Instead, they enter Saturday's critical contest vs. No. 4 Southern California on a six-game winning streak and leading the Pacific-10 at 4-0, the only unblemished mark in the conference.

Oregon (6-1) is up to No. 12 in the USA TODAY Coaches' Poll and No. 10 in the Bowl Championship Series standings. It has designs on the Rose Bowl, with an outside chance of getting into the national title picture.

Such a scenario might have seemed far-fetched Sept. 3 after the Ducks' 19-8 loss at Boise State, which ended with an ugly postgame scene when Oregon running back LeGarrette Blount punched Broncos defensive end Byron Hout in the jaw and had to be restrained from confronting taunting fans as he made his way to the locker room.

First-year coach Chip Kelly suspended Blount for the season a day later, and his teammates were left to pick up the pieces.

Kelly allowed Blount to remain on scholarship and practice. Then Oct. 2 he announced Blount would have a chance to regain playing privileges no sooner than next week's Stanford game by meeting unspecified academic and behavioral requirements.

Without its top running back, Oregon's offense has surged, however, averaging 38.3 points in the last six contests. The defense, featuring more blitzing than the recent past, has held foes to 16.3 points an outing since the Boise game.

Kelly, who had been confronted with the Blount issue after his first game as head coach, declined this week to discuss Blount's status, saying it would be addressed "when we get to November."

But Blount has been practicing with the scout team, and, by happenstance, has helped the Ducks defense, defensive tackle Brandon Bair says. "He gives us somebody to go up against in practice who's unlike most backs you'll see on a scout team," Bair says. "He gives us a look you don't usually see from a scout-team back. He's still one of the guys. We're all trying to help him out and be there for him. We're going to support the coach's decision 100%."

Quarterback Jeremiah Masoli, who missed the team's win against UCLA three weeks ago because of a knee injury, says the fallout from Blount's issue can be viewed as an early-season tipping point. "It could have made us or broken us," Masoli says. "We didn't want to let it hurt us, and we came together."

It was going to be a different type of season in Eugene even before Blount's episode. Mike Bellotti, the winningest coach in program history, announced before spring practice that he would relinquish his coaching duties to take over as athletics director in July.

Kelly, who after last season had been named the team's "coach in waiting" for whenever Bellotti opted to leave, was elevated after two years as offensive coordinator.

Bellotti continued to help out, coaching quarterbacks during spring practice.

"Coach Kelly had already been around, and they made it a great transition by having Coach Bellotti still with us during the spring," Bair says. "We had all spring and the summer to get used to the (changes)."

There were more adjustments, strategic and emotional, after the first game. But things have worked out.

"We're trying not to think about the big picture (regarding the rest of the season)," Masoli says. "But we know what's on the line, with the consequences and rewards for this (USC) game."

Enlarge By Gary A. Vasquez, US Presswire Oregon Ducks wide receiver Jeff Maehl (23) and running back Kenjon Barner celebrate a touchdown against the UCLA Bruins in the second half of their game at the Rose Bowl on Oct. 10. Oregon defeated UCLA 24-10. With a 6-1 overall record, they confidently welcome USC onto their home field.