THE BIGGEST AWARD? A WIN.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

Careful now. Do not get all ahead of yourselves. Don't go get all dreamy-eyed thinking about adding to that Heritage Hall trophy case. About syrupy acceptance speeches at the Downtown Athletic Club.

The enticement and history are right there for Matt Leinart and USC. It's just so tempting.

Yet when it comes to thinking about today as a showcase for the Heisman Trophy, forget it. Erase it as a thought. Eliminate it as motivation.

There is something bigger and significantly more important at stake this evening when the Trojans play host to Notre Dame at the Coliseum:

A national championship.

That should be the entire focus. At this point in the season, the lone goal.

USC is two games from reaching the BCS title game at the Orange Bowl. Two victories over its biggest rivals from an unbeaten regular season.

This is not the time to pause and reflect on Carson Palmer's big day against the Irish two years ago.

Certainly, there are comparisons that are difficult to ignore. Just as in 2002, the Heisman race this season has no obvious frontrunner. The USC quarterback is one of several being closely watched.

And the late-season opponent is again traditional - intersectional rival Notre Dame. A historic opponent in a game played before a national television audience.

Palmer used that stage to seize the Heisman, stamping himself as the leading candidate with a performance that still keeps them awake at nights in South Bend.

Palmer passed for 425 yards and four touchdowns as the sixth-ranked Trojans amassed 610 yards in offense and held seventh-ranked Notre Dame to 109 yards in an impressive 44-14 victory.

And soon he was back in New York, receiving college sports' most significant individual award. It was USC's fifth Heisman.

Yeah, the setup does feel familiar. And sure, the same result is very much a possibility.

But it had better be a byproduct of the game itself. Had better be regarded as bonus points as the result of a great team performance. Come naturally rather than at all forced or pushed.

``Carson Palmer had a great night and led us to a great win,'' USC coach Pete Carroll said. ``He sent a message around the country that he was the worthy Heisman Trophy winner.

``If our players perform when they are given the opportunities, this is a weekend that is significant. If our guys play well, they will be recognized for that because it is a great matchup of national significance.''

Nervous? Not even a little? Should be.

Most people around here are taking the Irish too lightly. Are almost dismissive of Notre Dame because of its 6-4 record and the memories of last season's decisive 45-14 victory.

Best not look past the talented Irish and start viewing this as just some national platform for Leinart, or USC's dreams of consecutive national championships will be a bitter memory.

The Irish has one of the most difficult schedules in the country this year. There have been losses at BYU and at home against Purdue, No. 17 Boston College and Pittsburgh.

But there have also been victories against No. 13 Michigan and at No. 15 Tennessee.

USC appears the better, faster, more balanced team, but that's not the same as saying it could not be upset by the Irish should it arrive at the Coliseum with anything but the deepest respect for Notre Dame and a clear focus on what is at stake.

And that doesn't mean saying Leinart will destroy the Irish and secure the Heisman, as has been heard from the local talking heads this week. Or that there should be reams of stories on Leinart's great opportunity.

Wrong center of attention, very much the wrong focus.

For USC, for Leinart, for the Trojans. If Norm Chow calls one play to show off Leinart that he otherwise would not, it's the wrong move.

This game is about beating Notre Dame and moving one game from playing for the national championship, not about making a statement to Heisman voters.

``That game did put (Palmer) on the map for the Heisman,'' Leinart said. ``Obviously, he had a big game. Anytime you play a big game against a team like Notre Dame in front of a big audience, everyone wants to see it.

``This week, there aren't many big games so it will be a big stage for us. We've played on a lot of big stages this year already, so I don't think we're going to change just because it's a rivalry game."

Carroll has specialized in getting the Trojans to focus on each week's opponent and not making any single game more significant than the next.

Although there is every reason to believe that will continue, this week offers a unique challenge. Their quarterback, offensive coordinator, head coach and every player has to sidestep recent history.

If Leinart throws for 250 yards and a couple TDs in a USC victory, that's a winning performance. That's what really matters - winning.

The Trojans have to beat Notre Dame tonight and UCLA next week to advance to the national championship game.

That should be the entire focus. With individual awards regarded as simple fringe benefits.