In the course of three days last week, I heard the following analysis of college football from the folks on ESPN radio:

Thursday: Southern Cal is unbeatable (Mel Kiper Jr. had the Trojans penciled into the championship game, probably against Oklahoma, because it sounded like that was the showdown of the two best teams that fans deserved).

Friday: USC was toast (after losing at Oregon State).

Saturday: USC was going to be positioned well for the BCS title game.

The last point is unfortunately the most correct.

USC (2-1) benefits from currently being the top one-loss team in the polls, sitting No. 9 in both The Associated Press and coaches polls.

Ahead of the Trojans are four Big 12 teams, including Missouri, of which at least three must lose one game; two SEC teams, one of which must lose; one Big Ten team (Penn State); and Brigham Young.

The fact the Big 12 South has three teams (Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech) shows how difficult it will be to get through that division unscathed. Texas this year also plays Big 12 North favorite Missouri.

It will be unfortunate if the Tigers are able to survive the regular season unbeaten, then lose the Big 12 championship game to a one-loss South division team, and get passed in the BCS rankings by a USC program that continually stubs its toes to lesser teams and remains in high regard.