LOS ANGELES — When Juron Criner stretched and stumbled across the goal line for Arizona's go-ahead touchdown, the half-empty Coliseum fell into a gloomy silence that matched the dark clouds above Southern California's once-intimidating stadium.

Over on the Wildcats' sideline, it was all sunny skies and Hollywood endings. After a bunch of crazy finishes and brutal losses, long-struggling Arizona is headed to a fine reward for its most impressive season in a decade.

Criner dived into the end zone with a 36-yard TD pass from Nick Foles with 3:14 to play, and Arizona likely wrapped up a Holiday Bowl berth with a 21-17 victory over not-so-mighty No. 20 USC yesterday.

"It feels amazing," Criner said. "It's an indescribable feeling. How would you describe it if somebody asked you how it feels to rewrite history?"

Foles passed for 239 yards and two TDs and ran for another score for the Wildcats (8-4, 6-3 Pac-10), who finally beat USC for the first time in coach Mike Stoops' tenure by scoring the final touchdown in a defense-dominated game.

Although bowl berths won't be given out until tomorrow, Holiday Bowl officials had said they were likely to select the winner of this game. While the Pac-10's No. 2 bowl would have been a consolation prize for USC (8-4, 5-4), it's a sweepstakes jackpot for the Wildcats, who won the Las Vegas Bowl last season in their first bowl appearance since 1998

"With such a big bowl on the line, and a finish of anywhere from second to sixth (in the Pac-10), it was a big thing for us," Stoops said. "It's been like this all year. I've never seen a year like this. ... I don't know if we have the best players, but we're awfully good if we're balanced."

After Jordan Congdon made a 37-yard field goal with 7:13 left to put the Trojans ahead, Arizona's struggling offense suddenly jolted into life, converting three straight third downs on the decisive drive. When Foles saw single coverage on his top receiver, he changed the play to a streak route for Criner, who caught the long pass and eluded a tackle before scoring.

"It comes down to will and wanting it, and our guys have a lot of heart," said Foles, who went 22 of 40 but made several clutch throws, including an early TD pass to Delashaun Dean. "USC played great, but our guys wanted it more."

Arizona secured a share of second in the Pac-10 with its first eight-win regular season since 1998 and knocked off a ranked team for the sixth straight season under Stoops. The Wildcats also ended a seven-game losing streak against USC.

NO. 5 CINCINNATI 45, NO. 14 PITTSBURGH 44

PITTSBURGH — Tony Pike's 29-yard touchdown pass to Armon Binns with 33 seconds remaining finished the Bearcats frantic comeback from a 21-point deficit and secured a BCS berth with their second consecutive Big East title.

Freshman Dion Lewis' three touchdowns and 194 yards rushing carried Pitt (9-3, 5-2) to leads of 31-10, 38-24 and 44-38, only to have the Bearcats (12-0, 7-0) rally each time.

Mardy Gilyard had a 99-yard kickoff return only 70 seconds before halftime after Pitt had opened its 21-point lead, then he made it 31-24 in the third quarter with a 68-yard TD catch.

Gilyard's 49-yard kickoff return also led to Pike's 8-yard scoring pass to D.J. Woods that cut Pitt's lead to 38-30 early in the fourth quarter.

NO. 12 GEORGIA TECH 39, NO. 25 CLEMSON 34

TAMPA, Fla. — Georgia Tech's swift turnaround under Paul Johnson now includes its first Atlantic Coast Conference title in more than a decade.

Jonathan Dwyer's 15-yard touchdown run with 1:20 remaining lifted the Yellow Jackets (11-2) over the Tigers (8-5) in the ACC championship game.

Josh Nesbitt threw a 70-yard TD pass to DeMaryius Thomas and Scott Blair kicked a title game-record four field goals to help the Yellow Jackets win the crown — Tech's first since sharing it with Florida State in 1998 — in their second season under Johnson, a former University of Hawai'i assistant.

ACC player of the year C.J. Spiller rushed for 233 yards and four touchdowns for Clemson (8-5), which has lost two straight following a six-game winning streak.

EAST CAROLINA 38, NO. 18 HOUSTON 32

GREENVILLE, N.C. — Dominique Lindsay and Giavanni Ruffin each ran for two touchdowns while the Pirates' (9-4) defense hung in against the Cougars' (10-3) powerful offense to win the Conference USA championship for the second straight season.

Dwayne Harris had a big day with 123 yards receiving and a 22-yard touchdown catch. He also had a 69-yard kickoff return to set up East Carolina's first touchdown.

East Carolina is the first team to win consecutive C-USA titles since the league went to divisional play in 2005.

Case Keenum completed 56 of 75 passes for 527 yards and five TDs for Houston.

WASHINGTON 42, NO. 19 CALIFORNIA 10

SEATTLE — Jake Locker made what could be his Washington farewell a memorable one, throwing for three touchdowns and running for two more, and the Huskies (5-7, 4-5) closed out their redemptive first season under Steve Sarkisian with a rout of the Golden Bears (8-4, 5-4).

A year removed from an 0-12 embarrassment that closed with a 48-7 rout at the hands of the Golden Bears in Tyrone Willingham's final game, Washington put a final cap on this season with an effort that made 2008 an afterthought.

Locker started with a 40-yard TD pass to Jermaine Kearse on Washington's first drive, then added touchdown runs of 19 and 2 yards in the second quarter as the Huskies jumped to a 21-3 lead and were never challenged.

NO. 24 WEST VIRGINIA 24, RUTGERS 21

PISCATAWAY, N.J. — Noel Devine and Ryan Clarke each ran for a touchdown and JT Thomas' interception with 1:59 left sealed the Mountaineers' victory over the Scarlet Knights.

In beating Rutgers for the 15th straight time, West Virginia (9-3, 5-2 Big East) earned a berth in the Gator Bowl, possibly against Florida State and former WVU coach Bobby Bowden in his final game.

The Scarlet Knights (8-4, 3-4), who dropped to 4-31-2 against the Mountaineers, could go to any of four bowls.