ESPN College Football

Brian Kelly was asked Sunday about the growth of his defense since Notre Dame's loss last season to Navy, which utilized the triple-option offense to run for four touchdowns and 367 yards -- including 210 from Alexander Teich -- in a 35-17 rout by the Midshipmen.

"You know, I think the Navy game was schematic more than it was kids not understanding how to play the right kind of defense," Kelly said. "So if you look at that as not about our players, I think we've showed steady improvement since last year. I think it's continuously been better and better defensive play leading up to where we are right now.

"We still have a ways to go. But I will tell you this, that it's tough to run the ball on us, and that's where you wanna start. So our starting point was, be difficult to run the ball on, and then let's continue to improve in the back end."

After that loss last Oct. 23, the Fighting Irish did not allow another 100-yard rusher over their last five games and gave up just one touchdown run, a 1-yard sneak by USC quarterback Mitch Mustain. Over their last four games, Notre Dame did not allow so much as a 50-yard rusher.

Only one player has rushed for more than 100 yards against the Irish since their loss to Navy, and that was Denard Robinson in Week 2 of this season. Robinson's 16-carry, 108-yard effort on the ground Sept. 10 is just as notable for another number Shoelace put up that night: One, as in the number of rushing touchdowns he scored. As in the only rushing touchdown Notre Dame has allowed this season.

And even that could be considered a fluke, as Robinson simply scooped up the ball and took it in for a 1-yard score after Irish safety Harrison Smith jarred it from Michigan running back Stephen Hopkins.

In allowing just one score on the ground this year, Notre Dame is tied for the nation lead with four other schools. The Irish have allowed just 91.2 yards per game on the ground this season, good for 19th nationally.

All of which is a roundabout way of saying that this Saturday's contest against Air Force and its triple-option offense should be a fascinating test of execution on each side of the ball.

The Falcons' 364.5 rushing yards per game are good for third in the nation. Only seven teams have scored more than Air Force's 15 rushing touchdowns, but six of them have played five games to the Falcons' four.

The challenge could be all the more difficult if defensive end Ethan Johnson cannot play. Johnson, a two-year starter, suffered a right ankle sprain in Saturday's 38-10 win at Purdue, and Kelly would only say that there's a chance he could return this weekend.

"We'll immobilize him for the next few days and then get him moving and see," the second-year coach said. "It's one of those things where it's such an individual case-by-case situation when it comes to ankles, so he'll be immobilized.

"Last night he was in a boot. He'll stay in that until probably mid-week and then we'll start moving him and see what he looks like."

If Johnson can't go, Aaron Lynch will likely get the start. Known for his ability to rush the passer, Lynch saw more action Saturday after fellow freshman Stephon Tuitt did not make the trip to West Lafayette, Ind., because of a violation of Kelly's missed-class policy.

Kelly said after the game he expected Tuitt back, but neither Tuitt nor Lynch played Week 2 at Michigan because of the complex offense the Wolverines and, more specifically, Robinson, ran.

In any event, it makes this week's contest all the more important, one that can't be overlooked with a bye week and USC looming afterward.

LOS ANGELES, Calif. -- Last summer, four guys with a lot in common hung out in Manhattan and at the ESPN offices in Bristol, Conn. They had a good time. They traded war stories. But, no, Matt Barkley, Nick Foles, Jake Locker and Andrew Luck did not become good buddies. They didn't start firing off text messages talking smack to each other the way young men do when they bond. They didn't plan a Vegas get-away so they could radiate awesomeness as a foursome.

Locker is a likely first-round NFL draft pick next week. Luck will be touted as the likely top overall draft pick in 2012. Foles could join him in the first round, as Barkley likely would if he opted to leave after his junior season at USC.

"We're all good [with each other]," Barkley said. "But we're all kind of doing our own thing."

And, for Barkley, he admits that "our own thing" includes competing to be the best of the group.

"I definitely have them on the radar," Barkley said. "I'm aware of them. It is competition. Every quarterback wants to be the best at what they do. When I hear their name, I'm always trying to one-up them."

The best quarterback in the Pac-12 next fall likely will be the best quarterback in the nation. The second-team all-conference quarterback could end up a second-team All-American. Luck entered the offseason as the leading Heisman Trophy candidate. Barkley, Foles and Oregon's Darron Thomas will make most preseason watch lists for the award.

