It’s Last Bush Push for Heisman

The Heisman Trophy is often won in the final weeks of the regular season.

USC’s Carson Palmer clinched it in 2002 with his performance in the finale against Notre Dame and Matt Leinart did the same last year in the second-to-last game against the Fighting Irish.

Trojan running back Reggie Bush, however, might have redefined the meaning of fast finish.

The junior rushed for 260 yards and two touchdowns in USC’s 66-19 victory over UCLA on Saturday. The game before, he had 513 all-purpose yards, including 294 rushing, against Fresno State.

Bush’s 554 yards rushing are a USC record for consecutive games.

“What more can he do than what he’s done in the last two weeks?” Coach Pete Carroll said Sunday after the official announcement that the top-ranked Trojans would play second-ranked Texas for the national title in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4.

Invitations to the Heisman announcement and presentation will not be issued until Wednesday, but Bush and Leinart will be in New York on Saturday. Bush, Leinart, receiver Dwayne Jarrett and offensive lineman Taitusi Lutui will depart Wednesday for Orlando, Fla., where they will take part in an awards show.

Leinart will accept the Johnny Unitas Award in Louisville, Ky., on Friday and then join Bush in New York.

“You can’t control the Heisman voting,” Bush said. “All you can do is make plays, help your team win every game, compete and hope for the best after that.”

Bush is regarded as the potential No. 1 pick in the NFL draft, but he reiterated that he had not decided whether he would turn pro or return for a final season of eligibility. After Saturday’s game, Bush’s stepfather, LaMar Griffin, said that Bush had proved himself and was ready to turn pro.

“He was really putting words in my mouth. I talked to him about that,” Bush said. “I haven’t made any decision. I told him that for him to say that was really kind of putting me out there, just putting me kind of with my back to the wall.

“So I talked to him about that. And told him, ‘If I haven’t made a decision yet you shouldn’t be out there telling people what I’m going to do or what you think I’m going to do.’ ”

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USC coaches will be on the road recruiting most of this week. ... LenDale White, who rushed for 154 yards and scored three touchdowns -- one on a reception -- said his bruised left shoulder was sore but he expected to be healed by the Rose Bowl. ... USC’s 430 yards rushing against UCLA were its most since accumulating 491 against Utah State in 1989.