LOS ANGELES — Pete Carroll is hoping the return of perhaps Southern California’s two most important players will put the Trojans back on track after last week’s loss at Washington.

Carroll is hopeful quarterback Matt Barkley and safety Taylor Mays will be able to play in Saturday night’s home game against Washington State. Barkley is throwing again after missing last week with a bruised shoulder, while Mays is expected to practice Tuesday after sitting out his first college game with a knee injury.
Carroll also is back at work on a familiar task for the Trojans coach in recent years. He has to restore his talented players’ confidence after another early-season Pac-10 loss likely knocked them out of the national title race yet again.