USC, which operates the Coliseum, confirmed Thursday it will submit a proposal to the NFL. But under the terms of USC's lease with the Coliseum Commission, the university can host only one team at the stadium on a temporary basis of up to four years.

"USC will be responding to the NFL's RFP [request for proposal] and we hope to welcome an NFL team into the Coliseum starting in the 2016 season," Todd Dickey, USC's senior vice president for administration, said in a written statement.

The Rose Bowl decision was especially surprising because in 2005, when the venue gave up its bid to be a permanent NFL home, Pasadena funded an environmental impact report to position the Rose Bowl as a temporary site.