1. Here’s hoping that Texas Tech gives interim head coach Ruffin McNeill the job permanently. If the administration had it in for Mike Leach, fine. He gave them a reason to fire him. But Leach’s staff is caught in the crossfire, especially if the university hires from without. If McNeill gets the job, you have to think that fewer lives will be disrupted.

2. If Texas Tech doesn’t promote McNeill, Arizona offensive coordinator Sonny Dykes, son of former Red Raider coach Spike Dykes, makes sense. He spent seven seasons on Leach’s staff and the disruption would be minimized. Elsewhere, former Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville is a proven winner whose unflappability may calm the roiled waters in Lubbock.

3. Keep an eye Thursday on Stanford freshman quarterback Andrew Luck. Cardinal coach Jim Harbaugh said Wednesday that Luck had pins removed from his surgically repaired right index finger and may play against Oklahoma in the Sun Bowl. He’s going to play without having practiced? The Cardinal has a fifth-year senior, Tavita Pritchard, who started 19 games in 2007-08, has taken snaps all month. Wouldn’t he be sharper than Luck?