CHICAGO Alabama's Rolando McClain, Florida's Brandon Spikes and Missouri's Sean Weatherspoon are once again finalists for the Butkus Award, given annually to the nation's top linebacker.

EAST LANSING, Mich. The Rose Bowl is out of reach for Penn State and Michigan State.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. The Game has lost a lot of luster.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. James Webster Jr. has resigned as Tennessee State's football coach after five seasons.

STILLWATER, Okla. Third-string quarterback Brandon Weeden threw for 168 yards and two touchdowns in the second half, leading No. 12 Oklahoma State back from an 11-point deficit for a 31-28 win against Colorado on Thursday night.

Keith Toston ran for 172 yards and a touchdown and added a receiving score, and the 12th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys -- playing without starting quarterback Zac Robinson -- narrowly avoided an upset with a 31-28 win over Colorado.

HAMMOND, La. LaQuintin Caston ran for two touchdowns and threw for another to lead Nicholls State to a 45-30 victory over Southeastern Louisiana on Thursday night.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. University of Michigan president Mary Sue Coleman did not make herself available to answer questions following a Board of Regents meeting Thursday in which an internal audit of the school's football program practice time was on the agenda.

STILLWATER, Okla. Colorado quarterback Tyler Hansen has returned after leaving the Buffaloes' game at No. 12 Oklahoma State with a right thumb injury.

Oklahoma State quarterback Zac Robinson is out for Thursday's game against the Colorado Buffaloes after suffering an injury late in last week's win over Texas Tech.

LAWRENCE, Kan. University of Kansas officials are willing to talk with former players about allegations of abusive behavior by football coach Mark Mangino - and two former players had plenty to say on Thursday.

SOUTH BEND, Ind. Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick plans to make a decision on the future of coach Charlie Weis within days of the season's end.

ATLANTA Uga VII, the white English bulldog mascot for the University of Georgia's football team for almost two seasons, died Thursday of heart-related causes, the dog's owner said.

CINCINNATI A judge warned University of Cincinnati sophomore quarterback Zach Collaros on Thursday that he could spend the bowl season in jail if he doesn't get his act together after being accused of showing a fake ID at a bar.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. Penn State plans to adjust its season-ticket pricing guidelines in 2011 to account for where people sit in Beaver Stadium.

OXFORD, Ohio Brandon Thermilus rushed for two touchdowns and caught another to lead Buffalo over Miami (Ohio) 42-17 on Wednesday night.

BERKELEY, Calif. Star tailback Jahvid Best is eager to return to the football field after being sidelined by a frightening fall and concussion and has targeted California's season finale as a possible return date.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. Embattled Florida State coach Bobby Bowden has a high-profile alumnus on his side - Gov. Charlie Crist.

ANN ARBOR, Mich. Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez was handed a blue button with "Beat Ohio State" in maize letters when he was introduced as the new leader of college football's winningest program.

The national championship race seems as if it's being put on hold this week, with the top contenders all big - in some cases too big to count - favorites.

INDIANAPOLIS The head of the Black Coaches and Administrators group called Wednesday for more involvement by college presidents in hiring football coaches, a move he said would lead to more minority coaches on the sidelines.

The 16th-ranked Virginia Tech Hokies host the NC State Wolfpack in an ACC matchup this weekend at Lane Stadium/Worsham Field in Blacksburg.

With both teams controlling their own Pac-10 fate, the 11th-ranked Oregon Duck and Arizona Wildcats meet up in a crucial conference clash in the desert this weekend.

The 24th-ranked Houston Cougars open a regular- season ending two-game homestand this weekend, as they try to bounce back against the Memphis Tigers in Conference USA play at Robertson Stadium.

The 12th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys will look to take advantage of the struggling Colorado Buffaloes this Thursday night, as the two Big 12 clubs clash in Stillwater.

The 20th-ranked Oregon State Beavers try to remain in the Pac-10 title race this weekend, as they take on the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium in Pullman.

In what appears to be a monumental mismatch, the second-ranked Alabama Crimson Tide welcome the Chattanooga Mocs, a mediocre FCS team, to Tuscaloosa this weekend.

Winners of 10 straight games, the sixth-ranked Boise State Broncos now turn their attention to the Utah State Aggies in Western Athletic Conference action at Romney Stadium in Logan.

The Duke Blue Devils will try to keep their bowl hopes alive this weekend, as they challenge the 21st-ranked Miami- Florida Hurricanes in an ACC clash at Land Shark Stadium.

The Clemson Tigers are set for a critical ACC game against the Virginia Cavaliers in Death Valley on Saturday afternoon.

Back in the national spotlight with an AP Ranking of 25th this week, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights head to enemy territory as they take on Big East Conference foe Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.

The 10th-ranked LSU Tigers are set to invade Oxford for what figures to be a highly-competitive SEC game against the Ole Miss Rebels.

