page_title: 2007 USC Trojans football team
section_title: Oregon State
hierarchical_section_title: 2007 USC Trojans football team / Game summaries / Oregon State
caption_attribution_description: English: Chauncey Washington scores a touchdown (bottom of play, coming around the blocker with the ball in his right hand). The Oregon State Beavers visit the USC Trojans at the L.A. Coliseum on November 3, 2007; USC would win, 24-3.
context_page_description: The 2007 USC Trojans football team represented the University of Southern California during the 2007 NCAA Division I FBS football season, winning a share of the Pacific-10 Conference championship and winning the 2008 Rose Bowl. The team was coached by Pete Carroll and played its home games at the Los Angeles Coliseum.
  The team entered the season with high expectations. It was ranked No. 1 in all national pre-season polls, picked unanimously to win the Pac-10 Conference and expected to contend for a national championship. Those hopes were dealt a major blow when the Trojans lost to 41-point underdog Stanford in a mid-season game that was named one of the greatest upsets in a season that became defined by them. After their second loss, there were questions as to whether the team would be able to even win their own conference, let alone compete nationally. However, USC defied mid-season expectations and rallied, finishing the season ranked No. 2 in the Coaches' Poll and No. 3 in the Associated Press Poll. By the end of the season various sports journalists said the Trojans were playing the best football of anyone in the country.
context_section_description: USC celebrated homecoming by hosting the Oregon State Beavers, coached by Mike Riley.  In 2006, the unranked Beavers stunned the No. 3 Trojans in a 33–31 upset in Corvallis.  The Beavers had not won at USC since 1960.
  Oregon State entered the game with the nation's best rushing defense, allowing only 54.5 yards rushing a game  and also recording a nation-leading 34 sacks.  The Beaver defense ranked 13th nationally in total defense, surrendering 299.9 yards a game.  Trojans quarterback John David Booty returned from injury to start; offensive lineman Sam Baker remained out after re-injuring a hamstring against the Ducks.  Oregon State star running back Yvenson Bernard was initially expected to play despite a sprained shoulder, but did not.  Former USC linebacker Richard Wood, who was chosen for the College Football Hall of Fame, was honored at halftime.
  In a strong defensive performance, the Trojans defeated the Beavers 24–3.  The USC defense made nine sacks and intercepted a pass; they limited Oregon State to 176 total yards and a field goal off a Trojans fumble in the USC red zone.  True freshman Everson Griffen had 3½ sacks, safety Kevin Ellison added two, end Lawrence Jackson had 1½ and nose tackle Sedrick Ellis and linebacker Brian Cushing had one each; cornerback Terrell Thomas made the interception.  The Trojans offense had its second lowest total of the season, gaining 287 yards, but it rushed for 100 yards against the Beavers' tight rush defense, led by Chauncey Washington who gained 60 yards in 12 carries.  Booty, returning from injury, could not find his rhythm but still completed 19 of 33 passes for 157 yards without an interception; the Trojans converted only five of 16 third downs.  Both teams missed field goals in the first quarter, then exchanged field goals going into the second quarter.  The Trojans then scored 21 unanswered points in less than eight minutes to close the half.  Neither team scored in the second half.  USC running back Stafon Johnson was allowed to play a few downs but was kept out for most of the game to allow his foot to heal fully.
  The Trojans rose slightly in the polls to No. 12 in the AP Poll, No. 15 in the Coaches Poll, and No. 17 in the BCS standings.  The 2007 Holiday Bowl was mentioned as a possible destination for the Trojans.  Holiday Bowl executive director Bruce Binkowski said they would be very interested in pitting the Trojans against the Texas Longhorns.  The two teams last met in the 2006 Rose Bowl for the BCS National Championship.
caption: Chauncey Washington rushes for the first USC touchdown.
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