Alexander: USC football stays alive for a bowl – but is that all there is?

LOS ANGELES – There is still a margin of error for USC. It’s not pretty, and certainly not what those who drew up the grand design for Trojans football had in mind, but it beats the alternative.

The Trojans need one victory in their last two games to become bowl-eligible. This, after winning a close one for a change, a 28-20 Big Ten triumph over Nebraska that wasn’t decided until Greedy Vance intercepted a pass in the end zone in the final five seconds, one that otherwise would have set up the Cornhuskers (5-5...