With Oregon State's 2008 football season one-quarter over, the Beavers had a bye week followed by a Thursday night game. That meant OSU would have 12 days to prepare for No. 1-ranked USC's visit to Reser Stadium on September 25.
"We might need 12 months," Oregon State head coach Mike Riley said. "They are a great team and it will be good."
"Great" doesn't quite describe the way USC was being viewed at that point. The Trojans were off a 35-3 dismantling of then-No. 5 Ohio State after opening the season with a 52-7 win at Virginia.