“To do that against a storied program, a perennial power, it’s the greatest feeling in the world,’’ said Gerhart, the Pac-10 rushing leader whose Heisman Trophy hopes are gaining momentum.
The loss was the Trojans’ worst since a 51-0 defeat at home against Notre Dame in 1966. Coach Pete Carroll lost in November for the first time at USC after 28 straight victories. And for the second time in three weekends, Carroll endured the worst loss of his nine seasons.
“I’m not sure I have the right words to describe being humbled like this,’’ Carroll said. “I don’t really know where to put it . . . We have fallen apart and given our opponents the opportunity to do whatever they want, but you have to give Stanford a lot of credit.’’
Andrew Luck threw two touchdown passes and ran for another score for the Cardinal (7-3, 6-2), who followed up their surprising rout of Oregon last week with a strong start and a big finish at the Coliseum. The Trojans (7-3, 4-3) haven’t lost to any other opponent at home since 2001, going 47-2.
Richard Sherman returned an interception 42 yards for a score with 11:41 to play, part of a 27-point fourth quarter for the Cardinal. After the postgame handshake, the Cardinal raised their helmets and raced to their cheering section for their second celebration at the Coliseum in three years.
Stanford’s 24-23 victory as a 41-point underdog in 2007 was a major shocker, yet this win barely even qualified as an upset. And the Cardinal did it on USC’s homecoming, no less, in front of 90,071 somnolent fans.
“Once we got rolling, we kept doing good things,’’ said Luck.
Florida 24, South Carolina 14 - Tim Tebow tied the SEC career TD record with his 53d, a 1-yard run in the fourth quarter that sealed the No. 1 Gators’ first perfect league record in 13 years.
Florida (10-0, 8-0) relied on its SEC-leading defense to save things against former coach Steve Spurrier, who looked like he’d figured out Florida’s front line.
