CORVALLIS, Ore. -- The last time the Trojans visited Corvallis, it was so foggy that it's a wonder anyone in the sellout crowd actually saw Reggie Bush's wily 65-yard punt return against Oregon State, never mind the rest of the game.

But when USC emerged from the haze of its first game played in fog since 1937, the Trojans were 28-20 victors.

The Beavers came close to toppling the top-ranked Trojans that chilly November night in 2004, scoring the first 13 points to lead 13-7 at the half and throw USC into rally mode.

"That was a heck of a football game. They were really ready to beat us that night. They were prepared to do it," USC coach Pete Carroll said. "They had a senior club and a bunch of guys that were ready to get that done."

This week, Oregon State coach Mike Riley was jokingly asked if he was going to bring the fog machine back.

"They're going to bring it in on Thursday. It'll start filling the valley again, so it should be good and thick by Saturday," he joked.

Oregon State is clearly as pumped for this Saturday's game as it was two seasons ago.

The Beavers (4-3, 2-2 Pacific-10) are on a two-game winning streak and have started to feel that they're all clicking for the first time this season.

"It's a great opportunity for us. I think right now, compared to earlier in the season, we are really starting to peak, especially defensively. The last three weeks the defense has played outstanding. The offense, we're running the ball now," guard Roy Schuening said.

The biggest issue for the Beavers is the status of tailback Yvenson Bernard, who sprained his right ankle in Oregon State's 17-10 victory over Arizona last weekend.

Bernard has run for 746 yards and seven touchdowns this season.

"He's one of the toughest guys I've ever met. Personally, I think he's going to be ready. Every day I talk to him, he says he's going to be ready. He'd probably play with a broken leg if he could. So, I'd be pretty shocked if he didn't play," Schuening said.

If Bernard can't go, backup Clinton Polk will take his place.

The No. 3 Trojans (6-0, 4-0), winners of 27 straight conference games, are coming off a bye.

As of late, USC's victories have not been as commanding as they once were, but Carroll tends to shrug off suggestions of vulnerability. The Trojans' last three conference wins -- over Washington, Washington State and Arizona State -- have come by seven points or less.

"I'm feeling like we've been in control of our games. I felt like we have controlled the games," Carroll said. "Even when Washington was coming down on the last drive and Arizona State had the chance to do something at the end of the game, I felt in control of those games, which is different from when you feel out of control of a game and you're just hanging on for dear life. It hasn't felt like that."

On USC's side against the Beavers is history: The Trojans are 56-8-4 in the series against Oregon State dating to 1914.

Probably the Beavers' most notable victory over USC came in 1967, when the so-called Giant Killers downed the O.J. Simpson-led Trojans 3-0 on a muddy field in Corvallis.

The forecast for Saturday's game calls for sunny skies -- not fog or rain.

With a conference win, USC would move into a tie with idle California atop the Pac-10 standings.

The Beavers haven't won three games in a row since October 2004.