Reporters' Notebooks

Bud Withers, Seattle Times: Washington State's list of candidates to succeed Bill Doba is down to seven, with Texas El Paso's Mike Price leading the list and former Michigan State and Louisville coach John L. Smith also among the finalists.

Marty Cook Arkansas Democrat-Gazette: New Mississippi coach Houston Nutt received permission from Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles to borrow at least two Razorbacks assistant coaches for one week to help with the Rebels’ recruiting.

Randy King, Roanoke Times: Another dismal turnout means Jacksonville's chances of continuing to play host to the Atlantic Coast title game appear to be slim and none.

Buck Harvey, San Antonio Express-News: Oklahoma's Bob Stoops lobbied well into the night that his team should play for the national title because it had beaten the No. 1 team — Missouri — on a neutral field.

Natalie Meisler, Denver Post: Possible candidates at Colorado State: Oakland Raider assistant Brian Schneider, South Florida assistant Dan McCarney, Bowling Green's Gregg Brandon, Akron's J.D. Brookhart and Montana's Bobby Hauck.

Ed McGranahan, Greenville News: A billboard bought by a Clemson fan to poke fun at the South Carolina and Steve Spurrier came down after less then three days when some folks didn't see the humor. View billboard by clicking here.

Mark Purdy, San Jose Mercury News: What led to California's fall? The Golden Bears won their first five games, then dropped six of seven.

Greg Hansen, Arizona Daily Star: A sorry decade of Arizona football continued with a season-ending loss to Arizona State.

Dwain Price, Fort Worth Star-Telegram: Former Southern Methodist coach Phil Bennett might be joining the Baylor coaching staff of Art Briles.

Pete Pelegrin, Miami Herald: At least Florida International knows how to close out the Orange Bowl. It stunned North Texas and ended the nation's longest losing streak at 23 games.