USC players are accustomed to playing through distractions. They did it after the midseason firing of coach Lane Kiffin in 2013 and after the Josh Shaw imbroglio last season.
And they are prepared to do it again in the wake of unsettling actions by Coach Steve Sarkisian, who was intoxicated at a booster event last weekend and told reporters that he would seek treatment to find out whether he has a drinking problem.
"We're not allowed to talk about that situation; we're on to football," offensive lineman Zach Banner told reporters after Wednesday's practice.