No Taking Cardinal Lightly Now

The second game of the newly arrived Carson Palmer Era no longer looks like such a ‘gimme’ after the scare that 1-7 Stanford gave UCLA in a 28-24 loss Saturday.

“I really feel that the Stanford team turned their season around at Arizona State a couple of weeks ago [a 44-38 overtime loss],” USC Coach Paul Hackett said. “I think they played tremendous football . . . and followed that loss up with a fabulous football game against UCLA, and by all rights perhaps could have, should have won the game.”

Stanford showed “it’s really going to be a force to reckon with at the end of the season,” Hackett said.

Palmer did the same.

After an 18-for-31 passing day in which the only interception was nullified by a penalty, Palmer shot up to fifth in the Pacific 10 Conference in passing efficiency with a 125.6 rating.

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Saturday’s game at Stanford has been set for 3:30 p.m. to accommodate a Fox Sports syndicate broadcast that will be seen in Los Angeles on Channel 9.

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A fuming Hackett sounded as if he was through with his kickers Saturday, but they’re apparently not fired yet: He listed either incumbent Adam Abrams or David Bell as the starter next week--though receiver Mike Bastianelli still figures to do some kicking in practice.

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Cornerback Antuan Simmons’ two interception returns for touchdowns Saturday tied a Pac-10 record and solidified him as the starter at right corner, a position the sophomore took over from senior Ken Haslip two games ago.