Southern California athletic director Pat Haden says USC will investigate a Los Angeles Times report claiming two Trojans athletes received gifts from an employee of the Los Angeles County assessor's office.
Penn State's loss could turn into a big gain on the ground for Southern California.
An early-morning rally and last-minute social media campaign couldn't keep star tailback Silas Redd from leaving Penn State for Southern California.
Just days before Jerry Sandusky was convicted on multiple counts of child sex abuse, an email was sent to thousands of Penn State alumni with a simple message:
For players breaking rules and having its coach conceal those infractions, Ohio State ended up with a one-year bowl ban, the loss of nine scholarships over three years and a new coach with two national championship rings.
The Bowl Championship Series stripped Southern California of its 2004 title on Monday, leaving that season without a BCS champion.

The Bowl Championship Series stripped Southern California of its 2004 title on Monday, leaving that season without a BCS champion.
About the only thing the NCAA didn't do when it slammed Southern California's football program with penalties was ban Traveler, the Trojan horse, from the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.
Southern California acknowledges its football program committed NCAA violations while building a West Coast dynasty over the past decade. The Trojans simply believe last year's nearly unprecedented punishment didn't fit the crime.