Oklahoma won’t be getting any new competition in the Big 12 any time soon. Photo Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports
The Big 12 Conference decided it would not expand its current membership following a six-hour meeting of university presidents on Monday in Dallas.
Air Force, BYU, Cincinnati, Houston and Wyoming had all been under consideration as potential additions to the conference’s current 10 members.
The Big 12 is the smallest of the major conferences – which includes the Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac-12 and Southeastern Conference — and presidents had been split on whether to expand, and which schools to invite.
Approval from eight of the 10 members schools was needed for another school to be added to the conference.
–North Carolina wide receiver Mack Hollins suffered a broken right collarbone in Saturday’s win over Miami and is lost for the season.
The school announced that the starting senior receiver had surgery on Sunday. Hollins ends his college career with 81 receptions for 1,667 yards and 20 touchdowns (third in school history).
–LSU junior running back Leonard Fournette will play against Mississippi on Saturday, LSU interim head coach Ed Orgeron announced.
Fournette has not played the past three weeks because of an ankle injury. He sat out the game against Missouri, then got extra rest when the following week’s game against Florida was postponed until Nov. 19. He then missed this past Saturday’s victory over Southern Mississippi.
Fournette also missed the Sept. 10 game against Jacksonville State.
–Oklahoma running back Samaje Perine will be sidelined at least two weeks and possibly three after suffering a strained hamstring in Saturday’s game, Sooners head coach Bob Stoops announced.
The injury occurred during Perine’s 25-yard touchdown run on the opening drive of Oklahoma’s 38-17 win against Kansas State. He had rushed 48 yards on that drive but did not return.
In six games this season, Perine rushed for 475 yards and six touchdowns.
Perine’s place in the starting lineup will be taken by Joe Mixon, who has rushed for 476 yards this year.
–Clemson starting running back Wayne Gallman will be held out of practice this week as he goes through the concussion protocol.
Gallman missed most of Clemson’s 24-17 overtime win over against North Carolina State after he took a hard hit in the Tigers’ opening drive.
