Gary Klein discusses the game between USC and Washington

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Times USC reporter Gary Klein discusses what he thinks will happen in this weekend’s showdown between the Trojans and the Washington Huskies.

The Trojans will be trying to stop Washington running back Chris Polk, who could have been a Trojan. As Klein wrote earlier this week:

‘Polk running back made a verbal commitment to USC while playing at Redlands East Valley High, but he changed his mind and signed instead with the Huskies in 2008.

‘Polk, a fourth-year junior, ranks second in the Pac-12 Conference and seventh nationally in rushing going into Saturday’s game against No. 21 USC at the Coliseum.

‘He’s probably the best back we’ve faced so far,’ USC safety T.J. McDonald said Wednesday. ‘He can catch the ball and he can also run with it between the tackles.

‘He’s a big kid so we have to make sure we tackle him. We don’t want to give him many second chances.’

‘Or, as Coach Lane Kiffin said, ‘It’s not real complicated: Tackle the guy really well and don’t let him keep falling forward.’

‘The 5-foot-11, 222-pound Polk has rushed for 1,096 yards and nine touchdowns this season. He and Napoleon Kaufman, who played in 1992-94, are the only Huskies running backs to amass more than 1,000 yards rushing three times.

‘Washington Coach Steve Sarkisian recruited Polk to USC when he was an assistant on the Trojans staff, but Polk opted to play for Tyrone Willingham in Seattle.

--Houston Mitchell