Paul Franklin, Asbury Park Press: The most disappointing season in Rutgers' history is apparently underway. North Carolina — the football team, not the basketball team — had its way with the Scarlet Knights.
Michael Aguilar & Sean Gruber, Daily Gamecock: Five South Carolina players were involved in what some are calling an "all-out brawl" with unknown assailants during lunch hour Thursday. Thanks to Jim at UWire.
Buzz Bissinger, New York Times: In an op-ed guest column, Bissinger writes: "Nick Saban should try to look a little happier on the sidelines. When you’re laughing all the way to the bank, you should at least be smiling." Thanks to Will at From The Bleachers.
Gentry Estes, Mobile Press-Register: The incredible shrinking suspension. Saban has cut Prince Hall's suspension from three games to two, and the Alabama linebacker is expected to play Saturday against Western Kentucky.
The Big Lead: Crewcut Charlie Weis, who attended the ill-fated ESPN roast in January, has refused to accept apologies from Dana Jacobson, who reportedly shouted, "F--- Notre Dame, F--- 'Touchdown Jesus" during the event.
Brett Vito, Denton Record-Chronicle: Besides a $700,000 paycheck, what does North Texas get out of playing a game at Louisiana State? In the long run, it might not be much.
Austin American-Statesman: Texas is deflating the bubble on its practice facility before the remnants of Hurricane Ike blow into town.
Bud Withers, Seattle Times: Washington State is flying out this morning for tonight's game against Baylor, then plans to board the charter and return home immediately after the game.
Kristin Bender, Bay Area News Group: Three of the four former tree sitters who came down from their perch Tuesday at the University of California and were immediately hauled off to jail will stay there until their supporters can post bail.
Iliana Limón, Orlando Sentinel: It was a busy weekend for the police in Florida. Fifty people were arrested and 121 ejected from Ben Hill Griffin Stadium during the Miami-Florida game. At the South Florida-Central Florida game, 31 were given notices to appear in court, for a total of 36 incidents documented by police. Another 23 people were ejected from university property.
Desmond Conner, Hartford Courant: Why do people leave Connecticut games early? A few "fans" tackle the question.
Terry Hutchens, Indianapolis Star: Indiana isn't getting the expected bounce of fan support after ending its bowl drought. Ticket sales, in fact, are down. Might it have something to do with the competition? The Hoosiers have played Western Kentucky and Murray State.
John Hunt, Oregonian: Ohio State and USC is not the only meeting between Big Ten and Pacific 10 teams on Saturday. About that Oregon-Purdue game in West Lafayette....
Jon Solomon, Birmingham News: Tony Barnhart will be hanging around the newspaper business — at least through the end of the season. "I took the voluntary separation package, and since then, the AJC has come back to me and asked me to stay on a contract basis to do the Mr. College Football blog and maybe do one or two things for print. I'll be full-time with the AJC until Sept. 28, and I've now signed a contract to stay doing the blog and doing some other things for the rest of the season."
Steve Springer, Los Angeles Times: A comeback by legendary announcer Keith Jackson? No chance. "I don't belong," he said. "My time is gone. I knew it and walked away."
The Sports Culture: Audio of yet another prankster interrupting a Pete Carroll conference call.
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