It seems a bit odd that the USC quarterback, a position in recent years that almost automatically included front-runner status for the bronze statue, is an underdog in the group. Luck is the decided front-runner. Thomas was second-team All-Pac-10 in 2010 and led the Ducks to the national title game. Foles has the best supporting cast of receivers of them all and could end up with the biggest numbers.

And Barkley? He's been running for his life this spring behind a patchwork offensive line.

Last year, Barkley went 1-3 against the group. He put up bigger numbers than Luck in a 37-35 nail-biting defeat at Stanford -- Luck was more efficient -- but put up inferior numbers against the other three, including a win over Foles and Arizona.

The first priority for Barkley and the Trojans is reversing those numbers and winning those games. But Barkley also is honest enough to admit that he wants to eclipse the other Pac-12 quarterbacks and, yes, he wants to push into the Heisman discussion.

"You grow up wanting to be the best and the Heisman Trophy is the mark of the best player in the country. So, yes, I've dreamed of that," he said. "It's kind of what you expect here."

Barkley has been the quarterback of record during a tumultuous time at USC. He won the job as a true freshman over Aaron Corp and Mitch Mustain after Mark Sanchez surprised then-coach Pete Carroll by opting to leave early for the NFL. Carroll went from being perturbed with Sanchez to gushing over Barkley in rapid fashion, calling Barkley, the No. 1 high school prospect in the nation in 2009, an "outlier," a term Carroll adopted after reading Malcolm Gladwell's book titled the same.

"This is not a typical kid," Carroll said after Barkley won his first start over San Jose State.

Then Carroll bolted for the Seattle Seahawks, Lane Kiffin was hired and NCAA sanctions hammered the program. Along the way, Barkley's ride hasn't always been smooth. When his numbers are viewed from the perspective of being a starter as a true freshman and sophomore, 5,526 passing yards, 41 touchdowns and a 61 percent completion rate sound pretty darn good. But Carroll set him up as a mutant quarterback and he turned out to just be flesh and bone like everyone else -- see: 26 interceptions.

Further, going from Carroll's over-the-top praise to Kiffin's unadorned feedback was a challenge for Barkley. One of the first things Kiffin did was talk about how Barkley needed to lose some weight, and Barkley never seemed to be thrilled with his weight being an issue, even after he lost a few pounds.

"It was definitely different," Barkley said of the transition to Kiffin. "I didn't expect it. But you've got to learn to go with it and know how to react to him, what works with him and what doesn't."

But the tit-for-tat -- Barkley has made fun of Kiffin's inexperience on Twitter a couple of times this offseason -- doesn't seem to indicate tension between quarterback and coach.

"Everybody would ask me, 'What do you think of Kiffin?' expecting me to bash him. He's awesome," Barkley said. "He's a great playcaller. He pushes you to be the best."

And Kiffin likes what he's seen this spring from Barkley, who's the team's only returning captain while still being a young player (second semester sophomore).

"He's doing a really good job of being a leader," Kiffin said.

Other players have noticed. Said safety T.J. McDonald, "He's the centerpiece that's putting that all together, and you can see that by how the offensive members are responding."

Barkley wants to be the best. He admits that is a primary goal. He expects to become a Heisman Trophy candidate. And he expects to become a high NFL draft choice; though it's not a topic he will talk about, more than a few folks figure this is his last season at USC.

But the best way to accomplish his personal goals is to reverse the downward course of what had been a college football dynasty. Barkley's Heisman chances and perhaps even his NFL prospects will decline if the Trojans don't win.

"All that doesn't mean anything unless this year produces results," he said. "If this season doesn't produce what I want to do, which is be the best in the country, then it's worth nothing. If I'm playing my best football, it gives our team the best chance to be successful."

And if he plays his best football, Barkley believes he'll become the best quarterback in the land.

1. The Allstate Sugar Bowl announced Wednesday that it has opened what amounts to a futures market for tickets for the 2012 BCS National Championship Game in New Orleans. You can purchase a “reservation” to buy a ticket for any team at face value. The cost of the reservation rises and falls based on demand. Longshot ticket reservations start at $30. Reservations for LSU, which has played in the past two title games in the Superdome, max out at $215. Reservations are non-refundable, natch.

2. On Signing Day 2006, Mitch Mustain ranked No. 12 on the ESPNU 150 and signed with the Arkansas Razorbacks, right down the road from home. On Signing Day 2011, Mustain sat in jail in Van Nuys, Calif., booked on a felony narcotics charge of selling prescription drugs. This after a career in which Mustain bailed out of Arkansas to become a backup at USC. That reads like a bad movie script. Unfortunately, it’s all true.

