Southern California, Los Angeles' football coach Pete Carroll watches as quarterback John David Booty throws the ball during practice Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Nick Ut)

Matt Leinart, Reggie Bush and LenDale White are off to the NFL. All those national championships, Pac-10 titles and Heisman Trophy awards are history at Southern California.

But for those who think the Pac-10's balance of power has shifted, USC coach Pete Carroll offers a recent reminder.

When Heisman Trophy winner Carson Palmer, star running back Justin Fargas and All-American safety Troy Polamalu left an Orange Bowl-winning team in 2003, Leinart, Bush and White were there to step in. And they put together one of the great three-year runs in college football history.

"We find ourselves in a position where we were a few years back," Carroll said. "Three years ago we lost our quarterback, a running back and many other key players and we are now facing those same issues again. Hopefully we will respond just as well."

USC won two national championships, three conference titles, two Heisman Trophy awards and went 37-2 the last three years -- falling seconds short of a third straight national title.

Now it will be up to returning receiver Dwayne Jarrett, new quarterback John David Booty and a linebacking corps led by Keith Rivers to keep the Trojans at the top of the conference.

"It's inevitable when you lose Leinart, Bush and the other monster back there (White), they'll search for a little bit," Arizona coach Mike Stoops said. "The thing people don't realize is their defense will be much improved. They'll be able to hold the fort down while they get their offense on track."

USC will get plenty of challenges. Stoops is building a strong team at Arizona, Oregon returns its entire offensive line and quarterbacks Dennis Dixon and Brady Leaf from a team that averaged 34.5 points last season. Stanford, Washington State and Arizona State all have experienced passers returning.

But the biggest test again could come from California, which beat USC in 2003, lost narrowly in '04 and was blown out a year ago. The Golden Bears hope this will be the year they end their nearly five-decade Rose Bowl drought.

They feature the nation's best running back duo in Marshawn Lynch and Justin Forsett, a defense that returns first-team all-conference defensive tackle Brandon Mebane, first-team cornerback Daymeion Hughes plus five other starters.

Linebacker Desmond Bishop wishes Leinart, Bush and White were still around.

"I wanted another shot at them," he said.

The big change in the conference this season is the schedule. With the NCAA adding a 12th game to the season, the Pac-10 decided to go to a full round robin and add a ninth conference game.

The move makes the Pac-10 and eight-team Big East the only BCS conferences to have full round robins, helping ensure that the title will be decided on the field.

Southern California, Los Angeles' football quarterback John David Booty practices Thursday, Aug. 3, 2006, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Ric Francis)

"Certainly the champion will be determined by who you play and not who you don't," Oregon coach Mike Bellotti said.

A look at the teams in predicted order of finish:

USC -- The big question will be who replaces Bush and White, who combined for more than 3,000 yards rushing last season. The field is wide-open with senior Ryan Powdrell, Chauncey Washington, Desmond Reed, as well as freshmen Stafon Johnson and C.J. Gable all competing for playing time. ... Big plays on offense could come from the receiving duo of Jarrett (91 catches, 1,274 yards, 16 TDs) and Steve Smith (957 yards, five TDs). ... LT Sam Baker and C Ryan Kalil anchor the OL. ... Strength of the defense is the front seven, with Rivers and Rey Maualuga at LB and Lawrence Jackson and Sedrick Ellis at DL. ... Trojans won't travel the last four weeks of the season but that doesn't mean it will be easy. They end with home games against Oregon, California and Notre Dame followed by a trip to UCLA.

CALIFORNIA -- The duo of Lynch (1,264 yards, 10 TDs) and Justin Forsett (999 yards, 6 TDs) should take pressure off QB Nate Longshore, who had a season-ending ankle injury in last year's opener. ... Joe Ayoob (49.2 completion percentage, 15 TDs, 14 INTs) and redshirt freshman Kyle Reed could push Longshore for playing time. ... Sophomore WR DeSean Jackson (15.8 ypc, 7 TDs) has big-play ability. ... Schedule starts with tough opener at Tennessee and home game against Minnesota. Bears travel to USC on Nov. 18.

OREGON -- Dixon and Leaf will again share the QB spot as they did successfully after Kellen Clemens was sidelined with an injury in October. ... With RB Terrence Whitehead gone, running duties will go to sophomore Jonathan Stewart (188 yards, 6 TDs). ... DT Haloti Ngata will be missed on defense. ... Ducks open with three of five on the road, including trips to Fresno State and California. One of the two home games comes against Oklahoma.

ARIZONA -- Stoops had his second straight 3-8 season, but there are signs of a turnaround at Arizona. ... A big reason was the play of QB Willie Tuitama (1,105 yards, nine TDs), who started the final four games as a freshman last season, including back-to-back wins against Oregon State and UCLA. ... Wildcats make a tough trip to LSU on Sept. 9, but get both Cal and USC at home.

UCLA -- Offensive stars QB Drew Olson, RB Maurice Drew, and TE Marcedes Lewis are gone, putting pressure on new QB Ben Olson. ... RB Chris Markey, the co-MVP of the Sun Bowl with 150 yards rushing, will step in for Drew. ... September schedule is relatively easy with home games against Utah, Rice and Stanford, and a trip to Washington. Schedule gets tough after that with consecutive road games at Oregon and Notre Dame in October, a game at California in November and the rivalry game against USC on Dec. 2.

ARIZONA STATE -- QB Sam Keller (2,165 yards, 20 TDs) is back from a torn thumb ligament and will team with TE Zach Miller to lead the offense. ... Biggest question is again on defense, where team allowed 29.9 ppg and 465.8 ypg last season. ... Tough opening to the Pac-10 season with a home game against Oregon sandwiched between road games at Cal and USC.

STANFORD -- The Cardinal remodeled their stadium, reducing capacity to 50,000, but providing a more intimate setting that could be more difficult on the opposition. ... QB Trent Edwards (1,934 yards, 17 TDs) leads an offense that returns 10 starters. WR Evan Moore, 6-foot-7, will provide a big target for Edwards after missing most of last season with an injury. ... RB Anthony Kimble will be counted on to help improve a running game that averaged 92.3 ypg last season.

WASHINGTON STATE -- QB Alex Brink (2,891 yards, 24 TDs) and WR Jason Hill (1,097 yards, 13 TDs) form one of the best passing duos in the conference. ... Five of the Cougars' seven Pac-10 losses last season came by four points or fewer. ... Difficult season opener at Auburn.

OREGON STATE -- QB Matt Moore (2,711 yards, 11 TDs) led the Pac-10 with 19 interceptions last season and now must make do without Biletnikoff winner Mike Hass at WR. ... K Alexis Serna was 23-for-28 last season and won the Lou Groza Award. ... Season-ending trip to Hawaii gives the Beavers 13 games, meaning they must win seven to become bowl eligible.

WASHINGTON -- Coach Tyrone Willingham went 2-9 in his first season and could have trouble doing much better in year two with nonconference games at Oklahoma and at home against Fresno State. ... QB Isaiah Stanback needs to improve on his 54 percent passing if Willingham's ball-control offense is going to work. ... RB J.R. Hasty, who redshirted last year, could boost the running game.

AP Sports Writer Beth Harris in Los Angeles contributed to this report.