Trojans Forced to Wait for Bruin Bid

With the Aloha Bowl ready to opt for Washington over USC, the Trojans’ remaining bowl hopes probably depend on UCLA being picked by the alliance or a possible Independence invitation.

If UCLA ends up in the alliance, three Pacific 10 teams could move up a notch in the conference bowl alignment, putting USC back in the Aloha.

Otherwise, the Independence is showing some renewed interest in USC as a candidate for a Dec. 28 matchup against a Southeastern Conference team, probably Louisiana State. But it remains uncertain if USC would accept a bid from any bowl it isn’t bound to by Pac-10 contracts.

The Las Vegas Bowl is an even more remote possibility, since it is considered another notch lower in prestige, with Air Force the probable opponent.

The Aloha was still enamored of USC despite the Arizona State loss that put No. 21 Washington in the picture, but Aloha and Pac-10 officials indicated Saturday that Washington will probably be selected because of the potential controversy if the Aloha snubbed a ranked team that beat USC head-to-head.

“The sentiment seems to be more that way,” an Aloha official said.