Just to put my Associated Press Top 25 into perspective -- and embarrass myself along the way -- here's my list going into the season compared with the final one I sent in last night. Only 14 of my original top 25 made it onto the final top 25. That's more than 50 percent for those of you keeping score at home. I don't imagine I did any better or any worse than most of the other writers. Still, it makes the case that we shouldn't be picking the poll until Week 5.

Preseason             Final
1. Southern Cal     Florida
2. Ohio State        Southern Cal
3. Florida              Texas
4. Oklahoma         Utah
5. Georgia             Oklahoma
6. Clemson            Alabama
7. Missouri            Penn State
8. Auburn              Texas Tech
9. Arizona State     Ohio State
10. West Virginia   TCU
11. Texas Tech      Boise State
12. BYU                Oregon
13. LSU                 Georgia
14. Virginia Tech    Mississippi
15. Tennessee        Virginia Tech
16. Texas               Missouri
17. Pittsburgh         Cincinnati
18. Wisconsin         Iowa
19. South Florida    Oklahoma State
20. Kansas             Oregon State
21. Oregon             Florida State
22. Penn State        West Virginia
23. Fresno State     LSU
24. Alabama           Georgia Tech
25. Illinois               California

I e-mailed my final Associated Press Top 25 ballot in about an hour ago, just minutes after Florida's 24-14 win over Oklahoma in the BCS championship. Frankly, I'm tired, so I'm not going to explain my order. My kids haven't been sleeping so well of late. Nevertheless, here's my list. Talk amongst yourself. Maybe I'll weigh in tomorrow.

1. Florida (13-1)
2. Southern Cal (12-1)
3. Texas (12-1)
4. Utah (13-0)
5. Oklahoma (12-2)
6. Alabama (12-2)
7. Penn State (11-2)
8. Texas Tech (11-2)
9. Ohio State (10-3)
10. TCU (11-2)
11. Boise State (12-1)
12. Oregon (10-3)
13. Georgia (10-3)
14. Mississippi (9-4)
15. Virginia Tech (10-4)
16. Missouri (10-4)
17. Cincinnati (11-3)
18. Iowa (9-4)
19. Oklahoma State (9-4)
20. Oregon State (9-4)
21. Florida State (9-4)
22. West Virginia (9-4)
23. LSU (8-5)
24. Georgia Tech (9-4)
25. California (9-4)

Penn State defensive line coach Larry Johnson, Sr. is expected to interview for the defensive line coach position at Illinois this weekend. LJ could also be vying for a co-defensive coordinator spot with the Illini. Illinois coach Ron Zook is also looking to replace his best recruiter, and we know how good LJ has been over the last five years snagging talent from the mid-Atlantic region.

I'm not sure if LJ would leave, however. This could just be a ploy to get more money out of notoriously-cheap Penn State or force coach Joe Paterno to promote Johnson. One scenario could have defensive coordinator Tom Bradley being named associate head coach and LJ being bumped up to defensive coordinator. I sincerely doubt that could happen. The last time Paterno named an associate head coach -- Fran Ganter in 2000 -- many of the players started to seek out Ganter instead of Paterno, and that irked the grand, old coach.

Nevertheless, if LJ can get more money out of Illinois, plus a defensive coordinator tag, it might be hard for Paterno to keep the man on board. Here's a very good story about LJ that the New York Times ran on Jan. 1. I wish I had written it, but the team isn't very forthcoming about granting interviews to its assistants to beat reporters.

Also, injured players Evan Royster (left knee), Stephfon Green (right ankle) and Dennis Landolt (left knee) are expected to recover in time to participate in spring practice come late March.

A disappointing Rose Bowl isn't quite over for Penn State and its coach, Joe Paterno.

After the Nittany Lions lost to Southern Cal, 38-24, on Jan. 1, the Penn State coach did not allow reporters into the team's postgame locker room -- as is Bowl Championship Series procedure -- and the program could face repercussions.

"The Rose Bowl is disappointed by actions on the part of Penn State with regard to the media that appear to be contrary to Rose Bowl and BCS guidelines," bowl officials said in a statement yesterday. "These issues will be fully explored by the Rose Bowl Management Committee and appropriate actions will be taken within management channels."

According to Rose Bowl spokeswoman Gina Chappin, there is no timeline for a decision. The team could be dealt a fined, however.

While the Rose Bowl is not technically a BCS game, it does follow BCS media guidelines. According to the BCS media guide, locker rooms are required to be open for a minimum of 30 minutes after a postgame cooling-off period ends. Several Penn State players and assistants were made available outside the locker room.

The day after the game, Paterno was asked about it and and said, the possibility of sanctions being levied against the team."I haven't got the slightest idea, and to be honest, I don't care," Paterno said. "There's a limit to how much you can expose your football team."

After the 2006 Orange Bowl, Paterno did not allow reporters into Penn State's postgame locker room, but there weren't any repercussions.The 82-year-old coach also skipped a scheduled pre-Rose Bowl interview with ABC, but spokesman Michael C. Humes, in an e-mail, wrote that the network has "moved on."

