The 6-5 Southern Cal Trojans & coach Ted Tollner met the 15^th ranked 8-2-1 Alabama Crimson Tide of coach Ray Perkins.  Alabama had one of its most talented teams but losses to Penn State & Tennessee as well as a tie with Louisiana State kept them out of the national title picture.  Alabama’s defense led by All-SEC LB Cornelius Bennett & All-SEC DT Jon Hand held Southern Cal to 61 yards rushing & 10 total first downs as the Crimson Tide claimed The Belt with a 24-3 victory.  Both defenses dominated the 1^st half as Alabama got only a 48-yard field goal from PK Van Tiffin while Southern Cal got a 25-yard field goal from PK Don Shafer & the teams were tied at the half 3-3.  Late in the 3^rd quarter, the Crimson Tide put together a 10-play, 42-yard drive capped by a 1-yard touchdown run from RB Craig Turner.  The drive was set-up by a 14-yard punt return by Alabama's WR Greg Richardson.  Alabama scored twice in the 4^th quarter on a 24-yard touchdown pass from QB Mike Shula to WR Clay Whitehurst & on a 14-yard touchdown run by All-SEC WR Al Bell to put the game away.  The first score came after Alabama's S Kermit Kendrick at the Trojans' 44-yard line while the second came on another 44-yard drive following a short punt.  With 7:17 left in the final period, Southern Cal's QB Rodney Peete left the game with a torn Achilles’ tendon but the Trojans did not appear to be threatening to score anyway.  Shula finished with 112 yards passing with his touchdown.  Peete threw for 65 yards with an interception while back-up QB Kevin McLean threw for 71 yards with an interception for Southern Cal.  The Trojans finished the season 6-6 while the Crimson Tide finished 9-2-1, ranked 13^th nationally.  Southern Cal would play for The Belt again in 1990.