USC quarterback Matt Barkley had his worst night as a Trojan at Arizona State and may have been facing a controversy this week if Damien Williams hadn't turned a short, routine pass in the third quarter into a 73-yard touchdown that accounted for two-thirds of Barkley's passing yards and provided the decisive margin in a 14-9 win. But for all his struggles, at least Barkley didn't put the ball at risk -- by the fourth quarter, it took the most outlandish efforts of some puckish desert sprite for ASU to finally record its first turnover:

That goes down in the official play-by-play as "(1st and 10) Barkley, Matt pass intercepted by Floyd, Clint at the ASU47, Floyd, Clint return 24 yards to the USC29, fumble forced by Bradford, Allen, fumble by Floyd, Clint recovered by ASU Carr, Terell at USC26." And that's the succinct version -- for six caroms off three sets of hands and one foot, there's never been much need for official language.

It was that kind of night for the USC offense, but for Arizona State, it was worse: Led by their own freshman quarterback, Brock Osweiler, the Devils took the reinvigorating field position and promptly marched backwards with a holding penalty on the next play, forcing a quick three-and-out and punt after three straight incomplete passes by Osweiler. The Trojan defense finished with three somewhat less complicated picks itself, including one returned for touchdown by Will Harris in the first quarter, and the pollsters were duly impressed.