LOS ANGELES -- As far as USC coach Clay Helton is concerned, the Trojans are playing Penn State on Saturday. And next Saturday. And, finally, at the Rose Bowl again on Jan. 2.

At least that's how the Trojans will approach the next couple weeks as they prepare for their first appearance in the Rose Bowl Game presented by Northwestern Mutual since the 2008 season.

"We're treating it like we're playing this Saturday," Helton said after the team's first official bowl practice on Tuesday.

The Trojans will go through their usual game-week routine the next two weeks -- they'll game plan for Penn State both times -- then take four days off at Christmas leading into the week before the actual game. Helton expects to practice a total of 18 times.

Their most pressing issue Tuesday was to account of the departure of backup quarterback Max Browne, who left the team in order to pursue a transfer destination for his final year of eligibility next season. He visited Pittsburgh over the weekend.

True freshman Matt Fink took most of the second-team reps, but Helton is not expected to burn his redshirt should starter Sam Darnold, for any reason, not be available against the Nittany Lions. Receiver Jalen Greene, who has spent time as a quarterback for the Trojans, would be the secondary option.

"I didn't find out I was going to be quarterback until last week, before we started coming out to practice," Greene said. "And it wasn't a big shocker. It wasn't a big deal, like something I was opposed to. But I just hope everything goes well for Max and just try to focus on winning the Rose Bowl."

Greene arrived at USC as a quarterback and spent his redshirt season learning the position, but switched to receiver before last season. He switched back to quarterback for spring practice, but when it became clear he was a distant No. 3 behind Darnold and Browne in the quarterback competition, Greene became a receiver once again. He will prepare at both positions over the next few weeks.

While Browne's departure could be problematic, it was clear his teammates understood his reasons for leaving when he did.

"It's a body that's gone and it's a great guy like Max gone and it's really sad, but you try to move on as best as you can," Darnold said. "It's definitely a bummer without him in there and we're going to miss him, but you just got to move on and just wish him the best of luck moving forward."

Helton said he has already watched a lot of film of Penn State and was very complimentary of coach James Franklin and his staff, especially defensive coordinator Brent Pry, who Helton coached with at Memphis for three years.

"[Pry] has always been known for his aggressive style of play-calling and you see the zone pressures that he brings and he's really getting to the quarterback and doing a tremendous job of really hurting you in the run game," Helton said.