USC's Joe McKnight practices, but not cleared to play

SAN FRANCISCO — USC tailback Joe McKnight rejoined the Trojans for practice Thursday after missing their early preparations for the Emerald Bowl.

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.

"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.

If McKight 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.

3 Buckeyes will

miss Rose Bowl

COLUMBUS, Ohio — 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.

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.

Tressel also said that walk-on running back Bo Delande would not make the trip, also for an unspecified team rules violation.

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.

Note

• Fiesta Bowl officials say an inquiry they commissioned found "no credible evidence" that the bowl's management engaged in illegal or unethical conduct.

Bowl officials asked former Arizona Attorney General Grant Woods to investigate allegations that bowl employees received bonuses for making campaign contributions to specific political candidates — a violation of federal and state laws. The Arizona Republic first raised the allegations.