The No. 20 USC football team returned from its Nebraska trip before the sun came up Sunday morning. There was no time to waste in preparing for Friday’s home game against Northwestern.

“Thankfully, the Big Ten took care of us schedule-wise,” head coach Lincoln Riley joked after beating Nebraska , “so we’ll get home at 3 o’clock in the morning and we’ll turn this thing over and we’ll go play on Friday.”

A team that relies on meticulous scheduling and routine had one fewer day than usual to prepare for the Wildcats (5-3 overall, 3-2 Big Ten), who are one of the four Big Ten opponents left on the schedule for a USC team (6-2, 4-1) with eyes on a playoff bid.

Sleep and recovery continue to be a priority , especially as the wear and tear of a long season lingers. Practice time and repetit

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