Los Angeles ? Having made their points on the field, the USC Trojans stated their case for a trip to New Orleans and a shot at the national title.

“We deserve to go. We’re 11-1, and we’ve been playing well the last couple of months. I think we’ve done as much as we can do. But it’s not in our hands,” Matt Leinart said Saturday after throwing for five touchdowns in the second-ranked Trojans’ 52-28 victory over Oregon State.

The Trojans (11-1, 7-1 Pac-10) find out today whether they go to the Sugar Bowl for the national title showdown or stay home to play in the Rose Bowl.

They were No. 2 in the BCS rankings heading into their regular-season finale against Oregon State. The top two teams in the final BCS standings will meet Jan. 4 in New Orleans for the national championship.

“We have everything you want for a national championship game,” USC coach Pete Carroll said. “You have a big, exciting offense and a tough defense.”

Leinart believes the Trojans are in a no-lose situation.

“We get to go to the Rose Bowl; that’s the worst that could happen to us,” the quarterback said.

Sugar Bowl chairman John Busenlener won’t have any say in who plays in the game, but he obviously wouldn’t mind having the high-scoring Trojans there.

“They’re a team with a lot of talent,” said Busenlener, at the Coliseum to watch the win over Oregon State. “I’m really impressed with their receivers, and their balanced offense, defense, and, tonight, special teams.”