Reporters' Notebooks

Dave Dye, Detroit News: Illinois and Michigan State were fined $10,000 by the Big Ten for a postgame incident that involved Fighting Illini players trying to plant a school flag at midfield at Spartan Stadium.

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: Michigan State has notified Hawaii that it wants out of a 2007 game at Honolulu.

Mark Alesia, Indianapolis Star: A congressional committee is asking the NCAA to explain why college sports deserve educational tax exemption.

Oregonian: Oklahoma fans are still fuming over the blown calls that cost the Sooners a victory at Oregon and are flooding the email boxes of writers.

Steve Ellis, Tallahassee Democrat: Does former Florida State assistant Chuck Amato still know the code? Maybe that explains why North Carolina State has been successful against the Seminoles.

Wendell Barnhouse, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Impressive work here. A conference-by-conference look at what is happening (registration).

Charles Goldberg, Birmingham News: Auburn's Tommy Tuberville made another plea for a playoff system.

Ron Higgins, Commercial Appeal: SEC notebooks for the Western Division and the Eastern Division.

Brian Murphy, Idaho Statesman: MPC Computers Bowl officials are concerned that if Boise State were to be selected for a BCS bowl, it could impact ticket sales for Idaho's postseason game.

Kyle Tucker, Virginian-Pilot: A look at the good, the bad and the really bad in the ACC:

Chip Towers, Atlanta Journal-Constitution: Georgia president Michael Adams said the university will continue to accept some student-athletes who do not meet the school's admission requirements (registration).

Donnie Webb, Syracuse Post-Standard: Syracuse's three-game winning streak has helped boost ticket sales for its game against Pittsburgh in the Carrier Dome.