EUGENE, Ore. — It’s beginning to look a lot like last season for California– only better.

A key Pac-10 victory over undefeated Oregon last year sent the Golden Bearson their way to a 10-3 season and a share of the conference championship withUSC.

Now Cal has another victory over Oregon. The Golden Bears beat the Ducks31-24 Saturday at Autzen Stadium in another important conference game for thepursuit of the Trojans and this season’s title.

Facing an off week, California (5-0, 2-0 Pacific-10) jumped three spots inthe rankings to No. 3. USC, which played spotty in a 27-24 victory atWashington, dropped to No. 2 behind LSU.

“It’s another challenge now. You’ve got to be more focused. You’ve got tobe more humble. You’ve got to pay more attention to detail, execution,” Callinebacker Worrell Williams said. “This bye week is not an off week. It’s aweek where you can mentally get prepared for every game.”

It is the highest ranking for Cal since 1952, when the Bears were No. 3 forconsecutive weeks midway through the season.

The Golden Bears host the Trojans on Nov. 10.

Cal had their first real conference test of the season in the previouslyundefeated Ducks, and withstood Oregon’s tricky spread-option offense.

“No team can beat Cal except for Cal,” Williams said.

Oregon, ranked 11th before the loss, fell to No. 14. Arizona State, joiningCal and USC in the Pac-10 as undefeated, jumped from 23rd to 18th in therankings with a 41-3 victory over Stanford.

“This win proved to our team that we can do it,” Cal receiver LavelleHawkins said.

The defense picked up the slack for the Bears in the first three quartersagainst Oregon before the offense took over — and got some help from a fewOregon errors.

DeSean Jackson had 11 catches for 161 yards, career highs, and his first tworeceiving touchdowns of the season for the Bears. Justin Forsett ran for 101yards and another two scores, and Nate Longshore completed 28 of 43 passes for285 yards and two scores.

California snapped a seven-game losing streak at Autzen Stadium that datedto 1987.

The end was dramatic, with a reviewed call that harkened back to last seasonwhen officials blew a call in Oregon’s victory over Oklahoma.

But this time, the officials got it right.

With 22 seconds to go and Cal on top by a touchdown, Oregon’s Dennis Dixonhit receiver Cameron Colvin, who fumbled trying to reach the ball into the endzone when he was hit by Marcus Ezeff. The loose ball went through the end zoneand was ruled a touchback and possession for Cal. The play was reviewed.

“It passes through your mind real briefly, but then you remember this is onCollege GameDay, it’s ABC, it’s national television and with all the publicityaround that Oklahoma incident last year, I knew whatever the right call wasgoing to be made,” Cal linebacker Anthony Felder said.

The call stood and time ran out for Oregon (4-1, 1-1).

Jonathan Stewart, who was leading the league in rushing, had 21 carries for121 yards for the Ducks.

Dixon, who was the only Pac-10 quarterback who had not thrown aninterception, threw a pair late in the game. Dixon was 31-of-44 for 306 yardsand a touchdown.

Colvin, who had seven catches for 74 yards and a score, was grateful for thesupport of his teammates, who helped him up.

“He was trying to make a play. I don’t judge him for nothing,” Dixon said.”It’s a team effort.”

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