• Thurs., Aug. 28- NC State at South Carolina 8 pm on ESPN
• Thurs., Aug. 28-Oregon State at Stanford 9 pm on ESPN2
• Thurs., Sept. 4-South Carolina at Vanderbilt TBA
• Friday, Sept. 5-South Florida at UCF 7 pm on ESPN
• Thursday, Sept. 11-North Carolina at Rutgers TBA ESPN
• Wed., Sept. 17-Kansas State at Louisville 8 pm on ESPN2
• Thurs. Sept. 18-West Virginia at Colorado 8:30 pm on ESPN
• Fri. Sept 19-Baylor at UConn 8 pm on ESPN2
• Thurs. Sept 25-USC at Oregon State 9:00 pm on ESPN
• Thurs. Oct 2-Pitt at South Florida TBA on ESPN
• Fri., Oct. 3-Cincinnati at Marshall 8 pm on ESPN
• Thurs., Oct. 9-Clemson at Wake Forest TBA on ESPN
• Fri., Oct. 10-Louisville at Memphis 8 pm on ESPN
• Thurs., Oct. 16-FSU at N C State TBA on ESPN
• Thurs., Oct 23-Auburn at West Virginia TBA on ESPN
• Thurs. Oct. 30-USF at Cincinnati TBA on ESPN
• Thurs., Nov 6-Maryland at Virginia Tech TBA on ESPN
• Thurs., Nov 13-Virginia Tech at Miami TBA on ESPN
• Thurs. Nov 20-Miami at Georgia Tech TBA on ESPN
• Thurs. Nov. 27-Texas A & M at Texas 8 pm on ESPN
• Fri., Nov. 28-West Virginia at Pitt Noon on ABC
• Fri. Nov. 28-UCLA at Arizona State 9:30 on ESPN2
• Thurs. Dec 4-Louisville at Rutgers TBA on ESPN

SEC: Conference athletic directors are meeting next week in a regularly scheduled meeting to discuss the problem of so many schools dealing with suspensions and arrests according to Ray Melick of the Birmingham News. Melick quotes SEC commissioner Mike Slive as saying the conference is going to encourage a discussion of the issues and maybe develop a “best practices” for schools. One of the main issues is because students are involved the SEC can’t make blanket policies for schools. Melick said there is a conflict of interest when a head coach who’s salary is dependent upon certain players being on the field and he is charged with the discipline of those players. So Melick’s point is should the discipline be taken over by the school policy or a conference wide policy that takes the decision out of the coaches hands?

AUBURN: The Tigers started spring practice Sunday. It was the first spring practice for defensive coordinator Paul Rhoads and offensive coordinator Tony Franklin. Junior Aairon Savage has made the move from safety to cornerback. Saturday is a big scrimmage to look at the quarterbacks junior Chris Todd, sophomore Kodi Burns, sophomore Neil Caudle and freshman DeRon Furr. Todd is struggling with a shoulder injury so his practice time over the next few weeks will be limited. Coach Tommy Tuberville said the quarterbacks are throwing as many as 200 passes in each practice. Mario Fannin is splitting time at running back and as a slot receiver.

GEORGIA: Coach Mark Richt met with the media Wednesday night to preview the upcoming spring practice that begins on Monday, March 3. Richt said offensive linemen Chris Little and Justin Anderson, both redshirt freshman, will be hard to keep off the field. Backup tight end NaDerris Ward is looking to transfer to the west coast. Oregon is a possibility. Ward, who didn’t catch a pass, was plagued by shoulder and hamstring injuries last season. Another reason for his possible departure is the depth chart with Tripp Chandler a solid No. 1, sophomore Bruce Figgins at No. 2 and possibly Aron White, who is up to 235 after gaining 20 pounds, at No. 3.

According to the depth chart released Wednesday, Matthew Stafford, Joe Cox and Logan Gray are the top three quarterbacks. Gray could end up at another position. Brannan Southerland (foot injury keeps him out of spring practice), Shaun Chapas and Fred Munzenmaier are the pecking order at fullback. Knowshon Moreno and Caleb King are the first two tailbacks with early enrollees Dontavious Jackson and Richard Samuel battling for the third spot.

MISSISSIPPI STATE: The Bulldogs started spring practice Monday. Wesley Carroll is the only quarterback in spring practice that has any game experience. Redshirt freshman Robert Elliott will have a chance to show what he can do at tailback. Four starters including Derek Pegues return in the secondary. Jamayel Smith is the only returning receiver to have caught more than 16 passes. Royce Blackledge, last year’s starting center, has been missed early. The other centers have struggled with quarterback snaps. Greg Byrne has been named the new athletic director to replace Larry Templeton. Junior linebacker Jamon Hughes has been suspended from the team indefinitely due to a violation of team policy.

