1. USC
2. LSU
3. Michigan
4. West Virginia
5. Florida
6. Texas
7. Virginia Tech
8. Wisconsin
9. Louisville
10. UCLA
11. FSU
12. Cal
13. Oklahoma
14. Georgia
15. Penn State
16. Auburn
17. Ohio State
18. Tennessee
19. Rutgers
20. TCU
21. South Florida
22. Boise State
23. Nebraska
24. Southern Miss
25. BYU

• 30. Miami
• 31. Alabama

Sporting News upsets: Oklahoma State over Georgia; South Florida over Auburn; Vanderbilt over Alabama; Kentucky over Louisville; Illinois over Penn State; North Carolina over Miami; Mississippi State over Tennessee; Vanderbilt over South Carolina; Michigan State over Michigan; South Carolina over Florida

SEC commissioner Mike Slive said the league would likely pursue a “plus-one” format where the top two teams would play a week after the bowls pending the end of the 2009 BSC contract. Florida president Bernie Machen said he would work within the system allowing Slive and Ole Miss chancellor Robert Khayat, who are both on the BCS Oversight Committee, to make the decisions. Machen said the presidents are not aboard a NFL type playoff. The money is split among 65 schools and six conferences. BCS has seen two true teams playing for the title on nine of 16 times. The rest of the times there was controversy. BCS deal with Fox is over in 2010 and the deal with the Rose Bowl/ABC ends in 2014.

The SEC voted 8-4 to support a national rule that its head coaches not be allowed to visit schools in the spring evaluation period of high school juniors from April 15 to May 31. Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville said it’s more important that the coaches have face- to- face visits in December rather than May.

The league also split $122 million or $10.17 million per team up $5.9 million from last year. Football TV allowed for $48 million; bowl games $23 million; NCAA championships $20 million; SEC football title game $13 million; basketball TV contract $12 million and SEC basketball tournament $4.3 million. SEC TV ratings on ESPN were up 14% from last year. The conference games earned a 2.5 share making it and the Big East the most watched conference. SEC officials also agreed to look into a similar TV network that the Big Ten has.

The Birmingham News has its 62nd annual spring football poll out as of Sunday. LSU and Florida were the picks of the SID’s in the conference to win their divisions.

Alabama coach Nick Saban is close to signing his contract worth $30 million for eight years. Tide defensive line signee Luther Davis has qualified. Freshman defensive tackle signee Alex Watkins (6-5, 225) has already enrolled at Alabama and is expected to get an early chance to play. He was rated the No. 3 player in the state of Tennessee last year. Running back signee Jamar Taylor, who is from Lakeland, Fla., is not leaving Tuscaloosa according to his mother as rumored earlier this week. Courtney Upshaw (6-3, 230), a defensive end from Eufaula, Ala., has committed to Alabama. Auburn, Clemson, Georgia, LSU, Louisville and South Carolina are among the schools who have offered him. He has 96 tackles and 12 sacks last season.

LSU has a verbal commitment from Matt Branch (6-7, 240), a four-star tight end from Monroe, La. Ole Miss, Tennessee and Arkansas have offered him. Thomas Parsons (6-6, 265), an offensive tackle from Spring Branch, Texas, has committed to LSU. Texas, Texas A & M, Colorado and Michigan State are among the schools to offer him. Chad Jones, a defensive back signee from Baton Rogue Southern Lab, was projected as the No. 92 prospect in Baseball America’s projected MLB draft, but he was not drafted on the first day. He has been contacted by 20 major league teams. Jones said he would be willing to play football and baseball at LSU. Receiver Chris Mitchell is cooperating with Jefferson Parish police department following a shooting outside a Metairie nightclub. So far this offseason, three Tiger players have been dismissed following arrests and quarterback Ryan Perrilloux has been charged with a misdemeanor.

Arkansas has a verbal commitment from Jelani Smith (6-1, 207), an outside linebacker from Abbeville, La. Tulane and several other smaller schools have offered him. Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips, an Arkansas grad, is still being mentioned as the leading candidate to replace Frank Broyles when he retires at the end of the year.

Florida tailback signee Chris Rainey said he has a qualifying ACT score. He also said his weight has increased to 176 and he is bench pressing 320 pounds. Both Gator football coach Urban Meyer and basketball coach Billy Donovan have agreed to six-year contract extensions. Meyer will receive $3.25 million per season and Donavan $3.5 per season.