LOS ANGELES -- This is my last day here. I'm at the airport ready to board a flight back to Philly. It's been a busy, hectic nine days, but the time spent at the Rose Bowl was exhilarating, nevertheless. Unfortunately, for Penn State fans, the Lions didn't show up and lost to Southern Cal, 38-24. Actually, even if they showed up, I'm not sure they could have competed with the Trojans.

Joe Paterno held his season wrap up gabfest with beat reporters yesterday. It was mostly tame, save for his admission that he thought briefly that this season could have been the end as he battled through a hip injury.

OK, folks, I'm done for the season. Of course, with Penn State, there is no off-season. Something is bound to happen at some point to take me away from college basketball. For instance, Aaron Maybin plans on making his decision about leaving early for the pros in the next few days.

LOS ANGELES -- Joe Paterno held his day-after, season-wrap up with the Penn State beat reporters this morning and just as it started, the bull session -- as Joe likes to refer to it -- was interrupted by two tan-looking fellas. Barry Switzer and Jimmie Johnson happened to be at the Hyatt Regency Century Plaza Hotel, as well, and the two former coaches stopped by to say hello to a former nemesis.

Switzer and Paterno, despite the perception that they don't get along, are good friends. "To hell with them bastards," Switzer said to the 82-year-old Paterno, hopefully not referring to the reporters in the room (wink-wink). "Keep doing what you're doing."

Paterno was happy to see the coaches, who were in town because they did a BCS pre-game show. FOX studios are nearby. Paterno faced both coaches in national championship games, beating one and losing to the other. Penn State lost to Switzer's Oklahoma team in the 1985 Orange Bowl, 25-10. And the Lions upset Johnson's Miami team, 14-10, in the 1987 Fiesta Bowl to win their last national title.

It was a surreal scene. More in tomorrow's paper.

LOS ANGELES -- And on the seventh day, he worked. Day 7 for Penn State was its worst. The Lions were ambushed by Southern Cal in the second quarter as the Trojans scored 24 points on their way to a 38-24 victory. Penn State battled in the second half, but this game was essentially over at the break. Here are this morning's stories in the paper, starting with the game playback.

-- There were many reasons for the loss, but losing running back Evan Royster certainly didn't help.

-- I'm not sure if Joe Paterno was out-coached, but the loss was most certainly not one of his better bowl performances.

-- There might not have been another team that could have beaten Mark Sanchez and the Trojans last night. It was easily the USC quarterback's best performance of his career.

PASADENA, Calif. -- Penn State's season came to a thud with tonight's disappointing showing against Southern Cal in the Rose Bowl. Not many gave the Lions a shot, and those pundits proved correct as the explosive Trojans downed Penn State, 38-24, before 93,293 in attendance.

I few thoughts:

-- I'm not sure if the Lions had any chance, but they were undone by a few costly plays/calls. Penalties killed them in the first half. Their failure on third and short in the first half did not help. And Stephfon Green's fumble right before the half was the proverbial dagger.

-- It's hard to blame Joe Paterno for his players' mistakes. I guess you could fault the coach for not having his players ready. But there's a huge difference between watching a team on film and seeing them up close and personal.

-- Mark Sanchez made a name for himself in this one. The USC quarterback was considered a good, if not great, signal caller. This had to be the best game of his career.

-- If there's a finger to point it's got to be directed at the defense, especially the secondary. That senior-laden unit hadn't faced a quarterback like Sanchez nor receivers as skilled as the Trojans all season, and it showed. They played off, as they normally do in their scheme, but couldn't come up and make plays. They played on their heels and looked a little, dare I say, intimidated.

-- Clark never really got into rhythm, but it was as if he had a bad game. When Evan Royster went down with a knee injury the Lions had to go with Green, and the redshirt freshman, despite his dazzling speed, has had problems holding onto the ball. It ended up costing the Lions.

OK, folks that's it. I meet with Paterno in the morning for his end-of-the-season wrap up and then that's it.

PASADENA, Calif. --

1. Looks like this might not be the defensive slugfest everyone imagined. USC needed just six plays and 2:37 to go back ahead. Quarterback Mark Sanchez was sharp during the scoring drive, passing for 76 yards on 4 of 4 passing. He finished off the 80-yard possession with a six-yard run up the middle. USC, 14-7.

2. May I second guess Penn State here? The Lions had third-and-one on their own 28 and elected to go to running back Stephfon Green who was dropped for no gain. First off, it was more like a half yard and I can't imagine quarterback Daryll Clark couldn't fall 5 feet forward. Second, Green has not been very good this season on third-and-short downs.

3. As expected, the Lions secondary is having a lot of problems covering USC's taller receivers. The Trojans padded their lead with a 30-yard David Buehler field goal. USC, 17-7.

4. The Lions once again came up short and on third and, well, short. The play-calling has been dubious at times.

5. This bears repeating: Penn State's secondary cannot cover USC's receivers and Sanchez has been right on target for most of the half. He hit Ronald Johnson for a 19-yard touchdown and the Trojans are on the cusp of turning this one into a laugher. USC, 24-7.

6. It is now officially a laugher. Penn State looks sloppy. Penalties. Turnovers. After a long run on a screen, Stephfon Green fumbled the ball after a Carry Harris hit. The Trojans took the turnover and scored five plays later when Sanchez flipped a screen to C.J. Gable, who tiptoed 20 yards for the score. The Lions did not come ready to play. USC, 31-7.