - at Corvallis - defeated USC 31-21, ending a Pac-10 record losing streak of 26 games. The Trojans finished the season at 5-7, their first losing season since 1991 and the program's only losing season in the last 20 years.

Since, USC has won three straight over OSU, all in Los Angeles and by a combined score of 90-41. Now, the Trojans are 8-0 overall, 5-0 in the Pac-10 and taking dead aim at the Bowl Championship Series title game in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 4.

Oregon State, which was en route to its record season of 11-1, a share of the Pac-10 championship, a No. 4 ranking and a win over Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl, has won three straight games to level its record at 4-4 overall and forge a 3-2 conference mark.

"We're climbing out of the hole," said Riley, whose Beavers began the season at 1-4 with losses to LSU, Boise State, Arizona State and California. "We have our nose over the top edge, but that's it."

Some of the Beavers, who need two wins in their last three regular-season games to become bowl eligible, have wished for foul weather, an element that seemed to have assisted them in 1967 when the muddy turf helped keep the Trojans out of the end zone.

Forecasters are calling for a few showers and 40-degree temperatures tonight. The defending national champion Trojans, outscoring their opponents by three touchdowns a game, weathered the hail, rain and cold at Pullman, Wash., last week, trampling WSU 42-12.

"We just need to play a perfect game," said Bill Swancutt, the OSU defensive end who holds the school's career record for quarterback sacks with 30.

So will Anderson, who owns nearly all of OSU's career passing records and set the single-game yardage milestone last season against USC with 485.

"It's not too often you get No. 1 in your house, which makes it the biggest game for me since I've been here," he said.

"We need to come up with some turnovers," said Swancutt, whose team is only one in the country to play two defending national champions (LSU and USC).

The Beavers have recovered seven fumbles and intercepted seven passes amid wins over Washington, WSU and Arizona.

USC has knack for unplanned changes of possession, too, leading the Pac-10 in turnover margin with 12 fumble recoveries and 13 interceptions.

The Trojans lead the conference in scoring defense (10.9), total defense (255.6), rushing defense (71.0) and quarterback sacks (35).

"Our focus (defensively) has been the best it has been since we've been here," said USC coach Pete Carroll, in his fourth season with the Trojans but making his first trip to Corvallis. "I know that their team is all cranked up."

GAME FACTS

When: 7 p.m. PST 

Where: Reser Stadium (35,362), Corvallis.

Radio/TV: KKNX-AM (840), KCGR-FM (100.5)/FSN live telecast.

Notes: Trojans lead series 56-8-4, have won 29 of last 30 games and are 11-2 in games played at Corvallis ... Beavers have played a No. 1-ranked teams six times and won only once (3-0 over USC in 1967) ... USC's 17-game win streak second only to Boise State's 19 ... Trojans' 8-0 start best since being 10-0 in 1988 ... Beavers and USC tied for Pac-10 lead in interceptions made with 13 ... Trojan defense has allowed just two touchdowns in last 13 quarters ... Beavers are plus-10 in turnovers in past three games (14-4) ... OSU's Mike Hass only receiver in league averaging more than 100 yards a game (111.4) ... DE Bill Swancutt has 4 1/2 of Beavers' 11 QB sacks in past three games ... USC outscoring opponents 36.8-10.9.