LOS ANGELES -- Quarterback Matt Barkley will remain with USC for his senior season, bypassing a potential top-10 selection in April's NFL draft to chase a national championship with the Trojans.

With USC coach Lane Kiffin and his family in attendance, Barkley announced Thursday that although he feels prepared for the NFL, he believes has more to accomplish with the Trojans.

His announcement set off cheers at USC's Heritage Hall and music from the school's marching band.

"This 2012 team has some serious unfinished business to attend to and I plan to play a part in it," Barkley said. "I have firmly decided to forgo the 2012 NFL draft and finish that."

Flanked by USC's six Heisman trophies, and with a cardinal-and-gold ornamented Christmas tree behind him, the quarterback thanked the hundreds in attendance, his family and his girlfriend before making the announcement.

Barkley also said he spent "considerable time" talking over the decision with former USC athletes, pro athletes and NFL experts. They all "validated" his belief that he was ready to declare for the draft, Barkley said.

But that wasn't enough to convince him to leave.

The lure of a potential BCS bowl game was too much to pass up for a player who has played his past two seasons with no such opportunity -- the NCAA handed down a two-year bowl ban in 2010 after USC was found guilty of a lack of institutional control.

Barkley repeated over and over Thursday that the on-field pieces lined up perfectly for his return to school.

"I am not postponing my dream of playing in the NFL just so that I can have one more year of college life," he said. "I am staying because I want to finish what I started."