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          Pac-12 Blog

          USC ends skid against rival UCLA, will play for Pac-12 title

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          USC wins LA bragging rights, beats UCLA (1:26)

          The Trojans' defense forces three turnovers and scores a touchdown in a 40-21 win over the Bruins. (1:26)

          • Kyle Bonagura, ESPN Staff WriterNov 28, 2015, 07:00 PM ET
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            • Covers the Pac-12.
            • Joined ESPN in 2014.
            • Attended Washington State University.
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          LOS ANGELES -- USC scored 20 unanswered second-half points to beat UCLA 40-21 and advance to next week's Pac-12 championship game against Stanford.

          What the win means for USC: Despite all the early-season turmoil, the Trojans have somehow qualified for the Pac-12 title game and are a win against Stanford away from the Rose Bowl. The win over UCLA, which snaps a three-game losing streak to the Bruins, keeps interim head coach Clay Helton in contention for the permanent job for at least another week and puts the Trojans in the conference title game for the first time since its inception in 2011.

          If USC loses to Stanford, it will likely play in the Foster Farms Bowl in Santa Clara, Calif., on Dec. 26. In that scenario, Stanford goes to the Rose Bowl and Oregon would almost assuredly be selected by the Alamo Bowl. The Holiday Bowl has the next pick, but because USC played there last year, it will probably pass on a repeat visit from the Trojans. The Foster Farms Bowl chooses fourth, and there is little chance it will pass on matching USC with a Big Ten team, even though it would result in USC’s third visit to the Bay Area this season and second to Levi’s Stadium in a month. If the Foster Farms Bowl also passes, USC would go to the Sun Bowl.

          What the loss means for UCLA: With the sixth-best record (potentially tied with Arizona State) in the Pac-12, the Bruins are likely headed for the Las Vegas Bowl. Theoretically, UCLA would be an option for the Holiday Bowl and the Foster Farms Bowl, too, but those bowls -- third and fourth in the selection order -- are unlikely to pick the Bruins ahead of teams with better conference records. The Sun Bowl is contractually obligated to select based on record, so UCLA will not be an option there. If Arizona State beats Cal, the Las Vegas Bowl will get to choose between the Bruins and Sun Devils. If Cal beats ASU, Las Vegas is nearly a lock for UCLA.

          Player of the game: RB Justin Davis ran for 130 yards on 25 carries and has quietly been a steady presence for the Trojans all year long. Most of Davis’ damage came in the second half, when he ran for 110 yards on seven carries.

          The game turned when: USC defensive lineman Claude Pelon sacked UCLA quarterback Josh Rosen and forced a fumble, which was returned for a touchdown by Rasheem Green with 7:16 left in the third quarter. The score gave USC a 26-21 lead and it wouldn’t look back.