Over the recent history USC has won an ample supply of Big Games, namely Rose Bowls. As we all experienced last year and have observed in the past, USC playing in The Rose Bowl Game is really just another home game for USC. As big of a game as the Rose Bowl is, its nice to be able to play it in a overwhelming supportive environment. 

Lets look at the road games for the past 4 years.

DATE            OPPONENT      RESULT

2005

September 3  at Hawaii          W 63-17

September 24 at Oregon          W 45-13

October 1    at Arizona State   W 38-28

October 15   at Notre Dame      W 34-31

October 22   at Washington      W 51-24

November 12  at California      W 35-10

January 4    vs. Texas  (RB)    L 41-38

2006

September 2  at Arkansas        W 50-14

September 23 at Arizona         W 20-3

September 30 at Wash. St.       W 28-22

October 28   at Oregon State    L 33-31

November 4   at Stanford        W 42-0

December 2   at UCLA            L 13-9

January 1    vs. Michigan (RB)  W 32-18

2007

September 15 at Nebraska        W 49-31

September 29 at Washington      W 27-24

October 20   at Notre Dame      W 38-0

October 27   at Oregon          L 24-17

November 10  at California      W 24-17

November 22  at Arizona State   W 44-24

January 1    vs. Illinois (RB)  W 49-17

2008

August 30    at Virginia        W 52-7

September 25 at Oregon State    L 27-21

October 18   at Wash. St.       W 69-0

October 25   at Arizona         W 17-10

November 15  at Stanford        W 45-23

December 6   at UCLA            W 28-7

January 1    vs. PSU (RB)       W 38-24

What is the toughest place USC has played in the last 4 years? Notre Dame, Nebraska, Oregon, Cal, UCLA?  Historically I would have placed Nebraska as being a tough place to play, probably the old Notre Dame, but past that I don't see an intense road game on their schedule.

Is it possible that people are underestimating the impact of this being a freshman QB's first road game as well as easily the most hostile environment USC has faced in the past 4 years? Not that it can make up for poor performances in general, but I think it will be VERY interesting to see how USC handles the horseshoe.