Georgia quarterback signee Logan Gray will not join his teammates this week because he is battling mono. He will join the team in about a month. Makiri Pugh (6-0, 194), a four-star cornerback from Charlotte Independence (N. C.) High, has committed to Georgia. Virginia, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech and Maryland have offered him. Toby Jackson (6-4, 244), a four-star strongside defensive end from Griffin (Ga.) High, has committed to the Bulldogs. FSU, Alabama, Tennessee, Clemson, Auburn and Ole Miss have offered him. Jeremy Longo (6-5, 225), a defensive end from Ft. Lauderdale (Fla.) Cardinal Gibbons, has committed to the Bulldogs. LSU, Miami, South Carolina, Virginia, Wake Forest and Auburn have offered him. He is commitment No. 13 for Georgia. Bulldog signee Israel Troupe could be selected in the Major League Baseball draft this week. He is not listed among the top 200 prospect.

Auburn redshirt freshman receiver Tim Hawthorne is still recovering from being involved in a car accident that killed one of his friends this past March. After losing down to 197 pounds, Hawthorne is bulked up to 212. He is still struggling with headaches. Hawthorne is expected to be a more important part of the receiver rotation. Tiger tailback Brad Lester has gained nearly 13 pounds and is up to around 200. He runs a 4.45 in the 40 yard dash and has a 40 inch vertical leap. All State lineman signee Nick Fairley, who is from Williamson High in Mobile, had seven grades changes making him likely ineligible. Defensive back signee Ryan Williams, who is from B C Rain in Mobile, is also having his grades investigated after having 10 changes. Regardless, Auburn is not being investigated for any wrongdoing.

Tennessee is being wooed by Atlanta Sports Council officials to move a Vol game to the Georgia Dome in 2009. The Vols receive around $3 million per home game.

Ole Miss has a verbal commitment from Horatio Williams (6-2, 175), a receiver from Oxford. Mississippi State, Arkansas and Auburn have shown interest in him.

ACC TV Schedule
Sept. 1 East Carolina at Virginia Tech on ESPN2 at noon
Sept. 1 Marshall at Miami on ESPNU at noon
Sept. 1 Wake Forest at Boston College on ABC at 3:30 pm
Sept. 1 Georgia Tech at Notre Dame on NBC at 3:30 pm
Sept. 3 FSU at Clemson on ESPN at 8 pm
Sept. 8 Miami at Oklahoma on ABC at Noon
Sept. 8 Nebraska at Wake Forest on ESPN at noon
Sept. 8 UAB at FSU on ESPNU at 5 pm
Sept. 8 Virginia Tech at LSU on ESPN at 9:15 pm
Sept. 15 FIU at Miami on ESPNU at 3:30 pm
Sept. 15 Boston College at Georgia Tech on ESPN2 at 8 pm
Sept. 15 FSU at Colorado on ESPN at 10 pm
Sept. 20 Texas A & M at Miami on ESPN at 7:30 pm
Dec. 1 ACC Title Game on ABC at 1 pm

Miami receiver signee Leonard Hankerson said he is bigger (195 pounds), stronger (benching 225 pounds) and faster (4.5 in the 40). South Florida and Miami will play a Thanksgiving weekend series from 2010 through 2013. The latest proposal ($206 million) from the City of Miami to keep the Canes in the Orange Bowl includes adding 30 suites, 400 indoor club seats, and 2,000 outdoor club seats, bathroom and concession repairs and a new scoreboard and sound system.

Thearon Collier (5-9, 163), a receiver from Miami Booker T. Washington, has committed to the Canes. Ole Miss, Virginia Tech, Auburn and Florida have offered him. Collier originally committed to Auburn. Jordan Futch (6-4, 200), a Rivals100 four-star outside linebacker from Hollywood (Fla.) Chaminade, has committed to the Canes. South Carolina, Virginia, West Virginia, Wisconsin, Alabama, Auburn, Florida, FSU, Georgia and Georgia Tech have all offered him. Last year he had 92 tackles, forced four fumbles, and blocked two punts and three field goals. Sophomore Richard Gordon has been moved back to tight end after he spent time on the defensive line. The Canes are thin at tight end with only three on scholarship.

FSU signee Taiwan Easterling could be chosen in this week’s Major League Draft.

Virginia and Penn State will meet in a series in 2012-13. Last month, they announced a series with Southern Cal for the 2008 and 2010 seasons.

Humanitarian Bowl has signed on with Idaho-based Roady’s Truck Stops for their title sponsor for the next three years. They will be known as the Roady’s Humanitarian Bowl.

GAMES FOR OCTOBER 6:
Virginia Tech at Clemson
Oklahoma vs. Texas
Florida at LSU
Georgia at Tennessee
Miami at North Carolina
Notre Dame at UCLA

BRENT BEAIRD IS A SPORTS WRITER FOR MYCLAYSUN IN ORANGE PARK, FLA. HE ALSO WRITES FOR RIVALS.COM, SAMSPORTSLINE.COM AND GATOR BAIT MAGAZINE. HE CAN BE HEARD ON SPORTS RADIO 1010 XL.