NUMBERS GAME

56-0 is how badly Washington has been outscored in the third quarter since getting 21 third-quarter points in an opening victory against Syracuse. Is anyone on the Huskies staff making halftime adjustments?

REMEMBER HIM?

By recent standards, Southern California is struggling.

The Trojans are 5-1, out of the top 10 (No. 13) and last week kept their fans reaching for the antacid tabs for the third consecutive game - an unconvincing 20-13 win against Arizona.

USC offensive coordinator Steve Sarkisian has four words of advice for the faithful: Get used to it.

"People have to learn this is the way it's going to be for a while," he said. "This isn't Matt (Leinart), Reggie (Bush), LenDale (White) and Dwayne (Jarrett).

"None of them are going to be easy now. We have to play tight football games. Field position is a big deal now. We never talked about that before. . . . We're a different football team. The punter matters now."

HE SAID IT

"I knew what I was doing. Those are great kids (at Boston College), and I'm happy for their success. But I'm really happy to be here."

Tom O'Brien, with Boston College quarterback Matt Ryan. The first-year North Carolina State coach is 1-5 while his former team is 7-0 and ranked No. 3.