Trojans back atop BSC rankings

By wire services
Published November 1, 2005

NEW YORK - Southern California and Texas flip-flopped again, putting the Trojans back on top of the Bowl Championship Series standings.

USC moved ahead of the Longhorns on Monday, returning to first after a one-week stay in second. It's the first time in the eight years of the BCS that the top two teams switched positions in consecutive weeks.

The margin between USC (.9767 of a possible 1.0000) and Texas (.9729) is still small though up from last week when the difference between first and second was the slimmest ever.

The switch didn't faze Texas.

"The sun's going to come up tomorrow. We'll be all right," tackle Justin Blalock said.

The top teams in the final standings play Jan. 4 in the Rose Bowl for the national title.

Among state teams, Miami (.7566, sixth place) and Florida State (.6277, ninth) each gained a spot and Florida (.4154) rose three.

JACKSON STATE: The Division I-AA school in Mississippi fired coach James Bell two days after a loss that ensured a third straight losing season.

LOUISVILLE: Running back Kolby Smith will return after missing two games with a knee injury to play Thursday against Pittsburgh in the No. 24 Cardinals' first Big East home game.

NEBRASKA: Coach Bill Callahan said he didn't make a throat-slashing gesture while arguing with an official during Saturday's loss to Oklahoma. Video showed Callahan raising his right arm, index finger extended, and making a motion from left to right across his throat. Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg reviewed video, league spokesman Bob Burda said, and the league asked the school to file a report.

TENNESSEE: Randy Sanders resigned as offensive coordinator but will remain on the staff through the season, keeping part of his job as quarterbacks coach and helping coach Phillip Fulmer with playcalling. Also, senior tailback Gerald Riggs had surgery on his right ankle to repair torn ligaments and will miss the rest of the season.

PLAYER DEATH: Specialists at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta found no evidence to contradict a diagnosis of viral meningitis as the cause of death for Missouri player Aaron O'Neal. The 19-year-old linebacker died after collapsing during a workout in July.

[Last modified November 1, 2005, 02:15:27]