3. Meanwhile, a benefit of USC’s appeal that the school didn’t publicize is that by pushing the appeal beyond Signing Day, the Trojans could sign a full class. They didn’t operate under the penalty of 10 scholarships per year assessed by the NCAA for this year through 2013. That will go a long way toward softening the blow, even if the NCAA upholds its judgment. Why? Head coach Lane Kiffin signed a full class of his own recruits. He begins building with a much more solid foundation than it appeared he would have.

USC's eight-game winning streak against rival Notre Dame is over after the Fighting Irish triumphed 20-16 in the Coliseum.

It wasn't Mitch Mustain's fault. The game plan was conservative and his receivers were awful.

Sure, it was raining. Hard. But the Trojans receivers put on one of the worst shows you'll ever see, particularly on USC's final possession. Ronald Johnson dropped a sure touchdown pass a few plays after Brandon Carswell dropped a pass that would have been a big gain.

Another difference: Notre Dame could run the ball (147 yards) and USC could not (80).

The Trojans (7-5) lose their second consecutive game, and suddenly a solid season is taking a dramatic downturn. They are at rival UCLA on Saturday.

Plenty of top teams in action today, but plenty more in action Saturday with conference and BCS hopes on the line. Here are your top Saturday story lines to watch for Week 13:

1. Rivalry Saturday. The end of November always brings us the best matchups between the most bitter of rivals. Great games on tap featuring: Oklahoma State-Oklahoma, Clemson-South Carolina, Michigan-Ohio State, Florida-Florida State, Mississippi State-Mississippi, Georgia-Georgia Tech and BYU-Utah. Several of these games have conference and bowl implications. Keep reading for more.

2. Big Ten resolution. We finally will have clarity on a race has been one of the most compelling this season. If Wisconsin, Ohio State and Michigan State win out, the Badgers most likely would head to the Rose Bowl based on the BCS standings. The Badgers also have the head-to-head advantage over Ohio State should Michigan State lose. But if the Buckeyes lose to Michigan, Michigan State goes to the Rose Bowl if it beats Penn State. Ohio State needs Wisconsin to lose.

3. Bedlam for the Big 12 South. Oklahoma has won seven in a row over Oklahoma State, but the Cowboys have been the better team this season. This one has the markings of a shootout, with the top two scoring offenses in the Big 12 facing off. Ryan Broyles vs. Justin Blackmon, Brandon Weeden vs. Landry Jones -- you have got to love these matchups. If Oklahoma State wins it advances to the Big 12 title game. Oklahoma and Texas A&M victories mean a three-way tie and the BCS standings come into play.

4. Does the Les Magic run out in Arkansas? If LSU beats the Razorbacks, the Tigers would be under heavy consideration for an at-large BCS bid depending on what happens with the non-AQ teams. LSU coach Les Miles and his Tigers have pulled out one victory after another in incredible fashion. But with the way Arkansas can score, it could be tough for the Tigers to stay with the Hogs given its shaky offensive production.

5. Can Notre Dame break USC’s dominance? USC has beaten the Fighting Irish eight straight times, but could be without starting quarterback Matt Barkley, who has been hobbling around on crutches because of a high ankle sprain. Mitch Mustain has taken first-team reps and would be in line to start. That could bode well for a Notre Dame defense that hasn’t allowed a touchdown in its past two games.

6. ACC Atlantic Race. NC State travels to Maryland with ACC conference title hopes on the line. If NC State wins, it plays Virginia Tech in the ACC title game. If the Wolfpack lose, Florida State goes. The Wolfpack barely survived last week at North Carolina and have struggled at times on the road, losing to East Carolina and Clemson -- two teams that are not as good as them.

7. Bowl eligibility hopes. Several teams have them Saturday: Tennessee needs a win over Kentucky and Georgia needs a win over Georgia Tech in the SEC; Houston needs a win over Texas Tech in Conference USA; California needs a win over Washington in the Pac-10; FIU, Troy and ULM need wins in the Sun Belt.

8. Shootout in Connecticut? Cincinnati (4-6) has to beat Connecticut to keep its bowl hopes alive. This season has not been kind to the Bearcats, who are on the verge of going from Big East champion to out of the bowl picture. The offense came alive last week, so that is a plus. But Connecticut has a pretty good offense, too, with Zach Frazer and Jordan Todman, so there could be plenty of fireworks in this one.

