UCLA unwell, all but done - Down to third stringers at quarterback, tailback, UCLA loses its third in a row, 24-20 to Arizona State, and falls to 5-5 and out of Pac-10 title race.

Pac-10 champions. Finish.

The possibility vanished Saturday.

Pac-10 champions? Finished.

The illusion was stripped away in a 24-20 loss to Arizona State in front of 78,690 at the Rose Bowl, a game that ended with a rugby exhibition. UCLA quarterback Osaar Rasshan, guard Shannon Tevaga and center Chris Joseph did what they could to not let it end, lateraling the ball back and forth across the field without much progress to keep reality from intruding a little while longer.

The inevitable was waiting.

The play and game ended with the ball being cradled in the arms of Arizona State's Rodney Cox. Referee Jay Stricherz untangled the mess and announced over the public address system, "The game is over" -- a message that seemed to echo in the Bruins' locker room.

"A lot hasn't gone our way," linebacker Christian Taylor said. "There is no one to blame but ourselves."

The Bruins (5-5 overall, 4-3 in Pacific 10 Conference play) will look at a Pac-10 race this morning that belongs to others. Arizona State (8-1, 6-1) took care of that by making enough big plays to send the Bruins to their third consecutive defeat.

Sun Devils running backs Dimitri Nance and Keegan Herring ran through Bruins arms for third-quarter touchdowns, and quarterback Rudy Carpenter did just enough despite an injured right thumb to overcome a 13-10 halftime deficit.

Nance eluded the grasp of three Bruins for an 11-yard touchdown run and a 17-13 lead five minutes into the second half. Herring pulled a now-you-see-me-now-you-don't maneuver, rolling off several defenders before sprinting 71 yards for a 24-13 lead. Carpenter threw for 200 yards and one touchdown.

The Bruins' spit-and-bailing-wire offense, missing its top two quarterbacks and top two tailbacks, could not match it.

The last hope died when Rasshan scrambled upfield and threw a lateral back to Tevaga, who then pitched the ball to Joseph. When Joseph tossed the ball illegally forward, the Bruins had lost for the fourth time in five games.

The season's disintegration has left Coach Karl Dorrell's future in serious doubt with two games remaining -- against third-ranked Oregon and 12th-ranked USC.

It has been a long fall from those heady preseason days when the Bruins, loaded with returning starters and seniors, talked about winning the conference and possibly even getting to the national title game.