LOS ANGELES, Nov. 17 (UPI) -- Cornerback Antuan Simmons returned an interception 36 yards for a touchdown and USC extended its winning streak to four games Saturday with a 27-0 win over 21st-ranked UCLA.
Carson Palmer threw a touchdown pass and Chris Howard had a 34-yard touchdown run for the Trojans (6-5, 5-3), who closed their first season under coach Pete Carroll on a winning note. The Trojans won five of six games after a 1-4 start and their five losses where by a combined total of 25 points.
UCLA (6-4, 3-4), once a national title contender, has lost four straight games for the first time since a six-game slide in 1994. The Bruins, who play Arizona State on Dec. 1, had a similar collapse last season, losing five of their last seven games.
It also concluded a turbulent week for the Bruins, during which star running back DeShaun Foster was ruled ineligible for the rest of the season by the NCAA for receiving extra benefits.
USC leads the storied series, 37-27-7, and has won the last three games after an eight-game winning stretch for UCLA.
Palmer had a 66-yard completion to Kori Dickerson to set up a four-yard touchdown pass to Keary Colbert 3:14 into the game.
Simmons, who returned this season after sitting out 2000 with a life-threatening illness, returned an interception from Cory Paus 36 yards for a score on the final play of the first quarter.
David Davis kicked 20-yard field goals in the second and fourth quarters. Howard made it 24-0 with his touchdown run late in the third quarter.
