Pete Carroll met with John David Booty to make sure the junior was staying at USC beyond this season. Peter Read Miller/SI

USC Coach Pete Carroll invited quarterback John David Booty to his office on Tuesday for a conversation. Carroll felt compelled to meet with Booty amid radio and Internet discussions that said the fourth-year junior might leave for the NFL after only one year as the starter. Booty said he was not considering leaving after this season.
-- Los Angeles Times

The Miami Hurricanes don't want to bench Kyle Wright but admit backup Kirby Freeman deserves to play. If all goes as planned, both will get to play against Virginia Tech.
-- Miami Herald

Tennessee quarterback Erik Ainge dressed for practice Tuesday but didn't do anything on the field with the rest of his teammates during the part of practice open to the media. Ainge, trying to fight through a sprained right ankle, did throw some on the side. He's been getting treatment on his ankle round-the-clock and said he will be ready to go against LSU on Saturday.
-- The Tennessean

Bob Stoops thinks it might be a good idea to scrap the North-South divisional setup in the Big 12. Adding one conference game and doing away with the conference championship is an old debate Stoops and a few others would like to see rekindled.
-- Rocky Mountain News

The left knee injury Notre Dame linebacker and special teams player Anthony Vernaglia suffered in Saturday's 38-14 victory over Navy is not as serious as it initially appeared. Freshman running back Munir Prince, who did not make the trip to Navy, is likely to play Saturday against North Carolina.
-- Chicago Tribune

UCLA's inability to get first downs has been a problem since the Bruins opened the season 2-0. With four regular-season games remaining, UCLA still does not have a go-to receiver and Chris Markey's hold as the No. 1 running back appears to have changed based on his limited role against Washington State last week.
-- Los Angeles Times

Two Florida State starters who had hoped to return to action this Saturday against Virginia likely will be forced to sit out. Linebacker Geno Hayes was unable to practice Tuesday. De'Cody Fagg, the Seminoles' leading receiver before spraining his left ankle against Boston College, also was unable to practice Tuesday.
-- Miami Herald

Freshman offensive lineman John Miller has been dismissed from Georgia's football team, coach Mark Richt said Tuesday. The dismissal is another hit to a line that could face depth problems next season. Georgia currently has eight offensive linemen on scholarship who are not seniors.
-- Atlanta Journal-Constitution

Illinois will be without its best frontcourt player in Wednesday night's first exhibition game against Lewis at Assembly Hall. Coach Bruce Weber said junior Brian Randle may be out a week to 10 days with a groin injury.
-- Chicago Tribune

Ohio State basketball has landed another top in-state talent with the oral commitment of Toledo forward Williams Buford. Buford, a 6-5 junior, joins a 2008 recruiting class that already includes 7-foot center B.J. Mullens of Canal Winchester and 6-3 guard Walter Offutt from Indianapolis. Recruiting service rivals.com ranks Mullens as the No. 3 player in the class, Buford as No. 49 and Offutt as No. 92. Scout.com ranks Buford.
-- Cleveland Plain Dealer

Texas Tech coach Bob Knight did not rule out senior guard Jarrius Jackson returning to the team. Jackson, the Big 12's leading scorer last season, has been indefinitely suspended from the men's basketball program for academic reasons, his parents said Tuesday night.
-- Dallas Morning News

Stanford has more to worry about Saturday than its game against USC. Linebacker Pat Maynor has been diagnosed with a staph infection in his leg, making him the Cardinal's third starter this season to come down with the problem. At Stanford, the culprit could be a locker-room couch.
-- Oakland Tribune

Washington basketball coach Lorenzo Romar said he will not know until Thursday's evening practice or perhaps Friday morning who'll join forward Jon Brockman and guard Justin Dentmon in the Huskies' starting five.
-- Seattle Times