SOUTH BEND, Ind. — Notre Dame quarterback Jimmy Clausen, slowed by a turf toe on his right foot after being sacked last weekend, is expected to play Saturday against Purdue.
“He looked good out there today,” coach Charlie Weis said after practice Thursday. “He practiced a little bit (Wednesday), practiced a lot more (Thursday) and looked sharp. Looks like he’s ready to go.”
Clausen was injured last week against Michigan State but missed only two plays in the game.
Weis said he worked with Clausen this week to tweak his throwing motion to help take pressure off his right foot.
Weis said tailback Armando Allen will be a game-time decision Saturday because of his injured right ankle. Allen also got hurt in the game against Michigan State.
“He didn’t go as much as Jimmy went today,” Weis said. “So we were giving the other running backs a lot more work.”
If Allen is healthy enough to play, he likely will get fewer carries after rushing for 100 yards in back-to-back games for the first time in his career, Weis said. Allen has run for 326 yards in three games.
“I’m not counting on losing him. I just said it’s a game-time decision,” Weis said. “It might turn into a 10-, 15-carry game instead of a 25-carry game.”
Barkley likely to start for USC
LOS ANGELES — Southern California coach Pete Carroll said freshman quarterback Matt Barkley probably will start Saturday against Washington State.
The Trojans feel Barkley’s bruised right shoulder has healed enough to put him back in the lineup.
Carroll also said All-America safety Taylor Mays will return from a knee injury against the Cougars.
Mays is a bit less certain, putting his chances of playing at about “50-50,” he said.
Penn State captain doubtful
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — Penn State coach Joe Paterno said team captain Sean Lee is “very doubtful” for the Nittany Lions’ game Saturday against Iowa after he sprained his left knee last week.
Fellow top linebacker Navorro Bowman will play after missing most of the first three weeks of the season with a right groin pull.
New to the injury report is sophomore Nathan Stupar, who had been filling in admirably for Bowman. Paterno said Stupar may not be available Saturday after spraining an ankle this week.
Iowa State reinstates three
AMES, Iowa — Iowa State reinstated three players who were suspended after being accused of marijuana possession.
Starting cornerback Kennard Banks, defensive end Cleyon Laing and linebacker Kevin Hamlin will be subject to the athletic department’s drug-testing policy and might face sanctions from the school’s student judicial system.
