Three more Ohio State players will miss the Rose Bowl game against Oregon.

On his weekly radio show, coach Jim Tressel confirmed the team's top kick returner, Ray Small, defensive lineman Rob Rose and running back Bo Delande would not travel with the team to Pasadena and were suspended for undisclosed violations of team rules.

Freshman receiver Duron Carter, the son of former Ohio State and NFL great Cris Carter, was declared academically ineligible last week.

•SMU made its first bowl appearance in 25 years a successful one. The Mustangs beat Nevada 45-10 at the site of their last postseason game, the 1984 Aloha Bowl in which they beat Notre Dame. ... Southern California tailback Joe McKnight rejoined the Trojans for practice but still hasn't been cleared by the school to play against Boston College on Saturday. USC is investigating whether McKnight violated rules by using an SUV that doesn't belong to him. Coach Pete Carroll was optimistic he'll be available. ... ... Fiesta Bowl officials say an inquiry found "no credible evidence" that the bowl's management engaged in illegal or unethical conduct. There were allegations bowl employees received bonuses for making campaign contributions to political candidates.