EUGENE, Ore. -- There was another twist to the quarterback conundrum at Oregon this week.

Justin Roper, who was at one time expected to return from a knee injury in time to face Southern California on Saturday, had the flu earlier this week.

Roper was not able to practice either Monday or Tuesday, meaning the No. 23 Ducks might not even take him to Los Angeles for the game against the No. 9 Trojans.

As it stands, Jeremiah Masoli will start, with freshmen Darron Thomas and Chris Harper also available, in that order, coach Mike Bellotti said.

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Masoli started this past weekend in Oregon's 63-14 rout at Washington State. He completed nine of 16 passes for 161 yards and two touchdowns.

Masoli has thrown for 381 yards and four touchdowns -- with no interceptions -- in a turbulent season at quarterback for the Ducks.

Before the season even started Oregon lost projected starter Nate Costa to a knee injury which required season-ending surgery.

Roper, named the team's starter in the week before the opener, left that game with a concussion. An MCL injury to his left knee has forced him to miss that past two games.

The Ducks have in turn used Masoli, a junior college transfer, as well as Harper and Thomas.

On Tuesday, Bellotti indicated that when Roper does return to the team, he'll have to compete for the starting job.

"Justin hasn't played enough football to have that position dedicated to him," he said.

At the same time, the coach praised Masoli, who led City College of San Francisco to the junior college national championship last season while throwing for 3,592 yards and 30 touchdowns.

"I really feel he's doing a great job in the position of running the team," Bellotti said.

MAUALUGA'S MCL:@ MCL injuries are factoring into Oregon's game at USC this Saturday.

The MCL is the medial collateral ligament in the knee. Sprains of the MCL are usually less serious than those of the anterior cruciate ligament, or ACL.

Oregon quarterback Justin Roper has missed two games because of an MCL sprain. Defensive end Terrell Turner won't play against the Trojans after an MCL injury to his left knee last weekend at Washington State.

On USC's side, middle linebacker Rey Maualuga missed the last two days of practice following a knee injury Thursday at Oregon State.

Maualuga will not require surgery, and it is possible he could return in time for the Ducks. If not, the Trojans could go with Chris Galippo, who redshirted last season with a back injury and hasn't played in the first three games this season.

"I'm not counting Rey out," coach Pete Carroll said.

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EXTRA POINTS:@ Last season Oregon defeated USC 24-17 in Eugene. ... The Ducks and the Trojans have split the last four meetings at Memorial Coliseum. ... USC coach Pete Carroll's teams have lost just 15 games, including last Thursday's loss to the Beavers. ... Oregon's rushing offense ranks fourth in the nation, averaging 308.60 yards a game. The Ducks rank sixth in total offense averaging 531.60 yards.