USC's McKnight rejoins team, not cleared to playSouthern California tailback Joe McKnight rejoined the Trojans for practice Thursday after missing their early preparations for the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco.

Southern California tailback Joe McKnight rejoined the Trojans for practice Thursday after missing their early preparations for the Emerald Bowl in San Francisco.McKnight still hasn't been cleared by the school to play against Boston College on Saturday night, but coach Pete Carroll was optimistic he'll be available. USC is investigating whether McKnight violated rules by using an SUV that doesn't belong to him.

McKnight still hasn't been cleared by the school to play against Boston College on Saturday night, but coach Pete Carroll was optimistic he'll be available. USC is investigating whether McKnight violated rules by using an SUV that doesn't belong to him.McKnight practiced with the Trojans in Los Angeles on Monday, but stayed home to deal with compliance issues when the Trojans traveled to San Francisco. Carroll said McKnight arrived in the Bay Area on Wednesday night.

McKnight practiced with the Trojans in Los Angeles on Monday, but stayed home to deal with compliance issues when the Trojans traveled to San Francisco. Carroll said McKnight arrived in the Bay Area on Wednesday night."Joe did everything he needed to do compliance-wise in L.A., so it was the right thing to get him up here right away," Carroll said. "Compliance hasn't made a final ruling, but this is a most favorable sign."

"Joe did everything he needed to do compliance-wise in L.A., so it was the right thing to get him up here right away," Carroll said. "Compliance hasn't made a final ruling, but this is a most favorable sign."McKnight is USC's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005, with 1,014 yards on 6.2 yards per carry and eight touchdowns during USC's worst season since 2001. With three losses in their final five regular-season games, the Trojans (8-4) failed to make a BCS bowl and win the Pac-10 title for the first time in eight years.

McKnight is USC's first 1,000-yard rusher since 2005, with 1,014 yards on 6.2 yards per carry and eight touchdowns during USC's worst season since 2001. With three losses in their final five regular-season games, the Trojans (8-4) failed to make a BCS bowl and win the Pac-10 title for the first time in eight years.If McKnight can't play, Allen Bradford likely will start for the Trojans. Bradford rushed for 596 yards and eight scores, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.

If McKnight can't play, Allen Bradford likely will start for the Trojans. Bradford rushed for 596 yards and eight scores, averaging 6.1 yards per carry.Buckeyes' Small, Rose suspended for Rose Bowl

Buckeyes' Small, Rose suspended for Rose BowlThree more Ohio State players will miss the Rose Bowl.

Three more Ohio State players will miss the Rose Bowl.On his weekly radio show Tuesday, coach Jim Tressel confirmed that the team's top kick returner, Ray Small, and backup defensive lineman Rob Rose would not be making the trip with the Buckeyes to play Oregon. Tressel said both were suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules.

On his weekly radio show Tuesday, coach Jim Tressel confirmed that the team's top kick returner, Ray Small, and backup defensive lineman Rob Rose would not be making the trip with the Buckeyes to play Oregon. Tressel said both were suspended for an undisclosed violation of team rules.The two seniors were also classmates at Cleveland's Glenville High School.

The two seniors were also classmates at Cleveland's Glenville High School.Freshman wide receiver Duron Carter, the son of former Ohio State and NFL great Cris Carter, was declared ineligible last week shortly after semester grades were released. Ohio State would not say why Carter was unavailable to play.

Freshman wide receiver Duron Carter, the son of former Ohio State and NFL great Cris Carter, was declared ineligible last week shortly after semester grades were released. Ohio State would not say why Carter was unavailable to play.Tressel also said that walk-on running back Bo Delande would not make the trip, also for an unspecified team rules violation.

Tressel also said that walk-on running back Bo Delande would not make the trip, also for an unspecified team rules violation.The team is scheduled to arrive in California on Dec. 25.

The team is scheduled to arrive in California on Dec. 25.Small is the fastest player on the Buckeyes roster, a deep threat as a receiver who averaged 27 yards on kickoff returns and 8.3 yards on punt returns. Small, third on the team with 15 receptions for 175 yards, has frequently been in Tressel's doghouse through his four years in the program.

Small is the fastest player on the Buckeyes roster, a deep threat as a receiver who averaged 27 yards on kickoff returns and 8.3 yards on punt returns. Small, third on the team with 15 receptions for 175 yards, has frequently been in Tressel's doghouse through his four years in the program.Despite disciplinary problems in the past, Small was voted the offensive team captain for the game at Michigan on Nov. 21.

Despite disciplinary problems in the past, Small was voted the offensive team captain for the game at Michigan on Nov. 21.Rose was in the rotation on the defensive line and has two sacks this season. A highly touted recruit from the same high school that sent Ted Ginn Jr. and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith to Ohio State, Rose never lived up to his billing. He averaged about a tackle a game the past two seasons.

Rose was in the rotation on the defensive line and has two sacks this season. A highly touted recruit from the same high school that sent Ted Ginn Jr. and Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith to Ohio State, Rose never lived up to his billing. He averaged about a tackle a game the past two seasons.DeLande played in just one game, carrying three times for 5 yards.

DeLande played in just one game, carrying three times for 5 yards.