All the discussion and debate this week over what the Pac-12 needed to do if USC and Colorado both finished unbeaten in the South division is now moot.
The Buffaloes didn't deliver on their end -- losing 38-21 to Utah -- and now the Trojans technically don't have to win their game at UCLA either.
USC (4-0) will be the Pac-12 South champion either way, because it will finish with more conference wins than Colorado regardless of its outcome Saturday afternoon in the Rose Bowl.
The Trojans will host Washington (3-1) in the Coliseum on Friday at 5 p.m. PT on FOX.
That said, there's plenty else at stake -- momentum, a chance for an unbeaten season, a final statement to recruits before the early signing period starts Wednesday and the outside hopes of climbing the College Football Playoff rankings, where the Trojans are currently No. 15 and a steep longshot to find any path into the playoff.
But for a coach in Clay Helton who has been so embattled the last year two years, every success is valuable at this point and winning another installment of the rivalry series with the Bruins helps all the Trojans' causes.
USC also has a chance to remain the only unbeaten team in the Pac-12. As for the conference championship game next week, that's to be determined.
Washington (3-1) and Oregon (3-2) were the top contenders from the North, but they had their scheduled game Saturday cancelled due to the Huskies' COVID-19 situation, allowing Washington to claim the division title.
If Washington can't clear its COVID hurdles in time to play on Friday, Oregon would be substituted into the matchup. The Ducks and Colorado are otherwise scheduled to play in Los Angeles, to facilitate any game-swapping needed.
"We just got done with [this game]. This was a short week for us, so the kids got a feel for what it is for it to pop on you pretty quick," coach Clay Helton said Saturday night. "The only difference here is we're going to have to prepare for two teams while Washington and Oregon are obviously preparing for us. We'll take a nap tonight, get up really early in the morning tomorrow and go to work. This was a short week going Sunday and a Saturday game. Now we have Saturday to a Friday game. What a great opportunity. This is where we wanted to be at the beginning of this is put ourselves in for a chance to win a championship. ...
"We said any time, any place, anywhere, and we're fortunate, we're glad that we're home, we're glad that we're in the great city of Los Angeles and we'll see who we get and we'll go put the ball down and play."