Reporters' Notebooks

Jay Weiner, Star Tribune: Minnesota is looking into whether members of coach Glen Mason's staff violated NCAA rules by aiding former running back Gary Russell after he flunked out of school earlier this year.

Jake Curtis, San Francisco Chronicle: With USC suddenly looking vulnerable, Saturday's Oregon-California game takes on added importance.

Ray Fittipaldo, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette: The Penn State-Minnesota game will be played as scheduled Saturday because the Minnesota Twins won the American League Central Division.

Ray Parrillo, Philadelphia Inquirer: Among the biggest winners of week 5: Rutgers, which is 5-0 for the first time since 1976 (registration).

Brent Johnson, Star-Ledger: The Pittsburgh-Syracuse game will answer a lot of questions about each team.

Andrew Logue, Des Moines Register: Now that the media hype surrounding Iowa is gone, a cloud of uncertainty hangs over the team.

Kyle Ringo, Boulder Daily Camera: Former Colorado coach Gary Barnett, with the blessing of current coach Dan Hawkins, paid a visit to the Buffaloes' hotel in Columbia Friday night.

John Helsley, Oklahoman: There is a way for Oklahoma to land a BCS bowl, and it all starts with Saturday's game against Texas (registration).

Doug Segrest, Birmingham News: A look at the week that was and a look at the week that will be.

Chris Dempsey, Denver Post: Big 12 notebook: When it comes to running the ball, Baylor walks.

Paul Strelow, Columbia State: Almost $50,000 has been raised in two weeks to help Clemson cornerback Ray Ray McElrathbey raise his 11-year-old brother, Fahmarr.