ALABAMA: Defensive back Rashad Johnson, who recently was an intern in the district attorney’s office, was arrested for disorderly conduct early Saturday morning. He allegedly pushed a security guard to the ground before being taken into custody. Johnson led Alabama with 94 tackles as a junior with six picks. He is the eighth player to be arrested in Coach Nick Saban’s 14-month tenure. Saban said his punishment will be handled internally. Saban has met with the town mayor to also discuss some of the team’s discipline issues. Prince Hall, the Tide’s most experienced linebacker has been suspended for a violation of team policy. Hall can’t participate in either spring practice or offseason conditioning. Defensive lineman Jeremy Elder has been dismissed from the team and has withdrawn from school.

Tide secondary coach Kirby Smart has been promoted to defensive coordinator. Kevin Steele has been given the title of associate head coach and head defensive coach. Running back Terry Grant had sports hernia surgery in the offseason and will be ready to go in the spring. Running back Demetrius Goode will also be ready for spring drills after recovering from knee surgery.

ARKANSAS: The 2009 game against Texas in Fayetteville has been delayed until at least 2014. Arkansas doesn’t want to play both Texas and Texas A & M in the same season. The Aggies and Razorbacks agreed to play a neutral site game in the Cowboys’ new stadium in Arlington in 2009. Texas and Arkansas will play in Austin this year on Sept. 13. AD Jeff Long said there is no timetable for the school to hear from the NCAA regarding a waver on Ryan Mallett’s behalf for him to play immediately. Mallett transferred from Michigan after the coaching change with Rich Rodriguez.

KENTUCKY: The Wildcats and Louisville are haggling over the date of their 2008 opener. Kentucky wants the game to be played on the Sunday night of Labor Day weekend while Cardinal officials are looking at Labor Day night. Wildcat officials won’t agree to a Labor Day night contest because they say it puts them at a disadvantage of preparing for Norfolk State the following Saturday. Starting cornerback Paul Warford has been suspended indefinitely from the team for violation of team policy. He started 11 games last season.

LSU: In Wednesday’s pre-spring practice presser, coach Les Miles said he would not rule out quarterback Ryan Perrilloux returning to the team before the spring game if he cooperates. The Tigers start spring practice Friday. LSU returns five starters on offense and four on defense. Someone has to emerge during the spring as a backup quarterback with Ryan Perrilloux on suspension. Andrew Hatch is the favorite of offensive coordinator Gary Crowton even though redshirt freshman Jarrett Lee might be the more talented quarterback. Redshirt freshman T. C. McCartney is also a possibility.

Starters also have to be found at cornerback with Chevis Jackson and Jonathan Zenon preparing for the NFL. Jai Eugene and Chris Hawkins were the backups, but the coaches don’t have a lot of confidence in the pair. Three redshirt freshmen-Ron Brooks, Phelon Jones and John Williams-will get long looks. Co-defensive coordinators Doug Mallory (linebackers) and Bradley Dale Peveto (secondary) will be earning their stripes as co-defensive coordinators while continuing to handle position coach duties. Another big question is can Keiland Williams take the No. 1 running back role with the departure of Jacob Hester? Chad Jones, who is playing baseball, also needs to find a primary role. Last year, he was a kick returner and a dime back. Miles also said both receivers Terrance Tolliver and Demetrius Byrd are above 200 pounds. The spring game is set for 5 p.m., April 5. LSU opens the season six months from Saturday at home against Appalachian State.

FLORIDA: Vance Bedford, the former Michigan assistant, is the latest addition to the staff. Bedford worked with Urban Meyer at Colorado State under Earl Bruce. Charlie Strong has been named the sole defensive coordinator after being a co-coordinator last season. Offensive line coach Steve Addazio has been given the title of assistant head coach. Receivers coach Billy Gonzalez is now the recruiting coordinator. Chuck Heater, the recruiting coordinator and cornerbacks coach last year is now the safeties coach and assistant defensive coordinator. ESPN GameDay will be on campus for the Florida spring game on April 12.

