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Undefeated Arizona is looking like the team to beat in the Pac-12 after orchestrating one of the year's biggest upsets.
While it was a week to remember for the Wildcats, South Division rival Southern California is hoping to quickly move on following a heartbreaking defeat.
On the verge of its best start in 21 years, No. 10 Arizona goes for a rare win over the visiting Trojans on Saturday night.
The Wildcats (5-0, 2-0) return home with their perfect record intact after pulling out a 31-24 victory at then-No. 2 Oregon last Thursday. Terris Jones-Grigsby and Nick Wilson combined for 207 rushing yards and three scores, including Jones-Grigsby's tiebreaking one-yard plunge with under three minutes to go.
Arizona climbed into the rankings for the biggest leap since the AP poll went to 25 teams in 1989.
"Making that big jump to 10th feels so good," safety Will Parks said. "Nothing will change in our preparation. We're going to stay humble, stay ready and stay focused for whatever challenge comes our way. Our minds are going to stay the same and we're going to go out there with everything we have, just like any other weekend."
Freshman quarterback Anu Solomon threw for 287 yards with a touchdown to help stun the Ducks, who were favored by more than three touchdowns. The Wildcats, seventh in the country with 574.0 yards per game, haven't won their first six since opening 7-0 in 1993 for the best start in school history.
"I was impressed with our players' attitudes going into the game and afterward," coach Rich Rodriguez said. "We celebrated in the locker room a little bit and then got on the plane. Maybe because it was so late, five minutes after takeoff it was silent.
"Our guys have the ability to focus quickly. I think they know how important this game is as well."
USC (3-2, 2-1) dropped from No. 16 to out of the Top 25 following last Saturday's shocking 38-34 loss to Arizona State, its second defeat in three games. The Trojans blew a late nine-point lead, giving up a 73-yard touchdown with 2:43 left and a 46-yard Hail Mary as time expired.
USC allowed a whopping 510 yards through the air after surrendering a combined 622 in its first four games.
"You learn the hard way in games like this," coach Steve Sarkisian said. "I feel bad for our kids, I thought they fought hard, competed well and gave amazing effort. But we didn't get it done in the end.
"We have great group of guys and tremendous leaders. We'll bounce back and fight back and play a hard-fought game on Saturday night."
Despite both teams' results last week, the Trojans march into Arizona as a small favorite.
"I'm glad we're the underdogs. That just keeps all the guys focused for the task at hand," Parks said. "Yes, USC is a pretty good team, but I think we're just as prepared as we would be for any other weekend. It doesn't matter who comes into our house, we're going to be just as prepared and focused to take on any opponent."
USC has taken 10 of 12 from Arizona, including a 38-31 home win last Oct. 10. Cody Kessler threw for 297 yards and two touchdowns against the Wildcats, who were gashed for another 249 yards and three scores on the ground.
The Trojans had posted five consecutive road victories in the series before falling 39-36 during their last visit Oct. 27, 2012.
Kessler threw for 273 yards last weekend while Javorius Allen ran for 143 and two TDs. Allen is averaging 115.2 rushing yards to lead the conference and Wilson ranks second with 114.8.
Wilson could be in for a stiff test against a Trojans defense that's allowed 2.1 yards per carry over the last two games.
Solomon has thrown for an average of 407.7 yards and 12 touchdowns in three home games this year. Arizona is 10-2 at home against unranked foes since the start of 2012.
USC won 13-10 at then-No. 13 Stanford on Sept. 6 in its only matchup of the season against a ranked team.
