Upward and Onward

USC has earned at least a share of its second consecutive Pacific 10 Conference title and its first berth in the Rose Bowl since 1995.

USC, though, would gladly trade staying home and playing in Pasadena on Jan. 1 for the chance to play for the national title in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 4 in New Orleans.

Following Ohio State’s loss to Michigan and USC’s third consecutive rout over UCLA, the Trojans are expected to move from third to second today in the bowl championship series standings.

The Trojans have their third and final bye this week, but could earn the chance to play for their first national championship since 1978 if they defeat Oregon State on Dec. 6 at the Coliseum.

On Sunday, Coach Pete Carroll said the conference title and Rose Bowl berth were “a great reward” for his team and staff. A victory over Oregon State would make USC the Pac-10’s outright champion for the first time since 1989.

Carroll said he would not allow himself to start thinking about national championship possibilities until it is definite that a victory over Oregon State would send USC to New Orleans.

“It’s not going to be an issue or decided until it’s over,” Carroll said, referring to a regular season that still includes games between Louisiana State and Arkansas among others.

USC will practice today, Tuesday and Wednesday, then take three days off. The Trojans will return to practice Sunday night and begin preparations for Oregon State, which also has a bye this week.

“It’s different [from] when the other team is playing and you’re not,” Carroll said. “We’re going to maximize the break.”

Several situations should make for an interesting bye week, not the least of which is Arizona’s search for a coach.

Trojan offensive coordinator Norm Chow was scheduled to interview for the job on Sunday in Southern California.

Arizona officials also were reportedly scheduled to interview former Arizona linebacker Ricky Hunley, a Cincinnati Bengal assistant coach who was in California for Sunday’s game against the San Diego Chargers.

Oklahoma defensive coordinator Mike Stoops, who interviewed for the Arizona job last week and is regarded as the front-runner for the job, was reportedly scheduled to be in Los Angeles for a second interview.

Attempts to reach Chow were unsuccessful Sunday night, but Carroll said Chow’s success during his career at Brigham Young, North Carolina State and USC would make him a tough choice to pass up, especially after the Trojans dominated Arizona in a 45-0 victory Nov. 15 at Tucson.

“I don’t know how a guy can do any more to impress than what he’s done over the years,” Carroll said. “... That doesn’t mean they’d [offer Chow the job], and that doesn’t mean he would take it.”

Chow, 57, turned down an offer to become coach at Kentucky last December. In the locker room after USC’s victory over UCLA, he did not sound like a man in a hurry to leave the Trojans.

“There’s 90,000 people out there,” he said of the crowd that watched his offense overwhelm the Bruins. “I like winning.”

The bye week also provides junior quarterback Brandon Hance an opportunity to take multiple repetitions as the back-up to Matt Leinart.

Hance moved up the depth chart when freshman John David Booty suffered a broken left wrist Saturday. Carroll said the coaching staff would probably discuss whether to move tight end Matt Cassel back to quarterback for depth purposes, but added that Billy Hart could also serve in the No. 3 role.

Although the Trojans gave up a 99-yard touchdown return by UCLA’s Maurice Drew, Carroll said he was not concerned about his team’s kickoff coverage.

“We missed him about three times,” Carroll said. “Poor tackling is different than having breakdowns in coverage.”

Several USC players -- including linebacker Matt Grootegoed, who has missed the last four games because of an ankle sprain -- will use the bye week to come back from nagging injuries.

Others, such as the defensive linemen, could probably use the rest.

Defensive tackle Mike Patterson extended himself in the third quarter when he picked up a fumble by UCLA quarterback Drew Olson and raced 52 yards for a touchdown.

“I felt like I was running 110 yards,” Patterson said. “The only thing on my mind was, ‘Keep going!’ ”

Tackle Shaun Cody intercepted a pass by Olson on a two-point conversion attempt after Drew’s fourth-quarter touchdown and rambled to the UCLA five-yard line before he was brought down.

“I felt all right the first 50 yards, but after that there was no way I was going to make it unless I got a key block,” Cody said.

End Kenechi Udeze, who recovered a fumble in the end zone for a touchdown in the second quarter, said Patterson and Cody tested his stamina.

“I was getting tired running up and down the field,” he said.