USC football: Report on NCAA probe to be made public at noon

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The NCAA has just notified media outlets that a teleconference regarding its investigation into the USC athletic department will be held Thursday at noon PDT. A report detailing the NCAA’s finding and penalties to be levied against USC also will be made public Thursday.

The NCAA conducted a four-year probe of USC for allegations centered on former football player Reggie Bush and former basketball player O.J. Mayo. USC was informed of sanctions this week, among them a two-year bowl ban and the loss of more than 20 scholarships, a source said.

Bush, now a running back for the New Orleans Saints, and Mayo, who plays for the NBA’s Memphis Grizzlies, have said they did nothing wrong while they were playing for the Trojans.

Despite the specter of possible sanctions, USC Coach Lane Kiffin landed what was regarded as one of college football’s top recruiting classes. Kiffin succeeded Pete Carroll, who coached at USC for nine seasons before leaving in January to become coach of the NFL’s Seattle Seahawks.

-- Gary Klein