9. Is this the year Florida State beats Florida? The Gators have dominated the series of late, winning six in a row against their in-state rival. Florida coach Urban Meyer rarely loses rivalry games -- he has won 17 of 18 against Florida State, Georgia, Miami and Tennessee. But if there was ever a year for FSU to catch its rival, this is it. The Gators are in the midst of a mediocre season, and have no quarterback or running game.

10. Is this the year Michigan beats Ohio State? If Michigan has come up with some sort of defense in the final week, then maybe. If not, highly unlikely. The Buckeyes have won six straight and eight of nine in the series, taking a lot of the national steam out of this game because Michigan has just not been Michigan. On the bright side, those who watch will get to see a great quarterback matchup between Terrelle Pryor and Denard Robinson.

Issues to consider heading into the 13th week of games.

Can Arizona "Cal" Oregon's offense? California didn't reinvent the wheel when it held Oregon to just one offensive touchdown Nov. 13. A good defense just played soundly and with passion and focus. Sure, the Wildcats probably picked some things up from the Bears, but you also have to figure that Chip Kelly & Co. made adjustments during their own bye week in anticipation of folks trying to use the Bears "man-free" scheme (man-to-man in the secondary with a safety spying the QB). The Wildcats have the personnel to slow the Ducks. But can they keep up with the tempo and not lose focus -- and gap control -- over four quarters?

Luck, Stanford need to roll up style points: Stanford is fighting to prove it is BCS bowl-worthy. It could guarantee itself an at-large BCS bowl berth if it pushes up two spots from No. 6 to No. 4 in the BCS standings. So style points matter, because you never know what could happen at the top of the BCS standings. Further, QB Andrew Luck is trying to secure an invitation to New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony. Another big performance could give him a push against Auburn's Cam Newton among "character counts" voters.

Will Mustain (finally) get his close-up? USC's backup QB Mitch Mustain is the best-known player in college football who has seen barely any action since 2007, when he was a good SEC quarterback, going 8-0 at Arkansas as a true freshman. But playing QB in the Pac-10 is a whole other level, and Mustain was never able to win the Trojans' starting job. But with Matt Barkley's high-ankle sprain, it's possible -- likely? -- he will get the call Saturday against rival Notre Dame. It's a great chance for him to earn some redemption as well as help his team. And, he also might raise an NFL eyebrow or two (see Cassel, Matt).

Is California Jekyll or Hyde this week against Washington? The whole "California is always great at home!" line of thinking went poof last weekend when Stanford slammed the Bears 48-14 in the Big Game. The Bears have now suffered three blowout losses on the road and one blowout loss at home. The deal with the Bears is simple: Sometimes they show up and play four quarters. And sometimes they don't. Of course, Stanford has made a lot of teams look bad, and Washington is no Stanford. If Cal shows up and plays four quarters, it should be able to handle the Huskies. But if it doesn't, it could get its rear end kicked again.

Brehaut or Bruin nothing: UCLA QB Richard Brehaut wasn't playing well at Washington last week, but it became clear when he was forced out with a concussion that the Bruins have no shot without him. His backups were 1 for 11 passing, each throwing an interception. Brehaut is expected back at Arizona State on Saturday. The losing team is out of contention for earning bowl eligibility. The Sun Devils have a much better defense than the Huskies. If UCLA is to have any shot, first, it needs Brehaut to stay healthy. And, second, it needs him to look like a Pac-10 quarterback.

Foles and Wildcats attack: If Arizona can slow down the Ducks' offense at all -- see the Cal game -- then the Wildcats have an offense that can take advantage much better than the Bears did. QB Nick Foles isn't the sort to get spooked by the Autzen Stadium crowd, and he leads a veteran unit with plenty of playmakers. The Wildcats will need to attack and, perhaps, even take chances because conservative play won't beat the Ducks.

Beavers' lines redefined? The Beavers' offensive and defensive line have struggled much of the year, and they hit rock bottom in a loss to Washington State. But both played well in the shocking domination of USC. The offensive line opened holes and protected QB Ryan Katz. The defensive line shut down the Trojans' running game and pressured Barkley. Was this the proverbial turning of a corner? We figure to get a much better idea at Stanford, particularly for the Beavers' D-line, which will have to go mano-a-mano with one of the best O-lines in the nation.

