Reporters' Notebooks

Caulton Tudor, Raleigh News & Observer: The Atlantic Coast Conference is loaded on defense, but the league may not have enough offense to field a team that can compete against the best in the country and contend for the BCS title.

Joseph Person, Columbia State: South Carolina offensive tackle Quintin Richardson was released Saturday after spending the night at the Richland County jail following a drug-related arrest.

Bob Wieneke, South Bend Tribune: Ron Powlus, who was Jimmy Clausen before Jimmy Clausen, is loving his return to Notre Dame.

Ferd Lewis, Honolulu Advertiser: Hawaii has two I-AA opponents on its schedule, but five teams — Michigan State, Notre Dame, USC, UCLA and Washington — have not played a I-AA opponent since the NCAA adopted the divisional setup in 1978.

Dave Matter, Columbia Tribune: The best position group among Big 12 teams? Texas A&M's backfield, with quarterback Stephen McGee and running backs Mike Goodson, Jorvorskie Lane and Chris Alexander.

Mike Baldwin, Oklahoman: Oklahoma State receiver Artrell Woods suffered a serious back injury during a weight-lifting session Friday and underwent 3.5 hours of surgery.

Jake Schaller, Colorado Springs Gazette: Air Force players — unlike their colleagues at other I-A teams — spend part of their summer getting hands-on experience at an Air Force base.

El Paso Times: Texas El Paso coach Mike Price has been released from a hospital after doctors implanted a stent to relieve a blocked artery in his heart.

John Walters, NBC Sports: The brother of Louisville coach Steve Kragthorpe is Kurt Kragthorpe, sports columnist at the Salt Lake Tribune.

And here is today's mystery link.