Muted Response to BCS

USC’s drop from second to third in the bowl championship series standings on Monday drew a predictably muted response from the Trojans as they began preparations for Saturday’s game against UCLA.

Ohio State, a 16-13 winner over Purdue in overtime three days ago, jumped ahead of USC, which defeated Arizona, 45-0.

USC plays UCLA and then finishes the regular season at home against Oregon State on Dec. 6. Ohio State plays its regular-season finale on Saturday at Michigan.

USC and Ohio State are vying to gain a berth in the Jan. 4 Sugar Bowl for a probable matchup against top-ranked Oklahoma.

“It’s obvious where we want to play, but things are out of our control,” senior flanker Keary Colbert said. “There’s nothing we can do but win the last two games and see where that leaves us.”

Coach Pete Carroll said Monday’s developments did nothing to change his view of the process that determines the BCS championship game participants.

“I don’t understand it any better than I did before -- and it doesn’t matter if I do,” Carroll said. “Somewhere down the line [Athletic Director] Mike Garrett and President [Steven] Sample will say, ‘OK, you get to play here.’ ”

Several players said the Trojans should not feel slighted if they win their last two games and other teams go to the Sugar Bowl.

“If we end up staying home and going to the Rose Bowl, hey, how can you not be happy?” offensive lineman John Drake said. “People see that as an injustice, but maybe one day the system will change and they’ll figure out a way that [makes] everybody equal and is not [decided] by some computer that doesn’t see the players play.”

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Carroll said starting fullback Brandon Hancock would probably miss the UCLA game because of a knee injury.

Hancock, a sophomore, said an MRI exam of his left knee on Monday showed no torn ligaments. He planned to meet with a doctor today to map out a rehabilitation program.

“I still see myself being able to play [Dec. 6] against Oregon State,” he said. “At worst, I would be ready for the bowl game.”

Strong-side linebacker Matt Grootegoed said he would probably be out for at least another week because of a high ankle sprain. Grootegoed has missed the last three games because of the injury suffered on Oct. 11 against Stanford.

Weak-side linebacker Melvin Simmons (bruised fibula) said he hoped to practice Wednesday and play against UCLA.

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Tight end Alex Holmes, who is redshirting this season because of a back injury, did some light running during practice for the first time since training camp. Holmes said he had asked university compliance personnel to determine whether he could play in a bowl game without losing a year of eligibility.... Desmond Reed, a 5-foot-9 freshman, is playing running back for the scout team to simulate UCLA’s Maurice Drew and Tyler Ebell. “We’ll wear him out this week,” Carroll said. “He has to be both those guys.” ... Sophomore safety Mike Ross, who suffered a concussion against Arizona, did not practice, but might return today.