Will the USC D (finally) make a stand? If Barkley can't play against Notre Dame due to a sprained ankle, that means we have no idea what we'll see from the USC offense. So this would be a good weekend for the Trojans' defense, which has ranged from bad to mediocre this year, to take a big step forward. And the Notre Dame offense, which also is using a backup QB -- freshman Tommy Rees -- is hardly a juggernaut. The USC offense may not be able to score in bunches, as it often did with Barkley, but it can still score enough to win a ninth consecutive game versus the Fighting Irish if the D makes a stand.

Not to repeat ourselves but ... Locker? The hype around Washington QB Jake Locker really started to really bubble during his final two games of 2009, when he put up huge numbers against Cal and Washington State. It's been a thoroughly disappointing season for Locker, but if he leads the Huskies to wins in their final two games -- at Cal and at Washington State -- they will go to their first bowl game since 2002. That counts for something. And while the Huskies could afford to just run the ball against woeful UCLA last week, they will need balance to overcome a good Bears defense.

Sun Devils put it together: Arizona State might be the best 4-6 team in the nation. It's lost four games by four points or less, and two of those defeats were against top-10 teams (Wisconsin and Stanford). The Sun Devils also gave Oregon its second-toughest game. They are as good as a team with a losing record can be, but they seem to find ways to lose with mistakes at critical times -- penalties, turnovers, whatever. If they play a smart, (mostly) mistake-free game versus UCLA, they should win. And even if they fail to become bowl-eligible -- the season finale is at Arizona -- they will create some positive momentum for what could be a breakout in 2011.

The team that lost to Washington State just beat the pooh out of USC. Oregon State, which couldn't have been more in the dumps last weekend, made USC look like an FCS team in a 36-7 victory.

Go figure. The Pac-10, after Oregon and Stanford, is all over the place this season.

While USC lost QB Matt Barkley to an injury late in the first half, the story here was simple: Oregon State dominated. USC never made a move. Trojans backup Mitch Mustain never even suggested he could lead a comeback.

The Beavers outgained the Trojans 327-255. No USC offensive lineman could block Beavers defensive tackle Stephen Paea. Jacquizz Rodgers rushed for 127 yards and caught seven passes for 43 yards.

Suddenly, Oregon State is interesting. It needs to win one of its final two games to become bowl eligible. But those two games are against Stanford and Oregon. Both those teams are hunting for BCS bowls. Or even national titles.

Oregon State looked like an easy date last week after the debacle versus the Cougars. Now? Not so much.

Does USC have a fourth-quarter comeback in it? Does Oregon State have the confidence to hold on to a 23-7 lead after three quarters?

It would be a great story if Oregon State bounced back from losing to Washington State and beat USC.

And it would be a great story if Mitch Mustain came off the bench for Matt Barkley and led USC to a big comeback.

The Beavers have dominated the action. USC has looked terrible. Awful.

Who's got the stomach to make the fourth quarter go their way?

Oregon State, the team that ended Washington State's 16-game Pac-10 losing streak last weekend, is dominating USC 20-0 at halftime.

And we might get to see Mitch Mustain after Matt Barkley appeared to suffer an injury at the end of the half.

Barkley wasn't sharp before he got hurt. Oregon State got a pick-6 -- 65 yards from Jordan Poyer -- and the Trojans looked sloppy and uninspired while the Beavers looked motivated to put last weekend's embarrassment behind them.

The key: Beavers running back Jacquizz Rodgers getting in rhythm in both the running -- 12 carries, 68 yards, TD -- and passing games (five receptions, 48 yards).

The Beavers need this win to have a fighting shot for bowl eligibility.

USC? It suddenly looks flat and unmotivated.

USC got a look at what its offense might look like without starting quarterback Matt Barkley during the spring game. The verdict? Not too shabby.

With Barkley sidelined by a bruised hand, Mitch Mustain threw five touchdown passes while completing 19 of 29 for 299 yards to lead his team to victory.

While ESPN's College Football Live rates Barkley as "irreplaceable," the Trojans coaches doesn't seem too worried about the prospect of potentially turning to Mustain, a fifth-year senior.

"We'd be very comfortable," quarterbacks coach Clay Helton said.

