Unexpected Rose arrangement - For the 36th time, the crosstown matchup has a Pasadena postseason invitation (and maybe a coaching job) on the line, not that either USC or UCLA thought it would turn out this way

USC, a near-consensus No. 1 at the start of the season, lost its chance with a shocking and embarrassing defeat to Stanford.

UCLA, a senior-dominated team with a supposedly easy schedule, fell by the wayside after a loss at Utah and an even more embarrassing home stumble against Notre Dame.

Still, there will still be more than bragging rights at stake Saturday when eighth-ranked USC plays UCLA at the Coliseum in the 77th meeting between the crosstown rivals.

Much more.

Both teams have a shot at playing in the Rose Bowl on New Year's Day. This will be the 36th time the Trojans and Bruins will meet with the Rose Bowl on the line for one or both teams.

"There's a lot going on with this game, a lot to it in the buildup and what's at stake," Carroll said Sunday. "It's the kind of stuff you love: playing for championships."

USC, 9-2 overall and 6-2 in the Pacific 10 Conference, can clinch its sixth consecutive league title and make its third consecutive Rose Bowl appearance with a victory over the Bruins.

UCLA, 6-5 and 5-3 in the Pac-10, must defeat the Trojans, and then hope that Arizona defeats Arizona State later Saturday.

"Our goal was to be in position for this opportunity," Coach Karl Dorrell said. "I can't tell you that I thought we'd be 6-5 with this opportunity. But it is what it is."

UCLA's situation is only one of many that have characterized one of the strangest seasons in college football history.

Consider: USC fans found themselves in the unfamiliar position of rooting for the Bruins on Saturday against Oregon.

UCLA's 16-0 victory over the Ducks opened the Rose Bowl door for the Trojans, who moved up three spots in the Associated Press media poll and from 11th to eighth in the BCS standings after defeating Arizona State, 44-24, Thursday.

"We had to go win this game to be eligible, it didn't matter to us who we were helping out," Bruins defensive end Bruce Davis said.

USC was seemingly out of contention for the Pac-10 title after the Oct. 6 loss to Stanford at the Coliseum and a 24-17 loss at then-No. 5 Oregon, which appeared as if it were on its way to the BCS title game.

But Oregon's season changed when quarterback Dennis Dixon, a Heisman Trophy front-runner, aggravated a knee injury that ended his season in a loss against Arizona on Nov. 15.