LOS ANGELES — So early, only seconds into the game, on the first play from scrimmage no less, the signature moment arrived, appearing not unlike a tattoo does.

Lasting and colorful.

Notre Dame receiver Golden Tate was more black-and-blue after catching a pass, attempting to make a move and instead absorbing all of Kaluka Maiava. And then some.

"Like coach says, 'Make him feel you,"' the USC senior linebacker said of assistant Ken Norton. "I made the hit and had to stand over him for a second, make him feel me. That's not a positive thing — for them."

The Irish had few positives Saturday, and we mean that quite literally, Notre Dame with fewer than zero net rushing yards until the third quarter.

But then an odd thing happened to the Trojans en route to recovering the remains of their lost BCS title season. They fell backward, all the way into the Rose Bowl.

The Rose Bowl? Again? Opposite another member of the Small Ten Conference?

Can't the Trojans pass on 'dena this time? Aren't we close enough to Hollywood, which only tolerates reruns, especially when the first airing starred overwhelmed Ohio State or inundated Illinois or mismatched Michigan. Penn State and Joe Pa? No, ma.

"If it's not in the national championship game, yeah, it's a disappointment," Maiava said. "But this is what we do. We win the Pac-10 and then own the Rose Bowl. That's our thing around here."

What's with Oregon State, exactly? The Beavers ruined the Trojans' season Sept. 25 by winning, then ruined it again Saturday by losing.

The September victory took away USC's national title hopes; the Saturday loss took away the consolation prize — a possible high-octane collision with a team like Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl.

That's what the Pete Carroll era and the BCS error has done to the proud granddaddy, turned a Rose Bowl berth into a consolation prize. The Trojans, with a victory Saturday over UCLA, will be playing for roses for the fourth year in a row.

At some point, shouldn't these guys become allergic to the things?

They won't say it, but we will: This season, the Trojans in Pasadena on New Year's Day is a buzz kill.

"I can't really say the Rose Bowl is a letdown, but it would be exciting to play one of those other teams everyone's talking about," Maiava said. "The change of scenery wouldn't be bad. But we're happy to be where we're at."

This quickly developed into a scoreboard-watching night, in part because it wasn't much of a game-watching night, Notre Dame fully committed from the start to put the off in offense.

But also Oregon State's ongoing defensive meltdown against Oregon became a point of local interest.

When the final was shown inside the Coliseum, the place roared, the fans recognizing a Pac-10 title when they see one.

And how about this for the price of outrageous success: The Trojans afterward were grilled about having to settle for only a conference title.

Asked about one more victory sending his team to the Rose Bowl, Carroll acknowledged, "It's the only place for us right now."

Another trip to Pasadena for this program feels as routine as a holding penalty. As such, can't the Trojans refuse it and opt for a more attractive alternative?

Sorry, it's just difficult to get stirred up about something we've seen so often now.

Under Carroll, USC is 5-0 against the Big Ten (average score: 36-14) and 7-1 against Notre Dame (average score: 38-15). This guy is tougher on the Midwest than potholes. April snow flurries are more welcomed in the greater Chicago area.

Saturday, the most confrontational moment came before the ball was kicked off, the teams coming together near one Coliseum tunnel en masse to holler, taunt, dance and burn their excessive testosterone.

As a result, nine policemen were summoned to stand along the 50-yard line between the Trojans and Irish during pregame toe touches. This was unusual at the Coliseum in that the people who are armed typically are outside the stadium.

"Just a little push-push," Maiava said. "Guys were ready to play, I guess. That set the tone for the game. We pretty much took it from there."

Coach Charlie Weis offensive-coordinated three Super Bowl champions in the NFL. Here, his team needed three quarters to secure its initial first down.

Notre Dame currently is a program with cool helmets, a classic fight song and an offense that would struggle to score during layup lines.

"It was only a matter of time before they got deflated," senior linebacker Brian Cushing said. "I think they realized on offense they weren't going anywhere."

And now, it appears, neither are the Trojans this bowl season.

Pasadena bound, like it or not. Rose Bowl and bust.