Mustain is probably the nation's best known backup quarterback. He went 61-2 at Springdale (Ark.) High School and was named the 2005 Gatorade, USA Today and Parade Magazine National Player of the Year before becoming the biggest recruit in Arkansas history. He went 8-0 as a true freshman starter, yet things turned sour between Mustain and Razorbacks coach Houston Nutt -- let's just say it was complicated -- and Mustain opted to transfer to USC.

The Trojans offered a new start, but Mustain couldn't manage to win the starting job after sitting out a season, per transfer rules. He first served as Mark Sanchez's backup in 2008 and then failed to beat out Barkley last fall. He saw limited action in 2008 -- he passed for 157 yards with two TDs and two interceptions -- but didn't throw a pass last year and was a mostly a forgotten man under coach Pete Carroll and offensive coordinator Jeremy Bates.

With the arrival of new coach Lane Kiffin, however, the message was no job was safe. Even Barkley's.

"Mustain really wanted to come and compete and show that he's a big-time quarterback who can help the team in any way," Helton said. "We were very proud of the way Mitch responded during the spring."

While few expected Mustain to beat out Barkley, who emerged as a clear No. 1 when spring practices ended, he impressed the coaching staff, Helton said.

"I thought he really put in the extra effort and the extra time of really understanding the system," he said. "We're extremely pleased with him."

The good news is that Mustain's game experience likely means he won't be too wide-eyed if he's needed to step in for an injured Barkley. The bad news is that he's the last line of defense -- or offense. This spring, after Aaron Corp opted to transfer to Richmond, he and Barkley were the only two scholarship QBs on the roster, though James Boyd was moved from defensive end to fortify depth. In the fall, touted freshman Jesse Scroggins arrives, but turning to a true freshman quarterback is rarely a good thing in the Pac-10.

If Barkley is lights out and doesn't get hurt, it seems unlikely that Mustain will see much playing time. His future hope, of course, is to copy the path of Matt Cassel, Matt Leinart's backup at USC, who signed a six-year, $63 million contract in July 2009 with the Kansas City Chiefs.

But Helton isn't writing off Mustain.

"I think he is going to be a guy who definitely helps us in his last year," he said.

FAYETTEVILLE, Ark. -- Now that he’s back where it all started for him, Ryan Mallett is the first to tell you that everything happens for a reason.

There’s a reason he didn’t go to Arkansas in the first place out of high school.

There’s a reason he stayed at Arkansas last year when the lure of the NFL prompted him to take a look at leaving school early.

“There was always that thought, but I knew where I needed to be,” Mallett said. “I mean, look at the team we had coming back. There’s lots of money and all that out there, but you only get to play college football once.

“So even if I were to get hurt, I would have no regrets, not here at Arkansas, because it’s the team I always wanted to play for.”

Mallett was a diehard Arkansas fan growing up in Texarkana. He attended Houston Nutt’s football campus and helped park cars at Razorback Stadium as a kid to get into the games free.

But with highly regarded Mitch Mustain signing with Arkansas the year before and Nutt’s footing wearing thin, Mallett decided it would be best for him to head to Michigan.

That’s until Rich Rodriquez and his version of the spread offense showed up in Ann Arbor. It was anything but a fit for Mallett, who decided to transfer after one season with the Wolverines.

Tennessee, Texas A&M and UCLA were all possibilities. But he wasn’t going to pass on Arkansas a second time, especially with Bobby Petrino ready to hand over the keys to his pass-intensive offense.

“Ever since I was knee-high, it was the Hogs all the way,” Mallett said. “I knew it was the right decision.”

While he hasn’t been practicing this spring because of a broken bone in his left foot, Mallett has immersed himself in everything the Hogs have done. He just hasn’t been able to take the reps.

More than ever, this has become his team.

“I’ve really been impressed with how he’s handled it,” Petrino said. “It’s killing him not being out there because he’s such a competitor, but he’s into every play and every meeting. He knows every call and has helped make everybody around him better.”

Mallett threw 30 touchdown passes last season and set a long list of school records. His talent is immense and his arm strength legendary.

“Even his touch passes hurt,” senior tight end D.J. Williams joked.

But where Mallett figures to go from one of the most talented quarterbacks in the country to one of the best quarterbacks in the country next season is with his consistency.

Petrino has no doubt that Mallett will be a more technically sound quarterback in 2010.

“The consistency with his footwork is the first thing, so he doesn’t have errant throws by his own doing,” Petrino said. “He needs to have a little more confidence with his offensive line, so he keeps his focus down the field, and as the year went on last season, he got a lot better at that.

