Q: Ron, how happy will the Rose Bowl committee be if USC beats UCLA tomorrow? It would set up a matchup between two traditional powers -- USC and Penn State -- on New Year's Day.

Jim, Los Angeles

MUSSELMAN: The Rose Bowl would be thrilled with that pairing. It sure would beat a Penn State-Oregon State rematch. No. 6 Penn State clinched a share of the Big Ten Conference title and its Rose Bowl berth Nov. 22 with a victory against Michigan State. If No. 5 USC beats cross-town rival UCLA at Rose Bowl Stadium tomorrow, it would cement the Trojans' seventh consecutive Pac-10 title and their fifth trip to Pasadena in six years. USC has won eight in a row following its stunning 27-21 loss to Oregon State Sept. 25. The Nittany Lions ripped the Beavers, 45-14, Sept. 6.