COLLEGE REPORT DAILY REPORT : USC : Trojan Victory Could Be a Blockbuster

A lopsided victory over Notre Dame on Saturday at the Coliseum could land USC in the Blockbuster Bowl against Penn State, the executive director of the Jan. 1 game at Miami’s Joe Robbie Stadium said Tuesday.

Brian Flajole said that Blockbuster Bowl officials favor matching Stanford against Penn State, but the Trojans could change their thinking if they end a nine-game losing streak against the fifth-ranked Irish.

Two Blockbuster Bowl officials will attend Saturday’s game.

“Certainly, we’re extremely interested in Stanford, but there is some interest in Southern Cal,” Flajole said. “So, we just felt that we could not, at this point in time, totally rule them out.

“I cannot tell you that a big win puts them in front of Stanford, but certainly a big win would open it up to debate.”

Officials of the Freedom Bowl, to be played in Anaheim Stadium Dec. 29, say they will extend an invitation to USC to play Fresno State after the bowl coalition announces its lineup Dec. 6.