“The other thing is being more accurate on the medium-range throws. I thought his accuracy deep was really good last year, and he did a nice job in the quick passing game. But he’s got to become more accurate on the 15-yard curls and 15-yard ins.”

And on third down is where all great quarterbacks sparkle.

“As an offense, we’ll be better at converting those,” said Mallett, who completed 55.8 percent of his passes. “We’ll take the big play any time we can get it, but you’ve also got to move the chains.”

Even though he’s still wearing the boot around the practice field, Mallett is already throwing in some drills. He expects to be full go by the start of June.

He looks a lot like a basketball player now and is down to 232 pounds. When he arrived at Arkansas in January 2008, he was 265. He expects to put on a few more pounds and play next season at 240-plus like he did a year ago.

“We’re just ready to get out there and compete, to take this thing to the next level,” Mallett said. “We like the high expectations and thrive on them.”

1. Christmas for recruiting geeks arrives tomorrow. Consider this a friendly reminder that no one really know what’s in each package. I went back and looked over the ESPNU 150 from four years ago . No. 12 was Mitch Mustain. No. 13 was Jevan Snead. And No. 141 was Josh Freeman. Of the two Heisman winners, Tim Tebow was No. 15. Sam Bradford didn’t make the list.

2. In an era when today’s technological marvel is tomorrow’s museum piece, coaches will sit and watch their fax machines Wednesday morning for Letters of Intent from their 2010 signees. Fax? Why not ask the Pony Express to do the job? As I understand it, a Letter of Intent scanned and sent as a PDF would be considered valid by the NCAA. But for some reason, that method of delivery has been slow to catch on.

3. Let’s get this straight: Texas Tech agreed to move its game against Texas to Sept. 18, the third week of the season. In order to do so, the Red Raiders and TCU move their game, which had been scheduled for that day, to a future year. The replacement for TCU, which will be a top-10 team again, is FCS Weber State on Nov. 20. That’s some kind of housewarming gift for new coach Tommy Tuberville.

This quarterback has thrown 11 interceptions and 12 touchdown passes in 10 games.

Is he any good?

That, of course, oversimplifies things with USC's true freshman quarterback Matt Barkley. If you've watched him play, his potential is clear. It's hard to believe that in two or three years he won't be a first-round NFL draft choice.

And yet, as the LA Times' Gary Klein writes, there was a lot not to like about his first season as the Trojans' starter, particularly the interceptions.

Barkley admits that. He's been a stand-up guy all season.

His biggest defender, coach Pete Carroll -- it's sport among Trojans beat writers how Carroll nearly always blames other factors for Barkley's interceptions -- mostly admits the same. Mostly.

Barkley has completed 59 percent of his passes, a middling percentage considering how conservative the Trojans' offensive game plans have been. He ranks fifth in the Pac-10 in pass efficiency, but two of the quarterbacks he leads -- Oregon's Jeremiah Masoli and Washington's Jake Locker -- bring other attributes to the table (Locker has accounted for 23 total touchdowns; Masoli, 26).

More than a few Trojans fans wonder if the season would have been more successful with Aaron Corp or Mitch Mustain starting. And what if Corp, No. 1 on the depth chart after spring practices, didn't get hurt during the preseason?

Ah, what-ifs.

On the other hand, the payoff may be the next two years.

Barkley is clearly mature and bright. It's hard to believe he won't process this season and come back better next spring and fall. A sophomore blossom seems much more likely than a sophomore slump.

Of course, the Trojans' offense will be rebuilding next year -- is it time to jump ship on the automatic "reload?" -- particularly if a couple of juniors, such as receiver Damian Williams, declare early for the NFL draft.

The Pac-10 will be loaded at quarterback next fall, especially if Locker returns.

Where will Barkley rank in that pecking order entering the season? Probably fifth behind Locker, Masoli, Stanford's Andrew Luck and Arizona's Nick Foles.

But that doesn't matter, does it? The big issue for the Trojans is where he will rank a year from now.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ted Miller

The backup quarterback is just a bruised shoulder or broken jaw away from taking over the most critical position on the field -- just ask USC or UCLA.

There's already been plenty of quarterback movement in the conference -- injuries, depth chart changes, etc. -- so it seemed like a good time to see where the Pac-10 QB depth stands.

