Arizona State expects to face a motivated USC

It could have been a matchup between two ranked teams, a marquee game for the Pacific 12 Conference with heightened national interest.

But previously ranked Arizona State lost last week at Illinois.

Still, No. 23 USC’s game against the Sun Devils on Saturday in Tempe, Ariz., still has cachet.

A victory would keep 3-0 USC unbeaten and position the Trojans to make a run at finishing with the best record in the Pac-12 South Division.

Not that it will help USC reach a bowl game.

The Trojans are in the final year of their NCAA-mandated two-year bowl ban, leaving them ineligible to play in the Pac-12 championship game.

But Arizona State Coach Dennis Erickson expects that to serve as motivation for USC.

“They can’t win that championship, so they obviously have a chip on their shoulder,” Erickson said Monday during a news conference with Arizona media. “They want to win every football game and they’re handling it the right way because they are” winning.

On Saturday, Arizona State was leading Illinois in the fourth quarter when the Fighting Illini forced Sun Devils quarterback Brock Osweiler to fumble, setting up the winning touchdown pass. Osweiler also had two passes intercepted and was sacked six times.

Erickson said there was no added pressure on the Sun Devils, who have not defeated the Trojans since 1999.

“As far as pressure, they’re all pressure,” Erickson said. “Playing USC is playing USC. Our players are very aware where that school is located.”

Osweiler was a freshman two years ago when he started the second half against the Trojans at Tempe. He completed 11 of 27 passes for 153 yards and a touchdown, but USC intercepted his final pass in the end zone to secure a 14-9 victory.

“I’m looking to have a little better go at it this time,” Osweiler said.

Barkley honored

After passing for a record-tying five touchdowns and leading USC to victory over Syracuse, Trojans quarterback Matt Barkley was selected as the Pac-12 offensive player of the week.

Barkley threw touchdown passes to tight end Rhett Ellison, receivers Robert Woods and Marqise Lee and tight ends Randall Telfer and Xavier Grimble in the Trojans’ 38-17 victory.

It was the third time that Barkley passed for five touchdowns. He did it last season at Hawaii and against California.

USC Coach Lane Kiffin was low-key on Saturday night, saying Barkley played well.

But upon reviewing the game tape, Kiffin said Barkley was “awesome” against the Orange.

“I think we have become accustomed around here to seeing those kinds of performances,” Kiffin said Sunday. “Those types of days don’t happen very often across the country.”

Rodney Peete, Carson Palmer, Matt Leinart and Mark Sanchez also passed for five touchdowns at USC.

Barkley completed 26 of 39 passes for 324 yards, without an interception. He has passed for nine touchdowns, with only one interception, this season.

Quick hits

USC’s Oct. 1 game against Arizona will kick off at 12:30 p.m., and will be televised by FSN.

gary.klein@latimes.com

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