LOS ANGELES — Win and ... you're still not in. Nor are you out.

Friday night in Tempe, Ariz., essentially will be a Pac-10 playoff between UCLA and Arizona State, with the winner still in bowl contention. The records are the same — 4-6 — as are the conference victories — Washington, Washington State and Stanford. The two schools' perspective of their situation might be very different.

"We have nothing to lose," UCLA defensive end Korey Bosworth said. "It's all or nothing."

Coach Rick Neuhseisel has stated during the past several weeks it would be "disappointing" if UCLA did not make a bowl game in his first season.

But not Arizona State disappointing.

A year ago, the Sun Devils won 10 games and a share of the Pac-10 title in Coach Dennis Erickson's first season. Conference media picked them to finish second this year. That standing was not affected by a home loss to UNLV in September. But Arizona State clearly was, as it lost its next five games, too.

"It's been hard for us," quarterback Rudy Carpenter said on behalf of Arizona State's senior class.

"We thought we were a part of what was getting everything turned around to being 10-game winners every year."

Outside expectations were never as high in Westwood, where UCLA had lost too many starters from 2007 and accumulated too many question marks before 2008 began. Some have been answered: freshmen safety Rahim Moore, linebacker Akeem Ayers, left tackle Jeff Baca. Others figure to carry into next year: quarterback Kevin Craft, the rest of the offensive line.

"Rarely in life do things go the way you wanted them to and planned them to," running back Kahlil Bell said. "It hasn't been the year we wanted, but we can finish the right way."

Two weeks ago, UCLA traveled to Seattle and beat up on a winless Washington team. Bell called it a "huge win."

He was serious, as it was the Bruins' first road victory in four tries. They have been outscored, 143-78, outside of the Rose Bowl. Bell also didn't blink when he said, "It felt good to break the line of scrimmage untouched."

Few things have come easy for Bell and the Bruins. He suffered an ankle injury in the first quarter of the first game and has been nagged by it since. To his credit, the senior has willed himself back just so he could run behind an offensive line that has featured eight different starting combinations in 10 games.

UCLA is 116th in the nation in rushing.

"It's a team sport," Bell said. "That's more evident this year than any other year I've played college football."

The Bruins have been more successful throwing, except for those interceptions — 17. They have been better on defense, except for those rushing yards — an average of 180.7 yards allowed per game.

They have been competitive, except for those fourth-quarter meltdowns — Arizona, Cal, Oregon State.

They have been close to scoring big upsets, except for those anticlimactic endings — Fresno State, Oregon.

And yet they still have a chance to save what's left of their season and continue the school's six-year bowl streak.

"You're playing for that prize at the end," Bell said. "Our prize isn't what we wanted it to be but that's what we're playing for."

The Bruins are not solely motivated by playing in a bowl game. Bell talks about leaving a legacy at UCLA. Defensive tackle Brigham Harwell wants to be an All-American. Receiver Terrence Austin is threatening to break the school's single-season all-purpose yardage record.

Each, though, said his biggest goal was to build the program. Austin, the only one of the aforementioned trio returning next season, said the Bruins would not have to start over in 2009 if they win their final two regular-season games.

"This will signify a birth in our program — the turnaround," he said. "If we win out, it's only going to give us more confidence next year."

A few weeks ago, Neuheisel began to play up the idea that this year's team could still help lay those first bricks. The players apparently have bought in.

"I've always wanted to be part of a change," Harwell said. "We know if we win these last two, it'll be a change in the program."

A UCLA victory in Tempe would be, at the very least, a change from 2008.