It was as much of a thank you as a rival will ever get.
"I'm not going to say that much, but the winning team was the team we wanted to win," UCLA receiver Thomas Duarte said.
He was talking about USC's win over then-No. 3 Utah on Saturday.
The victory by UCLA's crosstown rival boosted the Bruins as contenders in the Pac-12 Conference's South Division as they prepare for Saturday's game at the Rose Bowl against Colorado.
UCLA is now one game behind Utah, which it plays Nov. 21 in Salt Lake City.