The third-ranked Texas Longhorns aim for their 11th win of the season and a Big 12 South Division title, as they play host to the Kansas Jayhawks in conference action this weekend.

The 14th-ranked Stanford Cardinal are one of the hottest teams in college football, and they will play host to the California Golden Bears this weekend in a Pac-10 Conference rivalry bout referred to as the "Big Game".

The top-ranked Florida Gators welcome the FIU Panthers to Gainesville this weekend for a non-conference contest from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

GAME NOTES: With both teams controlling their own Pac-10 fate, the 11th-ranked Oregon Duck and Arizona Wildcats meet up in a crucial conference clash in the desert this weekend.

GAME NOTES: The top-ranked Florida Gators welcome the FIU Panthers to Gainesville this weekend for a non-conference contest from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium.

GAME NOTES: The third-ranked Texas Longhorns aim for their 11th win of the season and a Big 12 South Division title, as they play host to the Kansas Jayhawks in conference action this weekend.

FACTS & STATS: Kyle Field (82,600) -- College Station, Texas. Television: None. Home Record: Baylor 2-4, Texas A&M 4-1. Away Record: Baylor 2-2, Texas A&M 1-3. Neutral Record: Baylor 0-0, Texas A&M 0-1. Conference Record: Baylor 1-5, Texas A&M 2-4. Series Record: Texas A&M leads, 65-31-9.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Roberts Stadium (36,000) -- Hattiesburg, Mississippi. Television: CBSCSN. Home Record: Tulsa 1-4, Southern Miss 5-0. Away Record: Tulsa 3-2, Southern Miss 1-4. Neutral Record: Tulsa 0-0, Southern Miss 0-0. Conference Record: Tulsa 2-4, Southern Miss 4-2. Series Record: Tulsa leads 3-2-1.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Spartan Stadium (30,456) -- San Jose, California. Television: Local. Home Record: Hawaii 3-2, SJSU 1-3. Away Record: Hawaii 1-4, SJSU 0-5. Neutral Record: Hawaii 0-0, SJSU 0-0. Conference Record: Hawaii 2-5, SJSU 0-5. Series Record: San Jose State leads, 16-15-1.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Faurot Field (68,349) -- Columbia, Missouri. Television:None. Home Record: ISU 4-2, Missouri 2-3. Away Record: ISU 2-2, Missouri 3-1. Neutral Record: ISU 0-1, Missouri 1-0. Conference Record: ISU 3-4, Missouri 2-4. Series Record: Missouri leads, 58-34-9.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Doak S. Campbell Stadium (82,300) -- Tallahassee, Florida. Television:Raycom. Home Record: Maryland 2-4, FSU 2-3. Away Record: Maryland 0-4, FSU 3-2. Neutral Record: Maryland 0-0, FSU 0-0. Conference Record: Maryland 1-5, FSU 3-4. Series Record: Florida State leads, 17-2.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Alumni Stadium (44,500) -- Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts. Television: ESPN. Home Record: UNC 5-2, BC 6-0. Away Record: UNC 2-1, BC 1-3. Neutral Record: UNC 0-0, BC 0-0. Conference Record: UNC 3-3, BC 4-2. Series Record: North Carolina leads, 3-2.

GAME NOTES: The 20th-ranked Oregon State Beavers try to remain in the Pac-10 title race this weekend, as they take on the Washington State Cougars at Martin Stadium in Pullman.

GAME NOTES: Back in the national spotlight with an AP Ranking of 25th this week, the Rutgers Scarlet Knights head to enemy territory as they take on Big East Conference foe Syracuse at the Carrier Dome.

GAME NOTES: The 14th-ranked Stanford Cardinal are one of the hottest teams in college football, and they will play host to the California Golden Bears this weekend in a Pac-10 Conference rivalry bout referred to as the "Big Game".

FACTS & STATS: Site: Neyland Stadium (104,000) -- Knoxville, Tennessee. Television: ESPNU. Home Record: Vanderbilt 1-5, Tennessee 5-2. Away Record: Vanderbilt 1-4, Tennessee 0-3. Neutral Record: Vanderbilt 0-0, Tennessee 0-0. Conference Record: Vanderbilt 0-7, Tennessee 2-4. Series Record: Tennessee leads, 70-27-5.

GAME NOTES: The 12th-ranked Oklahoma State Cowboys will look to take advantage of the struggling Colorado Buffaloes this Thursday night, as the two Big 12 clubs clash in Stillwater.

FACTS & STATS: Site: Memorial Stadium (74,031) -- Lincoln, Nebraska. Television: ESPN. Home Record: KSU 5-1, Nebraska 4-2. Away Record: KSU 0-4, Nebraska 3-1. Neutral Record: KSU 1-0, Nebraska 0-0. Conference Record: KSU 4-3, Nebraska 4-2. Series Record: Nebraska leads, 76-15-2.