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BOULDER, Colorado (Ticker) -- No. 19 Colorado will be without starting quarterback Craig Ochs on Saturday when its hosts 16th-ranked Southern California.

Ochs suffered his third concussion in 14 months and the fourth of his career in the first half of last week's 34-14 victory over San Diego State.

Colorado coach Gary Barnett said senior backup Robert Hodge will start Saturday's contest. Hodge, a native of Torrance, California, played the entire second half against San Diego State, guiding Colorado to 13 points on drives of 44 and 60 yards.

Ochs threw two touchdown passes before getting injured, helping the Buffaloes (1-1) take a 21-14 halftime.

Hodges saw action in nine contests last season on special teams and was impressive in Colorado's spring game, tossing a 39-yard TD pass.

"This is why he came to Colorado," Barnett said. "He came to play in games like USC and UCLA. That is really great for him, being from Southern California."

Colorado may be without receiver-kick returner Jeremy Bloom, who is questionable with a broken big left toe.

After struggling in a 19-16 season-opening loss to Colorado State, the Buffaloes got their running game going, rushing for 265 yards against San Diego State, including 184 in the second half.

Chris Brown ran for 185 yards and two touchdowns on 29 carries, while Bobby Purify added 72 yards and nine carries and set up Brown's first TD with a 42-yard scamper.

USC (1-0) has been off since posting a 24-17 season-opening victory over Auburn on Labor Day.

Carson Palmer's one-yard sneak with 1:26 remaining was the difference. Palmer was named Pac-10 Conference Offensive Player of the Week after completing 23-of-32 passes for 302 yards. He needs only 295 yards to pass Rob Johnson (8,472) and become USC's all-time passing leader.

Tailback Malaefou MacKenzie, who missed all of last season due to injuries and personal issues, had six receptions for 117 yards, the first 100-yard receiving game for a USC running back since Mike Garrett in 1964.

USC has won all four meetings with Colorado, outscoring the Buffaloes, 98-21.

The most recent contest was in 2000 when the Trojans posted a 17-14 victory at the Los Angeles Coliseum on David Newbury's 24-yard field goal with 13 seconds remaining.

Palmer turned in a nearly perfect performance, completing 25-of-30 passes for 275 yards with three drops. He was 6-for-6 on the winning 68-yard drive.