updated 5:41 a.m. ET Dec. 5, 2004

Southern California, Oklahoma and Auburn have created an unprecedented headache for the Bowl Championship Series.

The Trojans, Sooners and Tigers all completed 12-0 regular seasons on Saturday, the first time since the BCS was implemented in 1998 that three major conference teams will be unbeaten heading into the bowls.

But there’s only room for two in the Orange Bowl, and it looks as if USC and Oklahoma will be the national championship matchup when the final BCS standings come out Sunday and the bowl pairings are made officials.

Barring some strange occurrences, Auburn’s consolation prize will be a trip to the Sugar Bowl with their first Southeastern Conference title since 1989.

“We definitely deserve a chance to play for the national championship,” said Auburn quarterback Jason Campbell, who led the Tigers to a 38-28 victory over Tennessee in the SEC title game. “We’ve done all we can do. We’ve done what people asked. But one thing they can’t take away is our SEC championship.”

No. 1 USC wasn’t at its best, but Reggie Bush was and his two scintillating long TD runs helped the Trojans hold off UCLA 29-24.

After the game, USC fans tossed oranges on the field and the Trojans celebrated an accomplishment they missed out on last year. USC was No. 1 in both polls after the regular season in 2003, but the old BCS formula put Oklahoma and LSU in the title game.

“I don’t see how they couldn’t take us,” USC quarterback Matt Leinart said. “We’re in great position, and I think they’d be crazy to keep us out.”

The Trojans settled for a co-national title last season. With a new BCS formula in place this season, they have a chance to have the crown all to themselves with another win.

No. 2 Oklahoma was the most impressive of the three on Saturday, pounding overmatched Colorado 42-3 and leaving little doubt that the Sooners, second in the last BCS standings, will keep their lead over third-place Auburn.

Jason White threw three TD passes for Oklahoma and the Sooners’ other Heisman contender, freshman Adrian Peterson, ran for three more.

“They came out ready to play,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said. “They had an edge to them all week, you could tell. They came out and played that way.”

Campbell was impeccable for No. 3 Auburn, tossing three touchdown passes and gaining over 400 total yards. But he probably bolstered his Heisman resume more than his team’s chances of playing for a national title.

“I just hope everyone will be fair when they vote tonight,” Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said. “I know we’ll get at least one first-place vote” in the coaches poll.

California will be eagerly awaiting those votes after a 26-16 victory over Southern Mississippi.

The Bears were trying to earn their first Rose Bowl bid since 1958 and hold off Texas in the BCS standings. Cal (.8431) was fourth and Texas was close behind in fifth.

“We want the Rose Bowl so bad we can taste it,” Cal defensive lineman Lorenzo Alexander said.

The Longhorns would slip ahead of the Bears if they could gain a handful of points in the final polls Sunday.

If the Longhorns bump Cal, they could end up in the Rose Bowl against Michigan, which had already sewn up the Big Ten’s automatic bid. Texas has never played in the BCS, but has been close several times.

Saturday started with several BCS spots up for grabs in six games involving eight ranked teams.

No. 10 Virginia Tech defeated No. 9 Miami 16-10 to win the Atlantic Coast Conference title and a BCS bid. The Hokies could be headed to the Sugar Bowl. The last time Virginia Tech played in the BCS, the Hokies and Michael Vick lost to Florida State in the Sugar Bowl with the national title on the line.

Pittsburgh might have gotten the Big East’s automatic BCS bid regardless of what it did against South Florida on Saturday. The Panthers left no doubt, defeating South Florida 43-14 behind five TD passes by Tyler Palko. The Panthers (8-3) finished the season with six wins in seven games and would likely head to the Fiesta Bowl to play Utah if Oklahoma ends up in the Orange Bowl.

The Utes (11-0) finished their perfect season two weeks ago with a solid grip on sixth-place in the BCS standings. A top-six finish guarantees Utah its BCS spot, the first earned by a team from a non-BCS conference.

The Utes found out Saturday their BCS appearance will be the final game for coach Urban Meyer with Utah. Meyer is heading to Florida, but has said he wants to finish the season with the Utes.

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