Crosstown Rivalry: UCLA Goes Up Against USC
LOS ANGELES (AP) — UCLA is out of bowl contention, and Southern California never had a chance. No Pac-10 titles, no significant winning streaks, no postseason honors -- nothing concrete is on the line.
Which just makes the intangible stakes even more massive when the Bruins host the Trojans to close a decidedly down season for football in Los Angeles.
For just the fourth time in 35 years, neither team has a bowl game looming. Both of these decorated football programs are in for an extra-long offseason of probable changes at UCLA -- and looming dread at USC over the increased effect of NCAA sanctions next year.
Yet when both teams take the Rose Bowl field in their home jerseys to play for the Victory Bell, a victory could resonate for years in the winners' plans.
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