Faltering Trojans Plunge From Top 25

USC’s early season flirtation with a top-10 ranking completed its sudden and drastic reversal Sunday.

The Trojans, who only two weeks ago stood at No. 8, fell out of the top 25 entirely, the result of consecutive losses to Oregon State and Arizona. And things don’t get any easier with No. 9 Oregon coming to the Coliseum on Saturday.

“Right now we’re playing good football only in spurts,” tackle Faaesea Mailo said. “If we keep going this way, we could get beat again.”

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Of immediate concern is the situation at receiver. Kareem Kelly sat out Saturday’s game because of nagging injuries. Marcell Allmond suffered a broken leg in the fourth quarter and is sidelined for the season.

“Playing without Kareem really hurt us,” quarterback Carson Palmer said. “And we aren’t really deep at receiver as it is.”

USC will now rely heavily on senior Matt Nickels, a nonscholarship athlete as recently as last spring, and freshman receiver Keary Colbert, who started his first game Saturday with mixed results.

Colbert caught a seven-yard pass on the Trojans’ first play, a quick start on his way to six receptions for 113 yards. He became only the third Trojan to have a 100-yard receiving day as a freshman.

But he also fumbled after a short reception midway through the fourth quarter.

“I thought that Keary, with the exception of the fumble, really stepped up to pick up the slack,” Coach Paul Hackett said. “He really showed tremendous energy and did some good things.”

USC was also without tight end Antoine Harris. He and Kelly might be ready to play against Oregon.