Ready to roll

Lyle Moevao, Oregon State: Heck, it's hard to even call Moevao a backup to Sean Canfield, who was Moevao's backup last year. Moevao owns an 11-4 record as a starter and is only on the bench because he's still recovering from off-season shoulder surgery.

Tavita Pritchard, Stanford: Pritchard is not going to play in the NFL, but he's a smart and experienced quarterback who started 19 games before being beaten out by talented redshirt freshman Andrew Luck. By the way, his first start was a win over USC.

Matt Scott, Arizona: He started the first three games this season but lost his job to Nick Foles after a poor performance at Iowa. Still, the sophomore has enough experience that if Foles went down the Wildcats wouldn't go into panic mode.

Marshall Lobbestael, Washington State: He started three games last year before a knee injury ended his season and two games this year before coach Paul Wulff opted to go with true freshman Jeff Tuel. He's battle tested, so if he's called upon again, it won't be like he's being fed to the wolves.

Nate Costa, Oregon: Before the 2008 season, Costa was the touted heir-apparent to Dennis Dixon. Then he blew out his knee -- for a second time. A healthy Costa is a nice backup plan for Jeremiah Masoli. And No. 3 Darron Thomas is no slouch -- he nearly led a comeback against Boise State in 2008.

Has the hype

Brock Osweiler, Arizona State: Folks around the Sun Devils program were so excited about the mature, 6-foot-8 Montana native that many thought he'd beat out senior Danny Sullivan for the starting job. The true freshman still might be a factor this season.

Mitch Mustain/Aaron Corp: Corp was the starter coming out of spring. Mustain practically disappeared until reemerging this week as Matt Barkley's potential backup. Both were prep All-Americans. Mustain was good enough to go 8-0 in the SEC at Arkansas, but offenses are more complex in the Pac-10.

Richard Brehaut, UCLA: The true freshman competed -- briefly -- for the starting job during spring practices and was listed as the backup until starter Kevin Prince went down with a broken jaw and coaches opted to go with the more experienced senior Kevin Craft. Brehaut was a top-100 prospect in 2008 and offensive coordinator Norm Chow was supposedly quite taken by his potential. When Prince returns, UCLA would change categories to "Ready to Roll," unless of course Craft implodes at Stanford on Saturday and falls back to No. 3.

Who knows?

Beau Sweeney, California: Sweeney, a redshirt freshman, recently eclipsed sophomore Brock Mansion on the depth chart. He's got great bloodlines. His father, Kevin, was a record-setting QB at Fresno State who had a cup of coffee in the NFL. His grandfather, Jim, was a highly respected college head coach, with tenures at Washington State and Fresno State. But Beau Sweeney hasn't seen any significant game action.

Ronnie Fouch, Washington: New Washington coach Steve Sarkisian went out of his way all through the preseason to praise Fouch, who struggled mightily when he came off the bench to replace an injured Jake Locker for the final eight games last year. He threw 13 picks with just four TDs and was sacked 123 times, plus or minus. But circumstances were awful last season, and Fouch got little support. It's hard to say what kind of player he would be if called upon this season.

Posted by ESPN.com's Ivan Maisel

1. For evidence of new Miami offensive coordinator Mark Whipple’s effect on the Hurricanes, check out the passing game on first down: Jacory Harris is 21-of-28 for 394 yards and three touchdowns. The first-down rushing stats: 33 carries for 114 yards and two touchdowns. First-down passes are customary in the NFL, where Whipple spent the past five seasons. So far, that pro strategy is working well in the college game.

2. No. 5 Penn State had to rebuild its offensive line this season. It remains a work in progress. Only two starters returned, and neither returned to the position he played last season. After two games, 322-pound Johnnie Troutman replaced 290-pound Matt Stankiewich at left guard, and the increased bulk seemed to help. The Nittany Lions rushed for a season-high 186 yards against Temple. If the line struggles against Iowa’s defensive front, the Nittany Lions will struggle.

3. A reader reminded me Thursday of Arkansas’s 24-23 triple-overtime victory over Alabama in 2006. Freshman quarterback Mitch Mustain led the Hogs. Freshman kicker Leigh Tiffin, who missed two field goals and, in overtime, an extra point, cost the Tide. Three years later, Mustain is so far down the USC depth chart that his name hasn’t surfaced during the Trojans’ current quarterback issues. Tiffin is 8-of-10 on field goals this season. Who woulda thunk it?