Leinart was ineligible for Rose Bowl, briefly

updated 8:11 p.m. ET Dec. 22, 2005

LOS ANGELES - USC quarterback Matt Leinart had his eligibility temporarily revoked after appearing in a promotional segment on ESPN earlier this month, a violation of an NCAA rule.

The 2004 Heisman Trophy winner was reinstated Tuesday after Southern California petitioned the NCAA.

The school declared him ineligible after the segment aired on the cable network. It was recorded after the Trojans’ 66-19 victory over UCLA in the final game of the regular season on Dec. 3.

“Whenever we are aware that media outlets ask student-athletes to do these kinds of tags we immediately cut them off,” said Tim Tessalone, USC’s sports information director. “Unfortunately, this one slipped by.”

NCAA spokesman Kent Barrett said Leinart’s actions were “unintentional and inadvertent.”

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Leinart had been barred by USC from participating in media activities until after Christmas, Tessalone said.

Leinart, who returned for his senior year to try to lead his school to a third straight national championship, was named sportsman of the year by the Sporting News on Tuesday.

Top-ranked USC will face No. 2 Texas in the Rose Bowl for the national championship.

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