In one of the most important Pac-10 games of the season, Cal traveled to Los Angeles to battle the USC Trojans at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. A victory by either side would ensure a BCS berth for that team, since the winner would be crowned champion of the Pac-10 because they would hold the tiebreaker over the other. While the previous week's loss knocked Cal from the talks of hunting for the national title, a victory would have ensured its first Rose Bowl berth since 1959.