College football roundup

That's five straight wins for USC. Not much of a rivalry.

Quarterback John David Booty and receiver Dwayne Jarrett connected for three scores as the No. 3 Trojans overwhelmed No. 6 Notre Dame 44-24 in the Coliseum Saturday.

In a cluttered mess atop the rankings, the 20-point victory vaulted USC (10-1, 7-1 Pac-10) to the No. 2 spot in the BCS ranking [HTML_REMOVED] projecting a match-up with Ohio State in the national title game.

Notre Dame (10-2) was just another movable object against the irresistible force that is USC football. The Trojans have won 55 of 58 games, 33 straight at home and are a perfect 20-0 in November under coach Pete Carroll.

Brady Quinn performed admirably, throwing for all three Irish touchdowns and rushing for a team-high 74 yards, but received little help from his teammates.

The Trojans scored touchdowns on their first three possessions of the game. After scoring on their first drive in the second half, they had mounted a 28-10 lead. Notre Dame would only be able to cut the margin to 11.

Next week, the Trojans finish their season at UCLA, a team they have defeated for seven consecutive seasons.

Arkansas, you made a good run.

Another SEC contender with national title hopes fell last weekend as JaMarcus Russell led a 31-26 LSU victory over the No. 5 Razorbacks in Little Rock, Ark. on Friday.

LSU (10-2, 6-2 SEC) likely earned a bid to a BCS bowl game with the win, and Arkansas (10-2, 7-1 SEC) will face Florida in the SEC championship this weekend.

Russell threw for 210 yards and two touchdowns as the Tigers gave the Razorbacks their first loss since the season opener against USC. The LSU defense held Arkansas quarterback Casey Dick to just 3-of-17 passing, 0-for-8 in the second half.

Heisman-hopeful Darren McFadden had another impressive game, breaking the school record for rushing yards in a season and also leading the team in passing. His 182 rushing yards were one of two 100-yard performances allowed by LSU this season. The other was by McFadden's teammate Felix Jones, who had 137.

LSU's only two losses this season came at Auburn and at Florida.

Oregon State 30, Oregon 28

Both the Cougars and the Ducks lost in their Northwest rivalry games.

Reigning Lou Groza Award winner Alexis Serna kicked a game-winning 40-yard field goal in the pouring rain as Oregon State beat in-state rival Oregon 30-28 in the 110th playing of the Civil War in Corvallis, Ore. on Friday.

In a close game, kicking was the difference. Serna booted field goals of 49, 50 and 40 yards. Oregon (7-5, 4-5 Pac-10) on the other hand had three missed field goals and one failed extra point.

With six seconds remaining in the game, Oregon's Matt Evensen's game-winning 44-yard attempt was blocked, sealing the Beaver victory.

The Ducks gathered 427 yards of total offense, behind the 94-yard, three-touchdown performance by running back Jonathan Stewart.

All-Pac-10 honoree Sammie Stroughter led OSU (8-4, 6-3 Pac-10) with 114 yards receiving and linebacker Derrick Doggett returned an interception for a score.

The home team has won the rivalry for the 10th-straight game.

Both teams are likely headed to a bowl game, but Oregon's controversial victory over Oklahoma could be the difference in its opportunity at postseason play.

Columnist Joshua Mayers: joshuamayers@thedaily.washington.edu