PASADENA, Calif. — USC running back C.J. Gable found himself in a familiar position while sitting in the winner's locker room Thursday: confused, frustrated and upset.

"I don't know what I'm going to do now," said Gable, who is considering making himself eligible for the NFL draft despite not applying for an early draft evaluation. "I might leave. I might do something else."

The redshirt sophomore declined to specify what "something else" meant following USC's 38-24 victory against Penn State in the Rose Bowl other than he would not transfer.

Gable caught a 20-yard touchdown pass and was heavily involved in USC's offense in the first half.

But after fumbling on the Trojans' opening possession in the second half, he did not carry the ball again.

The situation played out similarly on the same field four weeks ago, when Gable was benched for most of the UCLA game after fumbling on USC's opening possession.

"When I fumbled, I knew I wasn't going to get back in," Gable said. "This time I didn't even put my head down. I didn't show it, I was ready. But I knew I wasn't going to get back in.

"I fumble once and I can't get back in. I want to know why."

Gable said he felt the situation was unfair given how neither Stafon Johnson, who has fumbled a few times this season, and Joe McKnight, who has fumbled several times, had not been benched for extended periods.

"It was a pivotal point in time," Johnson said. "I think that anybody that would have done that, it would have been the same result."

When reminded that he fumbled late in the fourth quarter of a 17-10 game against Arizona, Johnson said, "That's the coaches' decision. I'm not sure why they did it."

Gable continued to play on the kickoff return team in the fourth quarter Thursday. Coach Pete Carroll said he sat Gable, who carried the ball six times for 13 yards, because he was struggling.

"He didn't do very well," Carroll said. "He had some tough times and a fumble. He had a great play on the touchdown. But it wasn't his fault, he got hit in the backfield. It had nothing to do with him."

Gable said he planned to address his situation with coaches Thursday night.

"It's kind of hard to enjoy (the victory)," Gable said.

STAY OR NOT TO STAY

It took all of five minutes before he heard that multimillion-dollar question: Is he going to come back?

"I don't know how I could leave all this," said Sanchez, still on the field in front thousands of lingering fans.

In the locker room, Sanchez reiterated he was leaning toward staying.

"That's what I'm planning," he said.

Johnson said his decision has been made.

"I'm back," Johnson said. "I'm coming back here. I got to win a natty (national championship). We'll make sure to do what our defense did this year. Make some noise. We're anxious to get it going. Be ready."

Junior safety Taylor Mays, considered a likely first-round selection in April's NFL Draft, said the allure of playing with a potentially dynamic offense that expects to return 10 starters will not factor in his decision.

"It's (about) what's best for me," Mays said. "I have to wake up every day with that decision. We'll see what happens after this whole process."

NOTES

Sanchez didn't wear the brace he has had on his left knee all season.

"There's no rule I have to wear it," Sanchez it. "It's obviously safer. If I had talked to Carson

Palmer or Tom Brady this morning, I probably would've worn the thing."

Palmer and Brady have suffered season-ending knee injuries. Sanchez dislocated his knee in training camp but didn't miss a game. He felt strong enough to shed the brace Thursday and, coincidentally or not, had the best game of his career. ...

McKnight was in a protective boot and on crutches after suffering a sprained toe in his left foot in the second quarter. The turf toe injury that has plagued McKnight for most the season was in his right foot.