South Carolina received formal notification Thursday that the NCAA is investigating its football program. The letter of inquiry doesn't specify any potential violations, but could signal weeks or months of uncertainty for the team. The NCAA has questioned South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders about an agent-hosted party in Miami.

After the disappointment of sitting out the opener -- but with the understanding of why he had to -- Oregon running back LaMichael James looks forward to returning to football on a grand stage at Tennessee. The No. 7 Ducks visit the Volunteers this Saturday, making a rare foray into SEC country. James will make his season debut after a one-game suspension because of offseason trouble kept him out of...

Trace the origins of Oklahoma's most recent rise to national powerhouse status and you'll find Florida State. Ten years after the programs met in the Orange Bowl with the national championship on the line, the Sooners are getting a trip down memory lane in preparation for a visit from the No.

Jacory Harris and Terrelle Pryor were introduced a couple years ago by a mutual friend on a phone call, the two quarterbacks quickly becoming confidants. Their favorite discussion topic? "Anything but football," Harris said. There's no way that would be possible this week. Potentially Heisman-contending quarterbacks -- and more importantly, potentially championship-contending teams --...

Virginia Tech can't wait to play its next football game. The No. 13 Hokies' pain at losing to No. 3 Boise State on a late Broncos touchdown Monday night was magnified during film study that highlighted a series of costly mistakes. Coach Frank Beamer brought a list of the errors to his media session.

Defensive tackle Jeremy Lewis and three other Miami players were ruled out for the season because of injuries on Thursday. Lewis hurt his lower right leg early in No. 12 Miami's season-opening 45-0 win over Florida A&M last week. The Hurricanes have also listed fullback John Calhoun, running back Darion Hall and linebacker Travis Williams as out for the year because of undisclosed surgeries.

Dillon Baxter is eager for his Hollywood premiere, even if it's a week late. Southern California's touted freshman tailback will be in uniform Saturday night when the 16th-ranked Trojans host Virginia at the Coliseum. Although Baxter is among the most anticipated skill-position recruits in the recent history of a talent-studded program, coach Lane Kiffin suspended him for last week's...

Coach Houston Nutt says Mississippi offensive lineman Rishaw Johnson has been kicked off the team after a "violation of team rules." Johnson, a junior from Hammond, La., started at right guard in the season opener against Jacksonville State and started three games last season. The 6-foot-4, 305-pound Johnson was also suspended from the team last season for another violation of team...

Brandon McManus hit a 30-yard field goal in overtime to give Temple a 13-10 victory over Central Michigan on Thursday night in the Mid-American Conference opener for both teams. McManus won it for the Owls (2-0) after Kee-ayre Griffin intercepted Ryan Radcliffe's pass to end Central Michigan's lone overtime possession.

With many fans still angry over LeBron James' decision to leave Cleveland for the Miami Heat, Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is calling for calm. James, who jilted the Cavaliers to jump to the Heat this summer, may attend Saturday's game at Ohio Stadium between No. 12 Miami and second-ranked Ohio State.

The University of Dayton will host all four first-round games of the newly expanded men's basketball tournament next March, the NCAA said Thursday. Two games will match the tournament's lowest seeds, Nos. 65 through 68, with the winners advancing as No. 16 seeds to play a top seed. The other two games will match the last four of the 37 at-large qualifiers.

The chancellor at the University of Kansas says the abrupt retirement of athletic director Lew Perkins was not connected with a federal investigation into a ticket scam. Chancellor Bernadette Gray-Little spoke with The Associated Press on Thursday. Perkins had said he would retire in September 2011. But in a surprise move Tuesday, he and Gray-Little announced that he was retiring immediately.

Rumeal Robinson, who led Michigan to the NCAA men's basketball championship in 1989 and later played in the NBA, was convicted in federal court Wednesday of borrowing more than $700,000 for a sham business deal and then spending the money on a condominium, expensive furniture and cars. A jury found Robinson guilty of 11 counts, including bank bribery, wire fraud, conspiracy to commit bank...

Kentucky recruit Enes Kanter received more than $100,000 in cash and benefits while he played for a professional team in Turkey, the club's general manager told The New York Times. Nedim Karakas, the GM for Fenerbahce Ulker, said the team has handed over banking and housing records to the NCAA, which is reviewing Kanter's amateur status.

Connecticut filed its response Tuesday to allegations of major recruiting violations in its men's basketball program, but won't make that response public this week. Tuesday was the deadline for the Huskies to respond to the eight infractions cited by the NCAA in May. UConn spokesman Kyle Muncy said the response fills up several three-ring binders.

A judge has dismissed an emergency protective order issued against Oklahoma State forward Matt Pilgrim after a woman accused him of rape. Payne County Special Judge Phillip Corley made the decision during a hearing Tuesday after concluding there was insufficient evidence of rape. Pilgrim hasn't been arrested or charged with a crime.

Duke senior Kyle Singler is recovering from knee surgery. The school said last season's most outstanding player at the Final Four had arthroscopic surgery on his left knee Friday afternoon at the Duke University Medical Center. He is expected to recover in time for the start of preseason practice Oct.