If the Sheraton Hawai'i Bowl wants to match UCLA against the University of Hawai'i on Christmas Eve, it will now have to cross its fingers the Emerald Bowl passes on the Bruins first, the NCAA has determined.

A clarification of bowl selection procedure by the NCAA yesterday means the San Francisco-based Emerald Bowl would have a shot at the Bruins, whom the Hawai'i Bowl covets, if UCLA (6-5) loses to No. 2-ranked Southern California (10-1) Saturday at the Rose Bowl. USC is a 14-point pick in Las Vegas.

A USC win leaves the Bruins 6-6, which the Hawai'i Bowl had counted on to be able to take UCLA despite having the sixth — and last — choice among bowls under contract with the Pac-10. The NCAA requires that 7-win teams not be passed over in the selection for 6-win teams. It had been widely believed in the Pac-10 and bowl community that the policy would forbid a bowl with a higher pick from taking UCLA since Arizona State is 7-5.

But Jim Muldoon, associate Pac-10 commissioner, said the conference asked the NCAA to clarify the policy and was told since the Hawai'i Bowl would have to take ASU if the Emerald Bowl passed on the Sun Devils, then the policy would still be met.

"We have to wait until the (Emerald Bowl) makes its pick," said Jim Donovan, executive director of the Hawai'i Bowl. "That's the way it was explained to us after the NCAA ruled."

Emerald Bowl spokesman Doug Kelly said the game hasn't decided whom it would take in the event USC wins and brings about a five-way tie of teams with 4-5 conference records. He said UCLA and Arizona State remain under consideration and a decision might not be made until after the USC-UCLA game.

The Emerald Bowl will match its Pac-10 representative against Florida State.

The Bowl Championship Series is expected to release California (8-3) from BCS consideration today. If that happens, the Holiday Bowl, which has the second pick of Pac-10 schools, will take the Bears. The Sun Bowl, with the third pick, would then take Oregon State (8-4) and the Las Vegas Bowl, with the fourth choice, plans to select Oregon (7-5).

Under the NCAA ruling, Arizona (6-6) or Washington State (6-6) could also be taken by the Emerald Bowl but aren't nearly as attractive picks. ASU beat both Arizona and WSU and the Cougars have lost three consecutive games. UCLA beat ASU.

If the Emerald Bowl takes any of the 6-6 teams, the Hawai'i Bowl is obligated to take the only remaining 7-win team, ASU.

The Hawai'i Bowl finds UCLA the most attractive possibility among teams that could be available because of the Bruins' pedigree, number of alumni, closer proximity and large television market.

Reach Ferd Lewis at flewis@honoluluadvertiser.com.