The six touchdowns and 19 of 20 passing for 298 yards is more than enough to elevate USC quarterback Matt Barkley to Pac-12 blog player of the week status. But when you throw in the fact that he set the new standard for career touchdowns in the Pac-12, he's a lock.

The record, which now stands at 102 career passing touchdowns, was going to fall this year, regardless of the competition. In the 43 career games he's played in, only five times has he gone without a touchdown pass. So it was inevitable.

That he did it in a six-touchdown game, completing 95 percent of his throws, makes it all the more special. Obviously, this season hasn't gone the way Barkley had hoped -- at least statistically. But the Trojans are 6-1 and bowl eligible.

For Barkley, the preseason Heisman frontrunner, his completion percentage is down from last year, he already has six interceptions after throwing seven all of last year and he's on pace to throw fewer touchdowns (in the 12-game regular season) than he did last year.

But Saturday could be the turning point for him and the Trojans. A few more monster games like he had could bring him back into the Heisman conversation (like, say, six touchdowns and 95 percent completion on Nov. 3).

And we can't rule USC out of the BCS national championship just yet. The road is tougher being saddled with a loss before they face Oregon, but there is still a chance for business to be finished.