LOS ANGELES -- The Rose Bowl hasn't been kind to Big Ten teams this decade.

The conference has dropped its past five Rose Bowl matchups and three of the losses were by Michigan.

Wisconsin was the most recent Big Ten team to win in Pasadena, defeating Stanford, 17-9, in 2000.

"We can't do anything about the last so many years that a Big Ten team hasn't won a Rose Bowl," said All-American center A.Q. Shipley from Moon High School. "But we can do something about this year."

No. 6 Penn State (11-1) will look to end the Big Ten's five-game Rose Bowl losing streak when it tackles No. 5 Southern California (11-1) on New Year's Day.

USC, which is favored by 9 1/2 points against the Nittany Lions, has won three of its past four Rose Bowl appearances.

The three lopsided wins have come against Big Ten teams. The Trojans beat Michigan, 28-14, in 2004 and, 32-18, in '07, and Illinois, 49-17, in January 2008,

USC defeated Big Ten powerhouse Ohio State, 35-3, in mid-September during the regular season. The Lions also beat the Buckeyes, 13-6.

When Shipley was awarded the Rimington Trophy as the nation's best center earlier this month, ESPN conducted a vote during the ceremony asking fans from all 50 states to pick the Rose Bowl winner.

Voters from 49 states chose USC. Penn State only was able to carry Pennsylvania.

"Glad we got one state," Shipley said, shrugging. "Obviously, it's disappointing that 49 other states don't think we have a shot."

USC is the highest-ranked team Penn State has played in a bowl game since it beat No. 1 Miami, 14-10, in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win the national championship.

Since losing to Oregon State, 27-21, Sept. 25 while ranked No. 1, the Trojans have won nine consecutive games and outscored the opposition, 342-56.

The Lions certainly are impressed with USC's lofty credentials, but they are not intimidated by USC's success, its recent domination of Big Ten teams, or its top-ranked defense.

"We played some defenses in the Big Ten that I think are just as good as this defense, so I don't know that it's our biggest challenge," said guard Stefen Wisniewski from Central Catholic High School. "It's certainly a big one, though. We feel like we're going to attack it like any other game. We're probably even more prepared for this one because we have such a long time to get ready."

The USC defense is led by middle linebacker Rey Maualuga, who captured the Bednarik Award, given to the nation's top defensive player.

"We really feel like we need to prove ourselves as an offense in this game," tailback Evan Royster said. "And we definitely think we can."

USC is appearing in its record 33rd Rose Bowl, compiling a 23-9 record. The Trojans are 16-7 against Big Ten teams. The last time USC lost to a Big Ten team in the Rose Bowl was 1989, when it absorbed a 22-14 loss to Michigan.

"Obviously, they think we're one of the top teams nationally, as well as in the BCS," said safety Anthony Scirrotto, who is among 17 Penn State seniors trying to win their fourth bowl game in as many years.

"I think it's a well-matched game. Win or lose, it's going to be a battle. I think we'll earn a lot of respect from people after this one."

Underdog Penn State, which was eliminated from national championship contention after a one-point loss at Iowa in early November, would like nothing better than to prove its many doubters wrong.

"No one thought that we could win the Big Ten or make it to a BCS game," quarterback Daryll Clark said. "There was a quarterback controversy at the beginning of the year. I would hear once [coach] Joe [Paterno] made the decision to go with me that it was a bad decision. You use that stuff.

"For me to sit here and say we don't read, we don't see things on the Internet, I'd be lying, because it's everywhere. We don't feed into it very much, but we do remember some things that were said, and we use it for motivation."

• Game: Penn State (11-1) vs. Southern California (11-1).

• When: 4:30 p.m. Jan. 1.

• Where: Pasadena, Calif.

• TV: WTAE.