What's the deal with LSU and USC?

LSU and USC aren't exactly border rivals.

Yet these two schools have spent the better part of three or four years hooked up together in football.

There was the 2003 shared national championship.

Last year, there was the Keiland Williams tug-of-war. Williams ended up at LSU.

This year it was the Joe McKnight tug-of-war. McKnight ends up at USC.

I realize USC recruits nationally and that's one reason why LSU keeps running into USC.

But the whole thing strikes me as odd when you consider the two teams have rarely met on the football field - although there were some great games when they played.