ATHENS, Ga. — Georgia’s depth chart at tailback was wiped out on Tuesday when three backs, including starter Isaiah Crowell, were suspended for one game and top backup Richard Samuel had ankle surgery. The one-game suspensions of Crowell, Ken Malcome and Carlton Thomas for unspecified violations of team rules were announced by coach Mark Richt.
• Florida running back Chris Rainey has been limited in practice because of an ankle injury. Rainey twisted his right ankle against Georgia, but offensive coordinator Charlie Weis says the team’s leading rusher is probable for Saturday’s game against Vanderbilt.
• Indiana coach Kevin Wilson confirmed that Damarlo Belcher will miss the rest of his junior season with a knee injury.
Big 12 expects W. Virginia to join next season.
MORGANTOWN, W.Va. — Interim Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas said he fully expects West Virginia to start play next season despite a hard-line stance from the Big East.
Neinas attended a reception in Morgantown welcoming the Mountaineers into the Big 12, after the university filed a lawsuit against the Big East seeking to clear the way for West Virginia to start Big 12 competition next fall.
The Big East has said it plans to keep West Virginia from leaving for 27 months under the league’s bylaws.
The lawsuit seeks to declare the Big East bylaws invalid, claiming the conference breached its fiduciary duty to WVU by failing to maintain a balance between football-playing and non-football members.
Wacky MAC.
Chandler Harnish threw a 4-yard strike to Perez Ashford with 19 seconds left for his sixth touchdown pass of the game, lifting Northern Illinois to a wild 63-60 victory over host Toledo.
Austin Dantin threw five TD passes to Eric Page for the Rockets, who had 33 first downs and 589 total yards.
The Associated Press
