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Logan • Utah State plays USC on Saturday at 11 o'clock in the morning.

Coach Matt Wells is certain the Aggies won'tover-sleep.

"We're already an early-morning team," he said at Monday's weekly press conference. "We do things early in the morning in spring and summer in terms of practicing. Our guys were in here this morning at 6:30 ... and we'll meet tomorrow at 6:30 a.m. But that's our normal schedule."

According to Wells, Utah State players will get out of bed at 6:30 a.m. PDT on game-day. They will have a walk-through at the hotel and eat a pre-game meal at 7:30 a.m. before leaving for the L.A. Coliseum.

"Our kids will be fine," Wells said.

Ground and pound

After Utah State's 45-6 win over Weber State in the season opener, the Aggies are tied for first in the country in rushing.

USU ran for 428 yards against the Wildcats. Mountain West Conference rival New Mexico also rushed for 428 yards in its 48-21 win over South Dakota.

"Obviously, that's a great deal," senior center Austin Stephens said. "At the same time, that's Week 1 and we have to do it week in and week out. We can't just be satisfied. …

"We have to be consistent with it. We can't have spurts because the core of this offense can be [running] the football. So we've got to do that week in and week out."

USC's Ruffin to sit out for half

USC linebacker Jabari Ruffin will not play in the first half against Utah State after kicking an opposing player in the groin Saturday during the Trojans' 52-6 loss to Alabama.

Coach Clay Helton announced the half-game suspension, saying Ruffin will also have to write a letter of apology for kicking the Crimson Tide's Minkah Fitzpatrick.

"Jabari is a good kid that made a poor, emotional decision," Helton said at his weekly press conference. "I am sorry as a head coach. ... He is also. And I know that it will not happen again."

Helton added that Ruffin "understands that his conduct is unbecoming of a Trojan and there will be zero tolerance moving forward."

Masina suspension

Two USC players who are suspects in a sexual assault investigation, including linebacker Osa Masina from Utah, continue to practice with the Trojans and attend team meetings.

Don Hill and Masina were suspended for the Alabama game. Their status against Utah State has not been announced.

Helton says that he is "taking guidance from the university on the issue. … What I have been told is both young men are allowed to go to school, practice and do meetings. That's as of this moment right now."

Twitter: @sluhm —

Utah State at USC

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