Although Stafon Johnson had a season-high 19 carries against Arizona – almost twice as many as Joe McKnight and C.J. Gable combined – Coach Pete Carroll said USC isn’t ditching its much-debated tailback rotation.

“It’s exactly the way we always do it,” Carroll said. “Nothing’s changed. Nothing’s different.”

Carroll said the disparity in carries simply was a product of Johnson having a hot hand and his plays working while McKnight’s and Gable’s weren’t.

“We liked the way he was playing,” Carroll said of Johnson.

“Joe went in and couldn’t get going much. It wasn’t Joe; the plays weren’t happening.”

McKnight played sparingly after missing the previous game and most of the practice week because of turf toe. He finished with 16 yards on five carries.

Gable had 4 yards on five carries. Johnson finished with 83 yards and a touchdown.

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