PAC-10 POWER RANKINGS
1 USC (1) 2-0. Conference play – which begins Thursday night – has been Trojans recent downfall.
2 Oregon (2) 3-1, 1-0. Four of next five games on the road.
3 Arizona State (3) 2-2, 1-0. Bye week before tests vs. Cal and USC.
4 California (4) 2-1, 1-0. QB Riley threw school-record 58 passes in loss to Maryland.
5 Arizona (5) 3-1, 1-0. Week off to celebrate, then three of next four games at home.
6 Stanford (6) 2-2, 1-1. Scored 23 straight to run -- and run and run -- past San Jose State.
7 Oregon State (8) 1-2, 0-1. Reality check vs. USC after win over Hawaii.
8 UCLA (7) 1-2, 0-1. How will they answer Fresno coach Pat Hill’s taunts?
9 Washington (9) 0-3, 0-1. Nothing less than the future of the program could be at stake Saturday.
10 Washington State (10) 1-3, 0-1. Likely won’t be favored again this season.

THURSDAY NIGHT PICK
No. 1 Southern California at Oregon State. Seventy-one meetings, nine Beaver wins. USC, 42-13.

Freshman defensive lineman Craig Noble, whose arrival on campus was delayed by high school academic issues, practiced as a Husky for the first time Wednesday.

Coach Tyrone Willingham and defensive coordinator Ed Donatell said no firm decision has been made to redshirt Noble this season. And in fact, Willingham said that Noble could be in uniform Saturday when the Huskies host Stanford.

The 6-3, 300-pounder from Taft High in Los Angeles had seemed likely to play as true freshman until his arrival was delayed. However, even with the first third of the season ending Saturday, UW coaches say he might contribute this season ... and perhaps soon.

In other personnel moves, the Huskies have put receiver Charles Hawkins on scholarship. And the team also announced four new walk-on player, all true freshmen: LB Jonathan Amosa (Seattle/Rainier Beach); PK Kevin Howe (San Juan Capistrano, Calif./Capistrano Valley Christian); OL Gavin Silva (Kaneohe, Hawai¹i/Punahou, and DB Warren Woods(Walnut, Calif./Loyola).

Meanwhile, CB Anthony Golbern (shoulder) has decided to withdraw from school and enroll again in January, which Willingham called a mutual decision.

Finally, tailback Chris Polk was scheduled for shoulder surgery today. And receiver Chancellor Young attended practice on crutches and with a brace on his left knee. Willingham hadn't mentioned that, so we'll likely need to wait until Thursday for an explanation.

A few other notes:

Donatell also said last week's bye came at a great time for his young defense. "I saw those guys improve," he said. "...These guys are going to be good Huskies."

Donatell said no decision has been made whether Joshua Gage or Matt Houston will start at outside linebacker Saturday, but that both will play.

Similarly, he plans to continue to rotate numbers along the defensive line, while his options in the secondary remain limited due to injuries.

Here's my story from the Thursday paper on Stanford -- and former Clover Park -- QB Tavita Pritchard.