Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford was chosen to start in the Sooners’ season opener against North Texas, winning a three-way competition.
Bradford, a redshirt freshman, distanced himself from junior Joey Halzle and freshman Keith Nichol when he completed 12- of-17 passes for 130 yards and four touchdowns during a scrimmage Sunday.
“We are going with Sam because he earned the position,” Sooners coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. “We expect both Joey and Keith to continue working hard and competing for playing time just like all our players do at every position.
“There may be an opportunity for them at some point and it will be important for them to be ready.”
Stoops said the decision was made Sunday, and Bradford was the Sooners’ first-team quarterback during practice Monday.
Bradford, from Oklahoma City, succeeds Paul Thompson, who led Oklahoma to the Big 12 championship last season.
Thompson took over at quarterback in August last year, moving back to the position from wide receiver following Rhett Bomar’s dismissal for breaking NCAA rules.
Bradford’s father, Kent, was an offensive lineman for the Sooners in the 1970s.
West Virginia: The school suspended cornerback Ellis Lankster and linebacker J.T. Thomas, two days after they were arrested for transferring and receiving stolen property.
Lankster and Thomas were charged with stealing a laptop computer.
In a statement, West Virginia said the players were suspended indefinitely pending the conclusion of the legal process. They face a Sept. 10 preliminary hearing in Monongalia County Magistrate Court.
Alabama: Coach Nick Saban said all-SEC cornerback Simeon Castille would be punished “internally” for his early morning arrest on a disorderly conduct charge on Sunday, the fourth arrest in the same off-campus bar district this summer.
Saban said he already had settled on what the punishment would be but would not elaborate.
Miami: The team will play home football games at Dolphin Stadium starting in 2008, leaving the historic but decaying Orange Bowl after seven decades.
The university’s trustees decided Tuesday to make the much-debated move, which could generate $2 million or more in extra revenue annually for the Hurricanes’ athletic department. City officials unsuccessfully tried to keep Miami at the Orange Bowl by promising $206 million in upgrades.
Penn State: Centre County Judge Charles Brown Jr. dismissed five of seven charges against safety Anthony Scirrotto for an April off-campus fight.
Brown let stand a felony count of criminal trespass. Scirrotto still faces one count of harassment.
Michigan: Tight end Carson Butler has been reinstated to the team after being cleared of charges of attacking a student on St. Patrick’s Day.
Butler was released from the team in March after being accused of assaulting the student, but he was acquitted in July.
