TROJANS CAN FINALLY CONCENTRATE ON GAME USC HIT WITH WEEK OF OFF-FIELD DISTRACTIONS.

Byline: Scott Wolf  Staff Writer

A bumping incident in the Coliseum tunnel. A controversial prank where a dummy of star tailback LenDale White got thrown off the roof of a building. A player arrested for fighting.

So much off-the-field excitement surrounded USC this week, it was almost hard to remember the No. 1-ranked Trojans play Stanford tonight at 7 at the Coliseum.

Even Friday, a customary slow day on campus, linebacker Rey Maualuga met with his newly hired attorney, Carmen Trutanich, to discuss his arrest for misdemeanor assault after Maualuga punched a student at a Halloween party. Maualuga is suspended from tonight's game but will suit up.

The late kickoff is welcomed by some at USC because it means less time for mischief after games. Besides Maualuga's arrest, two other USC players were reprimanded for inappropriate behavior following the Arizona game, which kicked off at 12:30 p.m.

But tonight, football takes precedent for the Trojans. For the first time this season, USC (8-0, 5-0) is home for consecutive games. The Trojans seek their 31st straight victory, which would tie them for 10th all-time longest winning streak in college football history.

And it hasn't been easy.

``Nothing's easy about going undefeated,'' USC tailback Reggie Bush said. ``It's hard to get up for every team, every year.''

No amount of distractions can cause the Trojans for a probable derailment against Stanford (4-3, 3-2), especially after the Cardinal blew a 21-point fourth-quarter lead to UCLA.

USC coach Pete Carroll certainly seemed at ease all week, even with all the extracurricular activities surrounding the program.

``We had a ripping practice Thursday and finished this week on a high note,'' Carroll said. ``I look forward to performing after the way we went about practicing for this game.''

Maybe Carroll is also aware that USC is 13-0 in November since he became coach.

``We have (peaked) late in the past,'' Carroll said. ``The finish has begun for us here and it's time to go.''

Stanford could seem as a breather before USC ends the season against three teams all ranked in the Bowl Championship Series rankings' top 25. USC travels to play No. 23 California next week before hosting No. 24 Fresno State and No. 5 UCLA.

But it doesn't mean blowouts are just routine for the Trojans.

``I don't think it's come too easy,'' Bush said.

Bush remembered that USC nearly lost to Stanford last season. The Trojans trailed 28-17 before squeaking out a 31-28 victory. Bush set up the winning touchdown with a memorable 33-yard zigzagging punt return.

``In clutch situations, you see him come through time and again,'' USC running backs coach Todd McNair said. ``He can change the temperature of a game in the blink of an eye. A lot of teams could say last season, 'We almost had USC, if not for Reggie Bush.' ''

Bush said after two-plus years without a loss, the Trojans are mostly responsible for whether games are close or routs.

``It could be teams are taking better shots because they play us, but I think it's that we didn't come out prepared like we should be,'' he said.

Scott Wolf, [phone]

scott.wolf(at)dailynews.com

CAPTION(S):

box

Box:

No. 1 USC vs. STANFORD