LOS ANGELES — The colors are out around Southern California.

Blue and gold or cardinal and gold.

UCLA coach Karl Dorrell sees them on flags mounted on his neighbors' houses as he leaves his Stevenson Ranch home, Westwood bound, for his work day.

"Those are the constant reminders of what we need to get done," said Dorrell.

UCLA (6-5) will face No. 8 USC (9-2) at the Coliseum this afternoon with both teams still alive in the Rose Bowl race.

USC can clinch the Pacific-10 berth with a victory. UCLA can become the granddaddy bowl's first five-loss participant with a win and an Arizona State loss to Arizona today.

"They have a little clearer picture than we do," said Dorrell of USC.

But the game's implications go well beyond New Year's Day.

A year has passed since Eric McNeal's late, tipped, diving interception enabled UCLA to protect a 13-9 lead and keep USC out of the national championship game. But so little has changed.

USC, full strength after a season affected by injury, is considered one of the hottest teams in college football. USC is nearly a three-touchdown favorite. Meanwhile, UCLA, still healing after its own beat-up campaign, sees its coaching staff back on hot the seat.

"There's a lot of things swirling around the program," said Dorrell.

If anything has changed, the Bruins now know what it's like to beat their crosstown rivals. Which means they know what it takes.

"I think we played with our hearts out last year for a full 60 minutes," said UCLA safety Dennis Keyes. "That's what I remember, guys flying around to the football and attacking on every play.

"We've got to come out this week and make sure we're on top of everything."

And the Trojans know what it means — and what it takes — to lose this game.

"It's been I think in the back of our minds all year," said USC coach Pete Carroll. "You've got to bring your best to every single game, game in and game out, if you're going to have great seasons."

Last year's upset has been hashed and rehashed this week.

"They played a great football game against us, and we didn't," said Carroll. "They were able to take advantage of the opportunity that was at hand.

"You know, hats off to them for pulling that off. You know, they know that and we know that and as far as we're concerned that's all we need to know about it."

Which means both sides are playing down the vengeance factor. Carroll called the need to even the score from last year "shallow."

"We're not talking about it and we don't talk about the game we would have won two years ago or whatever," said Carroll. "None of that stuff really matters.

"To think that we need motivation to go back to some revenge factor or something is really off line for how we operate. We don't work that way.

The Bruins players have even distanced themselves from last year's accomplishment.

"Last year, we were the better team that day, but this is a new year with new teams," said UCLA running back Chris Markey. "We can't worry about last year. We have to worry about here and now."

Dorrell said he would encourage his players to remember what they accomplished last season, inasmuch as it helps them pull it off again this afternoon.

"We're still trying to gain momentum as a team and make an impression in this conference and this city," said Dorrell. "We're still working to get ourselves in position to be a big part of this city again."

"Last year is something you build from, but it's this year now. You have to prove that you have what it takes. That's why this team is excited to line it up and play it again."