Hollywood is where the stars come out to play and after Oregon knocked of USC 53-32 Saturday you can color the Ducks sparkling.

This game had been billed as Oregon's toughest challenge to date. For most of the past decade USC has been the standard bearer for the Pac-10 conference and after Oregon dethroned the Trojans last year all eyes had been looking to this match-up with heightened interest.

And the fireworks started early. USC took the opening drive to the Oregon 15-yard line before the Duck defense stiffened and forced the Trojans to settle for a 32-yard field goal.

Oregon responded just as quickly. Quarterback Darron Thomas directed a nine play, 76 yard drive capped by a 15-yard touchdown to pass to Jeff Maehl. On the point after try, back up quarterback Nate Costa found defensive tackle - that is not a misprint - Brandon Bair free in the end zone and the Ducks led 6-3.

USC jumped back in front after and exchange of possessions. Ronald Johnson returned an Oregon punt 24 yards to give the Trojans the ball on the Oregon 48. USC quarterback Matt Barkley connected with freshman receiver Robert Woods twice to move the ball to the one and Marc Tyler pounded it in from there.

The Ducks regained the lead early in the second quarter. A Jackson Rice punt pinned the Trojans deep in their own territory and when the Ducks held for a three and out, Cliff Harris' 14 yard return gave Oregon the ball on the USC 46. Two plays later LaMichael James broke free for 42 yards and the score, pushing Oregon in front 15-10.

The lead changed hands again when Tyler bounced through the Oregon defense for an eight yard touchdown, but the rest of the half belonged to the Ducks.

Thomas found Maehl behind the Trojan defense and the senior receiver reeled in an acrobatic catch for a 45-yard score. With his next set of snaps Thomas found Lavasier Tuenei on a slant good for 33 yards and a 29-17 halftime lead.

Then just like that the lead was gone. Oregon received the kickoff to open the second half but Thomas was intercepted on his own 21. Barkley and the Trojans converted two plays later to cut Oregon's lead to 29-24.

After a fired up Coliseum crowd rallied the USC defense to hold Oregon to a three and out, USC's Ronald Johnson returned Jackson Rice's punt 51 yards to put the Trojans on the doorstep. Barkley's keeper from the one for the touchdown and a two point conversion pushed USC back into the lead 32-29.

The Trojans wouldn't score again.

A 12-play, 69 yard drive engineered by Thomas featuring seven rushing attempts by James pulled the SC defense into the box, then Thomas found Maehl over the top for 30 yards and a score, giving Oregon a 36-32 lead four minutes into the third quarter.

While Oregon's defense kept the Trojan offense off the scoreboard, James scored twice and Rob Beard connected on a 34-yard field goal.

"We put our defense in some situations with some short fields," said head coach Chip Kelly. ".  That (USC) is a really, really good football team . we knew they were a talented team, we knew it was going to be a battle . our players just don't panic in the second half of football games because they have confidence in their preparation."

Oregon out gained the Trojans 599 total yards to 377. LaMichael James was a workhorse for the Ducks, gaining 239 yards on 36 carries and scored three touchdowns. Jeffrey Maehl again paced the receivers with eight passes for 145 yards and three more scores, Darron Thomas completed 19 of 32 pass attempts, good for 288 yards and four touchdowns.

The Ducks lost two turnovers but forced a fumble and picked Barkley twice to end the game plus one.

Barkley lived up to his billing as one of the country's best quarterbacks, completing 26 of 49 for 246 yards and one touchdown.

Once again, the Ducks kept their opponent out of the end zone in the fourth quarter.

"It comes down to two things," safety John Boyett - who had one of Oregon's interceptions - said of the Ducks fourth quarter lockdown of opponents. "One is our will to win and two, the coaches do a great job calling plays."

Freshman defensive back Cliff Harris had the second interception and he also seconded Boyett's take on Oregon's fourth quarter. "Our coach has stapled into our brains to play fast, hard and finish. So when it is the fourth quarter we just got to finish, give everything you got, don't leave nothing. When you walk out of that locker room you should be ready to go to sleep when you hit that bus."

It should be nothing but sweet dreams for the ride home. A perfect 8-0 record, a showcase win as the #1 team in the nation in one of college footballs most revered venues against one of its most storied teams. And the struggling Huskies up next as the calendar turns to November.