And so it goes.

Updated numbers from nine years of futility against the Trojans:

  • The Bears have 27 turnovers, USC has 12.

  • Five times, Cal has been held to single digits.

  • Six times, the Bears have rushed for fewer than 100 yards.

  • Average yards rushing in the nine games: USC 173.3, Cal 100.

    When Jeff Tedford said Saturday, "I thought up front they were better than us today," he could have been referring to the last nine years (2004 excepted).

    And now ...

    Now, the Bears are 1-3 for the first time since '03 and must win five of their last eight to get bowl eligible -- a significant challenge, sure, but hardly unmanageable.

    The loss to Nevada looms larger with every subsequent defeat.

    Result: Lost at USC 27-9

    Grade: D

    Comment: No touchdowns, two turnovers, seven penalties, inept red zone offense, nearly 500 yards allowed -- if it hadn't been a road game against a ranked opponent, the Bears would have gotten an F.

    Maybe they should anyway.

  • It could have been much worse, too, if Matt Barkley hadn't thrown the end zone interception and Marqise Lee and Robert Woods had held those deep balls.

    Aside from a few possessions in the third quarter, USC dominated.

  • Cal's offensive line, again without two injured starters, again got torched: Zach Maynard was sacked seven times and under heavy pressure throughout.

    The Trojans were able

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    to collapse the pocket without the aid of blitzes. They rushed four and dropped seven and Maynard was stuck.

    He played reasonably well under the circumstances, but his decision-making, accuracy, touch and vision were lacking in the red zone.

    Speaking of ...

  • The following red zone details are not appropriate for children under 17:

    Five visits, three field goals, one missed field goal, one interception, zero touchdowns.

    For the season, the Bears have scored on 73 percent of their red zone opportunities (poor) and scored touchdowns on 40 percent of their chances (also poor).

    It's not one thing, it's many things; but the problems up front are a huge issue.

  • Brendan Bigelow: four carries, one catch.

    That's Cal's idea of using him more?

    If Bigelow doesn't fit into the game plan, CHANGE THE GAME PLAN.

  • Seems like the Bears should have something in the playbook for third-and-long other than the inside handoff.

    The fourth time they used it, everyone knew what was coming.

  • The defense held its own in the third quarter (96 yards allowed) but was overwhelmed in the first, second and fourth (392).

    Obviously, USC is more effective with center Khaled Holmes -- his absence was a big deal in the loss at Stanford -- but Cal should not have been carved up on the ground like that.

    The Bears' inside linebackers did not have their finest game, to say the least.

    Next up: vs. Arizona State

    The matchup: One of the most important games of the Tedford tenure, given the 1-3 start and the fiscal backdrop to the season:

    Financing the stadium debt through the Endowment Seating Program, which requires an excited fan base.

  • The Sun Devils are 3-1 under new coach Todd Graham after spanking Utah at home, but it's a tad early to pronounce them one of the Pac-12 upper-echelon teams.

    They've been on the road once: a 24-20 loss to Missouri, which was without its starting quarterback.

  • ASU will make use of the spread option with mobile quarterback Taylor Kelly, the promising sophomore who's an effective passer.

  • Bottom line: If the Bears play well ... if they're disciplined defensively, protect the ball, run effectively and execute in the red zone ... they should outlast the Sun Devils in what I expect to be a high-scoring game.

    But breakdowns in any of those areas -- and the Bears have experienced breakdowns in all of them at one point or another thus far -- could be costly.

    ASU hasn't won in Berkeley in the Tedford era. If that streak ends this week, the Tedford era may not be far behind.

    For more on college sports, see Jon Wilner's College Hotline at blogs.mercurynews.com/collegesports. Contact him at jwilner@mercurynews.com or 408-920-5716.