Could a USC Win over Oregon Convince Matt Barkley to Stay?

With two games left to go in USC's 2011 football season, the questions about quarterback Matt Barkley's future are pouring in.

Will he depart for the NFL and become the early first-round draft pick he is projected to be?

Or will he stay at USC for his senior year and go after the National Championship he hasn't had the opportunity to chase?

A USC win at Oregon could do a lot to sway Barkley's position.

In an interview with ESPN last week, Barkley said that the biggest factor in his decision would not be the opportunity to play in a bowl game. Instead, it would be the amount of talent he would have around him if he stayed for one more year.

Between wide receivers Robert Woods, Marqise Lee and George Farmer, one would think that Barkley would have all the talent he needs in those three guys. Add in breakout running back Curtis McNeal and a quickly improving defense anchored by freshmen linebackers Dion Bailey and Hayes Pollard and it doesn't look like that tough of a decision.

But there is a catch.

The one thing that has been missing at USC since Lane Kiffin took over as head coach is a signature victory over a highly ranked team. The Trojans have come close against Stanford twice—losing by a last-minute field goal last year and falling after three overtimes in this season's thriller.

When it is all said and done, they have still failed to emerge victorious against the Pac-12 elite.

If Barkley has all of this talent around him but it can't get him wins against good teams, why bother coming back for a disappointing senior year?

A win over Oregon would prove to Barkley that his Trojans can do great things, and that he won't have to wait until next year to see them.

Barkley has been amazing at USC so far. He has thrown for five touchdowns or more four times in his career, including a record six-touchdown performance at Colorado two weeks ago. He has played his way to a projected top-five draft position and has put up statistics that are at the same levels as Trojan greats Carson Palmer and Matt Leinart.

But he doesn't have a single game he can point to and say, "That's where the whole team came together and beat an elite university."

If he had that, he wouldn't have to speculate as to whether or not the Trojans could get it done next year.

If he had that, he wouldn't have to wonder if his team was capable of beating the best.

If he had that, he wouldn't have to be satisfied with only dreaming of a National Championship.

Barkley says he will wait until the close of the season to weigh his options and make a decision. A top pick could be very appealing. But so could an undefeated senior year.

In order to go undefeated, Barkley will have to win against incredibly difficult opponents. Does he have the talent around him to do that?

A win against Oregon will provide a crystal-clear answer to that question. 

Maybe clear enough to see the crystal in January of 2013.