There could be something in the water, or it could be the Sports Illustrated Jinx, but both USC and UCLA found themselves carting their first string quarterbacks off the field late last week.

UCLA found out that they would be without quarterback Ben Olson for at least eight weeks after breaking the fifth metatarsal in his right foot during a non-contact drill Saturday. Funny enough, I broke the same bone in my foot playing football. It isn’t a serious injury but besides putting pin in, there is no real way to speed up the healing process. Plus being in a cast for that time will weaken your foot.

Already without Patrick Cowan who had knee surgery in the spring, the Bruins will look towards either a junior college transfer, Kevin Craft, or a redshirt freshman Chris Forcier to start the season. This was a blow that the Bruins did not need. Olson was their one ray of hope on offense.

Moving over to their main rival, the Trojans, their starting quarterback Matt Sanchez was carted off the field with a dislocated knee cap. He is being currently listed as day-to-day, but I find it hard to believe that he will be able to take the field in practice this week for contract drills.

With the inexperience at wide receiver and running back, Sanchez was someone the Trojans looked on for leadership. He filled in a few games last year when John David Booty went down and did an adequate job.

Sophomore Mitch Mustain and redshirt freshman Aaron Corp will compete for the job for back up and possibly starter if Sanchez is not ready for the opener at Virginia. Even though Mustain has starting experience with Arkansas, it is Corp who has the leg up in this battle.