USC'S OFFENSE COULD BE THE BEST - EVER.

Byline: STEVE DILBECK

Just to get things started off for USC in a challenging new direction, how's this for a nifty gauntlet?

Greatest offense ever.

Not just in its 11-national-championships history, but in any team's history. As in, greatest offense in college football history.

It's not on No.1 USC's radar. Not a goal, not something quietly being discussed in Heritage Hall corridors.

And, sure, it's subjective and ultimately unverifiable.

But a case could have been made last season that USC had one of college football's best offenses ever - check with the Sooners in the national championship game - and it now returns almost everyone and the water boy.

Returns ridiculously significant players.

Returns so much talent it almost seems unfair.

They return a Heisman Trophy quarterback, Matt Leinart, who probably would have been the No. 1 overall NFL draft pick.

Returns a Heisman Trophy finalist running back, Reggie Bush, who is so dangerous he can line up almost anywhere on the field and set defensive hearts racing.

A powerful tailback, LenDale White, who could be another Top-10 pick. A tight end, Dominique Byrd, who seems to specialize in dramatic one-handed catches. Remarkably talented, deep receivers. Almost the entire offensive line.

A team that gained over 5,800 yards last season, that scored over 40 points seven times, that humbled Oklahoma with 55 points in the Orange Bowl ... and they're almost entirely back?

``It's going to be pretty scary to watch us,'' Leinart said.

Certainly there are pitfalls out there. They could get overconfident. Have players fighting for the ball. Miss offensive coordinator Norm Chow exactly as much as many fear.

But they were also coming off a national championship the previous season and didn't stumble over arrogance. Had the same skilled players lined up last season and avoided ego clashes. And if ever a new offensive coordinator is going to be ideally broken in, it's with a proven, veteran unit like this.

A unit that could prove to be the greatest offensive team in recent memory, if not ever.

``They still have to play the season and the games and all that, but I don't know,'' said Washington State coach Bill Doba. ``I mean, their whole offensive line is back and they were young and good last year. They've got three of the best running backs. They've got great receivers. Leinart is the key.''

It's one thing to have a returning quarterback. That's always significant, particularly in the pass-happy Pac 10.

It's something else to have a Heisman Trophy winner back to direct the offense. Leinart's return puts the Trojans in a rarefied offensive air, within reach of college football's all-time best.

``I would say they're there,'' said Oregon State coach Mike Riley. ``They have a very, very good experienced quarterback, which I can't even tell you what that means to an offense or a team. It's invaluable. He's special for sure.

``Then they have one of the great weapons in college football, a guy (Bush) who changes the game in the blink of an eye. I mean, we had a heckuva game going with them until a punt return he got us on.

``And then they have the young receivers who really came on.''

It's a wealth of offensive riches. A balance of talent almost unprecedented.

USC's 12-0 1972 national championship team may have come closest. It was led by quarterback by Mike Rae. Sam Cunningham and Anthony Davis were the running backs and Charles Young the tight end. Lynn Swann and J.K. McKay the receivers.

But Davis, then a sophomore, did not become a starter until the eighth game. Rae actually split some time with Pat Haden.

This USC team is marked not only by talent, but experience.

Best ever?

``I haven't been laying awake at night thinking about that,'' said Arizona State coach Dirk Koetter. ``But they certainly - with Matt and Bush and White and Byrd - would have some pieces in place.

``Best ever is a pretty big statement, but they have some mighty fine players there.''

Pac-10 coaches are respectful, but not to the point of being in awe. At least not publicly.

``As much of a blowout as the national championship game was, SC had four tough games in our conference,'' Riley said. ``So even though they're daunting, they're not invincible.''

Stanford, Cal, Oregon State and UCLA all gave USC tough games last season, and that's when the Trojans had a top, veteran defense.

This year five starters return on the defensive side, but eight on back on offense - and that's not counting Byrd and Bush.

``The only thing that is going to hurt us, is probably ourselves,'' Leinart said. ``We could score a ton of points. We could probably score more points than SC has ever averaged in the history of the school.

``But in the end it's about who's on top. If we have to score between 44 to 50 points a game, or 12 to 20 points, it really doesn't matter.''

There is no stat to quantify the greatest offense ever. Some no-huddle teams may tally more yards. Some teams with bad defenses may put up more points.

Yet in terms of overall talent, experience and future NFL stars, these Trojans could make a case as the best offense ever seen.

Blitz, straight up, bend but don't break - defensive coordinators will try it all. Of course, they did last year, too.

``It's a challenge,'' Doba said. ``The outcome isn't always fun, but it's fun to scheme against.''

Have fun while you can. They figure to at USC.