ACC FOOTBALL

MIAMI: Spring practice has started with three starters returning on offense and four on defense. Redshirt freshman quarterback Robert Marve is already being praised for his film study and leadership abilities. Quarterback Jacory Harris, a freshman, has gained 10 pounds and is up to 178. Freshman Sean Spence is getting time to work with the first team linebackers. Colin McCarthy will likely replace him after he returns from an injury. Freshman Arthur Brown is also working at linebacker. Chris Zellner has moved permanently to tight end from H-back. Receiver Kayne Farquharson, who was running first team, made several nice catches on the first day. Redshirt freshman receiver Jermaine McKenzie, who has recovered from the neck injury he sustained in a car accident, said he is totally healthy. Senior linebackers Romeo Davis and Glenn Cook are awaiting word on receiving an extra year of eligibility. Both are expected to receive it. Marcus Fortson, another freshman, is learning the ropes on the defensive line. Former linebacker Willie Williams has ended up at Division II Glenville State in West Virginia. This is his fourth school after Miami, West Los Angeles Community College and Louisville.

In Miami’s second practice, receivers Aldarius Johnson and Leonard Hankerson had big catches. The quarterbacks have yet to throw a pick in practice. Tailback Derron Thomas is splitting reps with James until Graig Cooper returns from track next week.

FSU: The offensive line as a group continues to lose body fat and increase muscle mass under Rick Trickett’s guidance. Last season, only Jacky Claude could bench press 400 pounds. This season several linemen including Rodney Hudson and Ryan McMahon are expected to get near the mark. Quarterback Drew Weatherford is the expected starter in the spring, but FSU coaches will take a long look at Christian Ponder. FSU will not meet with the NCAA Infractions Committee until either late fall or perhaps January according to athletic director Randy Spetman. FSU’s new attendance policy for athletes is three unexcused absences means missing a game. Four equals more games and five unexcused absences equal sitting the remainder of the season. The Garnet and Gold game will start at 7 p.m. on April 12.

Chris Thompson (5-8, 173), a Rivals100 four-star running back from Madison County, has verbally committed to FSU. Clemson, Memphis and Miami have also offered him.

VIRGINIA: The Cavs continue to lose players to academic problems. The latest is defensive end Jeffrey Fitzgerald (11.5 TFL and seven sacks), who was counted on to replace Chris Long as a pass rush specialist, but he is not enrolled in school. He could be headed to Kansas State with former Cav defensive coordinator Ron Prince. Quarterback Jameel Sewell and starting cornerback Chris Cook.

CLEMSON: Senior receiver Rendrick Taylor (6-1, 240) will see time at linebacker this season. Last season, he caught 25 passes for 259 yards. Running back Sadat Chambers will also work at defensive back. Quarterback signee Kyle Parker is also playing for the baseball team as a utility infielder. He will also participate in spring football. Spring practice begins March 8.

UCF: Coach George O’Leary has hired former Alabama administrator Geoff Collins as LB coach. The USF game played on Friday, Sept. 5 has been set for 7 p.m.

WEST VIRGINIA: The Pitt home game is set for noon on Friday, Nov. 28 at Heinz Field. ABC will televise the game. Last season, Pitt cost West Virginia a chance at a national title.

TEXAS: The Texas A & M home game has been moved to Thanksgiving night. The two schools have played on Thanksgiving 60 times since the rivalry started in 1894.

SEC HOOPS

RPI: Tennessee No. 1, Vanderbilt No. 7, Arkansas No. 45, Miss State No. 41, Ole Miss. No. 48, and Florida No. 51, Kentucky 62, Alabama 123, Auburn No. 127, Georgia No. 139.

ALABAMA (15-13, 4-9): The Tide beat Arkansas at home Wednesday night on the strength of 19 points and 11 rebounds from Demetrius Jemison. Alabama is in a four- way tie for third place in the SEC Western Division. Alabama has lost 10 straight SEC road games and 16- of-17 away from home. In the last three years, Alabama is 6-23 in road games and 4-18 in SEC road games. In the Auburn loss, Mykal Riley hit 4- of- 8 from three-point range, but otherwise the rest of the team was 4- of- 20. Auburn hit 12- of- 28 from the arc. Auburn had only two turnovers in the last 27:31 of the game. Richard Hendrix averages 18 points and 10 rebounds per game. Alabama has had five different players-Senario Hillman, Jemison, Rico Pickett, Mikhail Torrance and Justin Tubbs—start games this season. Hillman started against Auburn and scored 10 points.

Remaining games: at Ole Miss, at LSU and Vanderbilt

OLE MISS (18-9, 4-9): The Rebels lost by four at Kentucky on Wednesday. Chris Warren led the Rebels with 25 points while Dwayne Curtis added 15 points and 12 rebounds.

Last week, the Rebels beat Mississippi State at home before losing at LSU. Ole Miss is 12-2 at home and 1-7 on the road. They are 4-2 at home in the SEC. The Rebels’ 18-9 record is still the best since the 2001-02 season. The 49 points against LSU was the lowest scoring total since Andy Kennedy joined the Rebels. Curtis has 13 double- doubles this season.

