LOS ANGELES - Delon Washington, Southern Cal's leading rusher last season, was suspended Tuesday because of a nonfootball-related rule violation and will miss Sunday's Kickoff Classic against Penn State.

Washington, a junior who became the Trojans' first 1,000-yard rusher since 1990, with 236 carries for 1,109 yards, had recovered from a pulled hamstring and was set to start against the 11th-ranked Nittany Lions.

''USC became aware of a violation, a one-time happening,'' USC coach John Robinson said. ''He has acknowledged the violation. The violation was not connected to his involvement with our football team.

''The process is, we suspend him and apply for reinstatement. USC has taken that action on its own. I can't talk any more about it, so I can't answer any questions.''

Rodney Sermons and LaVale Woods will share the tailback duties against Penn State.

''There's not too much I can say,'' Washington said in a statement issued by the school. ''I'll persevere. All I can do is accept the situation and just go on. I'll cheer on my teammates in the opener and prepare myself for the next game.''

As a freshman in 1994, Washington gained 109 yards on 10 carries in a 24-17 victory over Washington, and then led USC in rushing with 44 yards on nine carries in a 38-14 loss at Penn State.

Before the third game of the season, Southern Cal decided to withhold Washington from competition while questions regarding his eligibility, which was certified by the NCAA, were being resolved.

Those questions weren't cleared up until late in the season, and Washington didn't play again until USC's 55-14 victory over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.

Sermons, a junior, was USC's second-leading rusher last year, gaining 244 yards on 60 carries. He also caught 12 passes for 86 yards. Woods, another junior, gained 146 yards on 28 carries last year.

Even before the suspension, USC entered the season inexperienced on offense. Now, because of the suspension and injuries to wide receiver Larry Parker and offensive lineman Phalen Pounds, the only starter on offense from last year who will play against Penn State is senior quarterback Brad Otton.

''I think we have two teams who are rather unsettled,'' Robinson said. ''On offense, we will start six players who have not played much. We're more settled on defense."

''This game cannot influence us. If we lose, and people say we're not good, we can't listen. If we win, and people say we're real good, we can't listen.''

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