Temple, N. Illinois top picks in MAC

Associated Press

Temple is the choice to win the East division, and Northern Illinois is the pick to win the West at the Mid-American Conference’s media day at Ford Field in Detroit. It was announced Friday that Temple received 17 first-place votes in a poll of 20 members of the league’s media contingent, and Northern Illinois had 15 first-place votes.

NO CHANGE IN BCS

Bowl Championship Series executive director Bill Hancock says the defections of Nebraska and Colorado from the Big 12 will not influence the BCS. Hancock says, “As far as the BCS’s future and operation, there’s no effect.” He also says any potential playoff system would have to include 16 teams, although he wants it known he’s not in favor of a playoff system for college football.

MASOLI to VISIT OLE MISS

Former Oregon quarterback Jeremiah Masoli has accepted an invitation from Mississippi coach Houston Nutt to visit the school this weekend. Masoli made the decision early Friday morning to visit the Oxford campus. Masoli was considered a possible Heisman Trophy candidate after a breakout season at Oregon, but coach Chip Kelly kicked him off the team after two brushes with the law in six months. Nutt said earlier this summer that the Rebels weren’t interested in Masoli, but that changed when backup quarterback Raymond Cotton left the team last week, two weeks before the start of preseason practice.

NCAA at Clemson

Athletic director Terry Don Phillips said Friday that the NCAA had been on campus this week to talk with two members of the football team. The NCAA is investigating Alabama, North Carolina, Georgia and South Carolina in connection with possible rules violations at a party in Miami. Earlier this month, South Carolina tight end Weslye Saunders spoke with NCAA officials about his possible link to the South Beach gathering.