“They might be the best team we played. They will be most confident. They have nothing to lose.”

But can they provide any more competition that USC’s recent opponents? Not if you go by common opponents. USC routed Oregon (45-13) and Hawaii (63-17); Fresno State lost to Oregon (37-34) and struggled with Hawaii (27-13).

Carroll said he was not worried about playing a highly regarded nonconference opponent before facing the No. 12-ranked UCLA.

“We might as well just take them all on,” he said.

[LA Daily News via Student Body Right]