"We just wanted it more than they did," said UCLA defensive end Bruce Davis. "You could tell at the start of the second half that they knew that too. Our defensive front was teeing off on them and I don't think they knew how fast we were.

"I remember getting down in my stance and looking into the eyes of their left tackle Sam Baker and his eyes were so big. I just told him, 'You're going to need some help because I'm coming.' I did and Booty was never comfortable. They probably wish they had some help right about now."

The Trojans had relied on help from others during their stretch run in November to get to this point. After losing to Oregon State on Oct. 28 they dropped to No. 9 in the polls and were left for dead. The Trojans then watched as nearly every team in front of them dropped as they inched up the polls and once again found themselves one win away from a shot at the national championship.

There is no time for help now and they only have themselves to blame.

"We couldn't get anything going all day," said Booty. "They just outplayed us. You hate for that to happen in a big time rivalry game but it did. We weren't really able to run the ball or pass it and when you can't do either one its tough to win games."

Despite losing four games in a row during the season, UCLA coach Karl Dorrell could see this coming. After the Bruins had lost to Cal three weeks ago, dropping them to 4-5 on the year, Dorrell gathered his players for a team meeting and re-evaluated the team's goal for the last month of the season. "I told them we were going to win the last three games of the year," said Dorrell, who was congratulated by former UCLA coach Terry Donahue after the game. "We had a late start to the season but we knew how we'd finish it."

As USC's Song Girls rubbed tears away from their cheeks and the Spirit of Troy Marching Band quietly held their instruments, UCLA players hopped, jumped, skipped and rode the back of their teammates to the locker room as they threw up upside down victory signs. While USC will be returning to the Rose Bowl in less than a month, Bruin players couldn't have been happier that they ruined the Trojans' New Year's plan.

"I got a two words for them," said Davis. "Ha ha!"