Remaining games: Alabama, Arkansas and Georgia

FLORIDA (21-7, 8-5): The Gators’ strength of schedule is No. 287 out of 341 teams. Florida, led by Nick Calathes who scored 22 points, beat Georgia Wednesday night. Calathes has scored in double figures in 12-of-13 SEC games. The Gators broke a string of three straight road losses. Marreese Speights added 15 points and Dan Werner 13.

No team with 10 or more SEC wins has failed to make the NCAA Tournament since the NCAA expanded the field to 64 teams in 1985. However, 17 teams including Syracuse and Kansas State last year and Stanford and Indiana in 2006 have won 10 or more conference games and failed to earn a bid.

In the win over South Carolina, all five starters scored in double digits. Calathes is only 25 assists short of breaking the 20- year old school record set by Ronnie Montgomery in 1987-88. Florida hit 11- of- 23 three point shots in the win over South Carolina. Florida is 15-2 at home.

Remaining games: Mississippi State, Tennessee and at Kentucky.

MISSISSIPPI STATE (19-8, 10-3): The Bulldogs, led by Charles Rhodes who had 30 points and nine rebounds, have beaten Auburn 13 out of 14 games after winning Wednesday night. Auburn has lost eight straight at the Hump by an average of 21 points per game. Mississippi State has a three- game lead in the Western Division over Arkansas. State is second nationally in blocked shots with 8.23 per games. They have held 16- of- 26 opponents to less than 40% shooting.

Remaining games: at Florida, at Vanderbilt and LSU

KENTUCKY (16-10, 10-3): Joe Crawford and Patrick Patterson scored 15 points each in the Wildcats Wednesday home win. The Wildcats have won all seven of their SEC home games. Kentucky has won nine of its last ten games.

Joe Crawford and Ramel Bradley had 18 points each in the Saturday win over Arkansas. UK made only 37% of its shots, but won the rebound battle by 13. Patterson had a double-double with 14 points and 11 rebounds. UK has won eight of nine games with seven coming by seven points or less.

Remaining games: at Tennessee (Sunday), at South Carolina, Florida

TENNESSEE (25-3, 11-2): The Vols were exhausted after the big win over Memphis last Saturday and it showed in a Tuesday loss to Vanderbilt. Chris Lofton led Tennessee with 25 points. Tyler Smith, who had the flu, scored 11 points and a career high 17 rebounds. Wayne Chism had only four points and four rebounds in the game. He had 18 points/rebounds in the Vols’ 20-point win earlier in the season.

The Vols snapped a Memphis 47- home game winning streak Saturday night. J P Prince, a Memphis native, had 13 points and 8 rebounds in the second half. Tyler Smith led the team with 16 points and Wayne Chism had 13 points. Tennessee was No. 1 in the polls for the first time in history. They are also trying to win their first SEC title since 1979. Since the SEC went to its current tournament format in 1992, the Vols have never played in the third round. Chris Lofton needs 21 points to reach the 2,000 point mark. Tyler Smith has averaged 14 points and eight rebounds and Chism has averaged 13 points and six rebounds over the past four games.

Remaining games: Kentucky (Sunday), at Florida and South Carolina

ARKANSAS (18-9, 7-6): In the Wednesday loss at Alabama, Sonny Weems led the Razorbacks in scoring with 17 points and eight rebounds. The Hogs were only 3- of- 21 from three point range. Arkansas has lost four- of- five games.

Weems scored 26 points in the loss to Kentucky. Guard Patrick Beverley has led the team in rebounding in 10- of- 12 games. Charles Thomas (9.1 points and 4.7 rebounds per game) has been averaging 4.7 points and 3.5 rebounds in the past six games. The Hogs have been committing too many fouls per game, committing at least 17 per game.

Remaining games: Vanderbilt, at Ole Miss and Auburn

VANDERBILT (24-4, 9-4): Shan Foster scored 32 points in the Tuesday win over then No. 1 ranked Tennessee. Vandy, who has won seven straight games, is 6-3 against No. 1 teams in Memorial Coliseum. The Commodores with 24 wins are five victories away from a school record in wins. The previous record of 28 came in 1992-93.

Foster scored 29 points and Alex Gordon added 23 in a win over Georgia Saturday. Foster has led the Commodores in scoring 19 times this season. Vandy’s 24 wins is the most during the Kevin Stallings era. The Commodores have won 45 games over the last two seasons, the most since they won 48 from 1992-1994. Vandy has won 18 straight home games and 31- of- 32 at home. Freshman center A J Ogilvy has opened up more room for perimeter threats Foster and Gordon.

Remaining games: home against Mississippi State and at Alabama

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.