SOUTH BEND (AP) — The loss to Syracuse may have changed Notre Dame's bowl outlook drastically.

Barring an upset against USC, favored by a stunning 321/2 points on Saturday, the Gator Bowl is out and the Irish can only go to the Sun Bowl in El Paso Texas, if Rutgers (6-5) loses to Louisville (5-6) on Dec. 4. That's because of an NCAA rule that a bowl can't take a six-win team before all the available seven-win teams are taken.

But some conferences won't be able fill all their bowl slots. The Big 12, which probably will have two BCS berths, probably won't be able to fill all its slots, possibly leaving open a spot for Notre Dame in the Independence Bowl in Shreveport, La., on Dec. 28, the Papajohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 29, or the Texas Bowl in Houston on Dec. 30.

If Oregon State beats Oregon on Saturday to earn a Rose Bowl berth, that would leave some Pac 10 bowls open, including possibly the Poinsettia Bowl in San Diego on Dec. 23, the Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu on Dec. 24, or the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco on Dec. 27.

There are other options as well, such as the St. Petersburg Bowl, on Dec. 20, that probably would not work because Notre Dame's last day of final exams are on Dec. 19.

Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis said he believes the Irish should play in a bowl game even if they finish the season 6-6.

"I think the downside of not going to a bowl game is the extra practice that you miss to develop your younger players," he said. "If you were to lose the game and end up 6-6, no one is jumping up and down to do that. But at the same time that's multiple practices and development that could be going on that you end up losing out on, and I think in your program's sake I think it ends up hurting you in the long run."

___

NOT AT LIBERTY TO SAY: Notre Dame offensive coordinator Mike Haywood won't comment on media reports that the reason he missed some practices last week was that he was in Washington to interview for the head coaching job, saying he wasn't "at liberty" to talk about where he was.

"I'm not at liberty to talk about anything dealing with any interviews that I've had," he said.

Haywood, Notre Dame's offensive coordinator for four seasons, did say that job interviews don't come around often so coaches have to jump at the opportunity when they can.

Haywood took over play calling for the Irish this season, but Weis called the plays against Navy because Haywood missed a practice attending a cousin's funeral. Weis also called plays last week and will call plays against USC on Saturday.

Haywood said he has no problem with Weis calling the plays.

"Whatever I'm asked to do, I do."

___

INJURY UPDATE: Right guard Chris Stewart, who underwent arthroscopic surgery after injuring his knee against Pittsburgh, is practicing again. Stewart will start if he is healthy enough, Weis said. ... Cornerback Terrail Lambert, who missed the Syracuse game with an ankle injury, was back at practice. Defensive coordinator Corwin Brown said Lambert will be monitored. ... Linebacker Brian Smith and receiver Michael Floyd remain out with sprained knees.

___

BY THE NUMBERS: Safety Kyle McCarthy needs three tackles to set the school record for tackles in a season by a defensive back, surpassing the record of 98 set by Chinedum Ndukwe set two years ago. ... USC coach Pete Carroll is 26-0 in the month of November. Weis is 11-6 in the month. ... USC has won 27 straight night games at home. ... Jimmy Clausen, who was 42-0 in high school in California, is 4-0 against college teams from California.

___

WEIS SAYINGS: "I think the mentality to not have them have the ball very much."