Does anyone at USC believe in superstition? First, the Trojans fall to the Ducks at Corvallis on Halloween night and drop out of the running for the BCS National Championship. Then, the night after Friday the 13th, Southern Cal loses again, this time in blowout fashion to Stanford – officially ending any chance to claim at least a share of the Pac-10 title.

The unluckiest of game dates this year have Southern Cal reeling, with the Trojans having their worst season since 2002. In the seven years since, head coach Pete Carroll has guided his team to seven Pac-10 titles, seven appearances in BCS bowl games and two national championships.

Yet, for the first time since Carroll’s debut season as head coach, the Trojans (7-3, 4-3) have lost more than two games in one season, and will not be in the running for a national championship, a Rose Bowl berth or a Pac-10 title – and rightfully so.

In what is perhaps the most watered-down version of the team since Carroll’s arrival at USC, the Trojan defense has been spotty, at best this season, allowing 102 points in its Halloween night and post-Friday the 13th losses. The 55 points Stanford ran up against USC’s once-vaulted defense was the most allowed by a Trojan team – ever.

With Carroll’s 28-game winning streak in November games coming to an end on Saturday, the Trojans paid a dear price in the polls, falling to No. 18 (BCS), 21 (Coaches) and 22 (AP) – all the lowest rankings for Southern Cal since 2002, Carroll’s second season with the team. The Trojans have a bye this week.

Meanwhile, UCLA (5-5, 2-5) looked pretty Trojan-esque on Saturday afternoon, defeating Washington State, 43-7 in Pullman, Wash. The Bruins were led by quarterback Kevin Prince, who completed 27 of 40 passes for 314 yards and a touchdown, while also rushing five times for 76 yards and another score.

The Bruins host Arizona State at the Rose Bowl Saturday.