Practice was different this week for the WSU football team.

Greater attention was paid to detail; coaches screamed to get their points across. Players encouraged each other to work hard and get it right. Drills not done right were done again and again until they were perfect. With hopes of upsetting No. 3 USC on Saturday at Martin Stadium, the Cougars tried to leave nothing for chance in practice.

“I know it is going to be a hard-fought game on both sides,” WSU wide receiver Jason Hill said. “It is a big-time game in a big-time atmosphere.” If the Cougars want a repeat of their 24-21 overtime 2002 victory over the Trojans, they will have to play flawlessly. That win at Martin Stadium helped propel the team to the Rose Bowl, but the two teams are in different situations. The Trojans have won 48 of their past 50 games, including a pair of national titles. But this season, the team is rebuilding. USC lost Reggie Bush and Matt Leinart to the NFL and replaced them with quarterback John David Booty and tailback Emmanuel Moody. Normally an offensive powerhouse, the 2006 Trojans rely on a strong defense to beat their opponents. Linebacker Rey Maualuga is their standout, making plays all over the field.

“He has my vote right now for all-american," WSU head coach Bill Doba said. “They have really impressive linebackers. They are really football-smart; we need all we can against those guys. We will need a really sound performance from the offense.” Hill said, “It is a good challenge to go against a good defense and really see where our team stacks up."

Opening the season against Auburn gave the Cougars a taste of what it would be like playing the elite teams in the nation. While that battle turned sour for WSU, Doba believes the team gained plenty.

“I think it helped to have that kind of experience and see that type of speed,” Doba said. “I think they should look at this as a great opportunity. They have everything to gain and nothing to lose. No one expects them to win. You go into every game, there is always a chance to win.” For the Cougars to do the improbable, they must limit mistakes. The team surrendered three fumbles to Stanford last Saturday during a slow start offensively. However, the defensive unit, which continues to get stronger every week, picked up the slack and forced a safety and an interception return for a touchdown to keep the team afloat. Once quarterback Alex Brink and the rest of the offense got in sync, it was too much for the Cardinal and the Cougars won 36-10.

The WSU defense, led by defensive end Mkristo Bruce with seven sacks on the season, has consistently carried the team thus far this season. Since giving up 40 points to Auburn, the defense has given up an average of just 11 points per game and 247 yards of total offense. The offense has started to pick up its play, also, with quarterback Alex Brink leading the No. 18 offense in the nation. If both click Saturday, a giant could fall.

Playing two top-five teams in the first month of the season would be rough for any team. But playing in front of a capacity crowd at Martin Stadium has Jason Hill thinking about a different result this time around.

“This time the fans will be behind us,” Hill said. “It got kind of overwhelming down in Auburn with very little fans. The team that normally wins is the team that makes the least amount of mistakes. With our offense, if we play mistake-free, we can compete with the best of them.” As national powerhouse USC makes its way to the Palouse, WSU fans will have memories of 2002 in their heads. Back then, after the final whistle, the field was choked with fans, the goalposts attacked by students. Four years later, it could happen again.