Notre Dame needs a hand from UCLA.(Chicago Tribune)

Notre Dame has a new favorite team: UCLA.

If the Bruins can upend No. 7 Washington State on Saturday in Pasadena, they would do for Notre Dame what Notre Dame couldn't do for itself_clinch a Bowl Championship Series berth.

The Fighting Irish may have to rely on the Bruins' charity because they fouled up a seemingly sure thing in their 44-13 annihilation Saturday night at Southern California.

Ever since Notre Dame trounced Florida State a month ago, it's been widely assumed that the Irish would draw a BCS berth if they're eligible. But Notre Dame was embarrassed so badly on national television that it has raised questions about whether the Orange Bowl would take the Irish over the more deserving Trojans_or whether the Orange might go in a different direction altogether.

There are hints the Orange may invite Iowa, which would send USC to the Sugar Bowl and Colorado to the Rose and Notre Dame to the Gator Bowl.

If the Bruins beat Washington State, the Orange Bowl won't have to choose. The Trojans would be undisputed Pac-10 champions and would be headed for a Rose Bowl showdown with Iowa. The Orange could then take the Irish without taking heat from the media and USC followers.

The situation is stickier if the Cougars beat UCLA. Then they'd be in the Rose Bowl and three teams would be contesting two BCS at-large berths _ No. 3 Iowa (11-1), No. 5 USC (10-2) and No. 11 Notre Dame (10-2).