Sooners must contain Bush

In what should be a classic, the national title might come down to which Heisman winning QB has the ball last.

Originally Published: December 29, 2004
By Todd McShay | Scouts Inc.
Pro Player Stadium will play host to the BCS National Championship. There are many similarities between the Trojans and Sooners, including Heisman Trophy winning quarterbacks. Both USC's Matt Leinart and Oklahoma's Jason White have thrown for more than 2,900 yards with only six interceptions.

Who: USC vs. Oklahoma
When: Jan. 4, 8:00 p.m. ET (ABC)
Where: Miami, FL
Both teams have running backs who have scored 15 touchdowns (USC's Reggie Bush and LenDale White and Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson). And few head coaches in college football are better at managing games and getting their players ready to play than Pete Carroll and Bob Stoops.

With the Trojans and Sooners both ranked in the top 5 nationally in run defense, the pressure will be on Leinart and White to shoulder the offensive load. White has a more established receiving corps to work with, led by veterans Mark Clayton, Travis Wilson and Brandon Jones. The trio has combined for 1,788 yards and 20 touchdowns.

Leinart has an emerging young star in freshman WR Dwayne Jarrett, and a lot more versatility with Bush accounting for 478 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. TEs Alex Holmes and Dominique Byrd have combined for another 770 yards through the air.


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Todd McShay

Scouts Inc.
  • ESPN College Football and NFL Draft Analyst
  • Joined ESPN in 2006
  • Played quarterback in high school and was a backup QB for the University of Richmond.

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