Can Illini fool the 'experts' -- again?

PASADENA, Calif. -- On a prominent wall in USC's locker room, there's a big picture of a famous 92,000-seat stadium with a simple caption:

"OWN THE ROSE BOWL"

"Every single day they see that when they come off the practice field," said Trojans coach Pete Carroll, "because it's the goal of our program to get here and win this thing."

It's a goal USC achieves with stunning frequency. If Citi ever stops being presenting sponsor for the Rose Bowl, then Carroll might take its place.

No school has played in more Rose Bowls than Southern California, which will make its 32nd appearance today. And how many times have you heard how this marks the Trojans' fourth Rose Bowl in the last five years?

As for Illinois, it just discovered six weeks ago it finally has what it takes to beat Northwestern.

Does that sufficiently portray the potentially surreal nature of today's 94th Rose Bowl matchup (3:30 p.m., ABC 7 with kickoff at about 4:10 p.m.)?

If not, here's more:

USC won 10 regular-season games and the Rose Bowl in 2006 -- and the Trojans were bummed they didn't play in the national title game for the third year in a row.

Illinois won 10 games against Division I-A competition and didn't sniff a bowl game from 2002 through 2006.

USC had seven players picked in the first round of the NFL draft over the previous five years. The Trojans could supply as many as five more first-rounders in the 2008 draft.

Illinois might have its first first-rounder in 12 years if junior running back Rashard Mendenhall turns pro early.

ESPN.com asked college football fans to log on and predict the winner of today's game. A whopping 11 percent of America voted for Illinois.

You see where this might be headed?

Ron Zook does. And it thrills him. While Illinois fans will look at the opposing sideline today and see annoying cardinal and gold, Zook will see a treasured blueprint.

"When you talk about where you want your program, you look at Southern Cal," Zook said. "It's year after year after year. The thing that I'm excited about is we're going to have that opportunity.

"We're not where we need to be. We're going to be a better football team next year than we are this year because your players are older, they're more experienced."

But that doesn't do much good for Illinois' 10 senior starters, except for getting to experience the sheer thrill of leading their program's rise from the land of the inconsequential.

"J Leman has been here through the dark times, as have I," said Illinois junior linebacker Brit Miller. "We was talking (Friday) and what he said was, 'You can't have the sweet without the bitter.' And we've had the bitter.

"This is the best way to send out J Leman and this crew of seniors. They went through a 1-win season. That's tough to do. You go out and lose in front of 50,000 people -- and to do it 11 times -- I felt for these guys."

Upon looking at the Rose Bowl from that angle, it would seem Illinois has nothing to lose and everything to gain today.

Taking an angry stance in the Rose Bowl turf is a reward.

Being the only show in the nation from 4 to 7:30 p.m. is a reward.

Playing in front of more than 30,000 orange-clad fans inside the Rose Bowl is a reward.

"That surge that you feel through the whole population of your fans is really powerful and it's really fun," said Carroll, who restored a USC program that made one Rose Bowl appearance in the 11 years prior to his arrival.

"It's one of those moments in time. It is for us every time we come. I know they share in that."

If the Illini lose, Zook will say he needs more "ballers" and then go out and get them.

If the Illini win, Zook will have his pick of the "ballers." And his orange and blue-print will be one step closer to reality.

"It'd just be so cool to see a Big Ten win in the Rose Bowl," Miller said. "It would propel our program. We'd definitely be top 10 next year coming out.

"We've got so many pieces still in place for next year that we might get a little bit more respect. That's why we're playing this game. The rewards for this game are much higher than any game we've been in thus far."