"There's something happenin' here, what it is ain't exactly clear,"
— The Buffalo Springfield

Ninth grade algebra was easier to understand than this season's BCS computer rankings, and what team stands to go to which bowl. The only item that seems real is that if USC wins it's last two games against Notre Dame (this Saturday in Los Angeles) and UCLA (on Dec. 4 in the Rose Bowl), the Trojans presumably will earn a ticket to the Orange Bowl to play either Oklahoma or Auburn for the national championship. After that, the road the BCS eligible teams will travel is as foggy as the Long Beach freeway on a November night.

California, as of now, stands to play Michigan in the Rose Bowl, but may not play in the Rose Bowl if Texas A&M beats Texas in their Big 12 showdown this weekend. If the Aggies upset the No. 6 Longhorns, unbeaten Boise State could get a trip to Pasadena New Year's day if the Broncos win their final regular season game against Nevada (Reno). What a match up that would be for the Tournament of Roses, Michigan vs. Boise State.

Utah all but assured itself a spot in the Fiesta Bowl last weekend when the Utes beat BYU to complete an marvelous undefeated season for head coach Urban Meyer. But Utah could also get an invitation to the Sugar Bowl.

It is refreshing, though, that both Boise and Utah have a chance to bust the big conferences' lock on the BCS bowls.

BIG MAN ON BIG MAN: Notre Dame isn't expected to give No. 1-ranked USC much of a tussle in the Coliseum Saturday night when the two intersectional rivals play on national television in prime time. The Irish (6-4) needed a bye week to recover from it's shoddy loss against Pittsburgh in South Bend. USC is favored on some Nevada game cards by as many as 25 points. But, Notre Dame is a team that could give USC trouble. The Irish have the best running game that USC faces this season. It won't be easy to stop Darius Walker and Brian Grant. The Trojans' offensive line is limping (Manuel Wright is out for the season) and the Irish's defense could give it game. Notre Dame, though, is vulnerable, as the Panthers showed, at cornerback, and Norm Chow should be drawing up plays for quarterback Matt Leinart to exploit the weakness. USC wins by 17, 34-17.