AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas defensive end Colin Simmons has been credited with an extra half-sack against Tennessee, bringing his game total to 5 1/2 and setting a new school record. Simmons dominated the line of scrimmage in Texas’ 20-17 win as the Longhorns finished with 10 1/2 sacks. Simmons was also penalized for a vulgar celebration after one of them when he mimicked using the bathroom. Texas officials said a review by Texas and Tennessee prompted a change in the box score for a fourth-quarter play. Simmons and defensive lineman Hero Kanu both got to Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon for a sack.
COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) — The Southeastern Conference and South Carolina have jointly suspended Gamecocks edge rusher Dylan Stewart for throwing a punch at an Alabama player over the weekend. South Carolina coach Shane Beamer suspended Stewart indefinitely on Sunday for punching Alabama tight end Josh Ford in the helmet in the fourth quarter of the Gamecocks’ 49-18 loss at No. 7 Alabama on Saturday. Beamer already ruled Stewart out for Saturday’s game against No. 24 Kentucky prior to the one-game suspension issued on Monday. The one-game suspension is separate from Beamer’s indefinite suspension.
AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — Texas coach Steve Sarkisian says his team needs to cut out what he calls “unacceptable” celebrations. Defensive end Colin Simmons drew a penalty after a sack and running back Raleek Brown was criticized after a touchdown in the No. 1 Longhorns’ 20-17 win over Tennessee. Simmons was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct after he mimicked urinating on the field. Brown’s celebration included him wiping his hand across his crotch before falling down as if he had passed out. Sarkisian said he addressed it with both player but any discipline will be handled internally.
WASHINGTON (AP) — The Senate has passed a sweeping bipartisan bill that would regulate college sports. It's an attempt to end “chaos” in an industry that has been upended by skyrocketing athlete payments and near-unrestricted transfers between schools. Passage of the legislation Monday would be the strongest effort yet by Congress to set national regulations governing payments to college athletes for their name, image and likeness and how often they can transfer. It would give the NCAA new authority over those rules and limited antitrust protections to enforce them. The legislation still has to pass the House.
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. (AP) — No. 17 Tennessee’s successful onside kick against top-ranked Texas was incorrectly officiated. The Southeastern Conference says the kick with 1:22 left on Saturday should have been flagged for a five-yard penalty and the down replayed because the ball was not kicked from the 35-yard line. The ball also should not have been moved once was it was deemed ready for play by the officials. The onside kick came after Tennessee quarterback Faizon Brandon threw a 30-yard TD pass to pull the Vols within three. Tennessee punter Jackson Ross pulled off the onside kick but the team wasn’t able to score and the Longhorns won 20-17.
GAINESVILLE, Fla. (AP) — Florida receiver Vernell Brown III could be back for the team’s game at No. 25 Missouri on Saturday. Brown injured his right knee at the end of a 6-yard run in the second quarter of a 52-28 victory against then-No. 4 Mississippi last weekend. He limped off the field and spent the second half wearing a protective sleeve on his leg. Coach Jon Sumrall says tests “revealed nothing that’s long term" and adds that it's going to come down to pain tolerance. Brown leads the eighth-ranked Gators with 17 receptions for 271 yards and two touchdowns. He also has 16 yards rushing on three carriers.
AUBURN, Ala. (AP) — Auburn guard Sira Thienou will miss the upcoming women’s basketball season after tearing a knee ligament during training. Thienou, a 6-foot-2 junior and one of six transfers who joined the Tigers during the offseason, announced the news in a social media post. She played the past two seasons at Southeastern Conference foe Mississippi. Thienou started 29 games for the Rebels last season, averaging 9.7 points, 5.6 rebounds and 2.4 assists. She scored in double figures 11 times and was instrumental in Ole Miss making the NCAA Tournament.
UNDATED (AP) — A few new contenders are emerging in the race for College Football Playoff spots. No one saw Florida coming but the Gators are up to No. 8 in The Associated Press Top 25. Mississippi State was picked second to last in the SEC but is now No. 16 in the nation. No. 10 BYU has been ahead of Big 12 prohibitive favorite Texas Tech for three weeks. No. 14 Iowa could be the most intriguing. The Hawkeyes beat Michigan 20-19 on the last play to set up a huge game against No. 5 Ohio State in Iowa City.
