Benson joins elite rushing club
Texas’ Cedric Benson became the sixth player in NCAA Division I history to rush for 1,000 in four consecutive seasons Saturday night in the Longhorns’ victory over Texas Tech in Lubbock, Texas.
Benson, who led the nation in rushing coming into the game against Texas Tech, surpassed 1,000 yards in the first quarter with an 8-yard run.
Benson took a pitch from quarterback Vince Young at Tech’s 25 and ran up the left side to the 17.
Benson, who ran for 1,053, 1,293 and 1,360 yards in his first three seasons, joined Ron Dayne, Wisconsin (1996-99); Tony Dorsett, Pittsburgh (1973-76); Avon Cobourne, West Virginia (1999-02); Denvis Manns, New Mexico State (1995-98) and Amos Lawrence, North Carolina (1977-80) as four-time 1,000-yard rushers.
Sproles has record-setting day
Darren Sproles broke two offensive records in Kansas State’s win over Nebraska in Manhattan, Kan.
Sproles rushed for 135 yards on 22 carries and scored on two short runs. His first, a 2-yard sprint, broke the school career record with his 41st touchdown. He also scored on a 3-yard run and raised his career all-purpose yards total to 6,025, breaking the Big 12 record held by former Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams of Texas.
Sproles’ record-breaking TD run gave the Wildcats a 21-7 lead.
Buckeyes suspend Ross
Ohio State coach Jim Tressel isn’t sure how long Lydell Ross will be suspended from the team after the starting tailback got into trouble at a local strip club.
“How long it will be, I really don’t know,” Tressel said after a 30-7 win over Indiana. “We were busy with other agendas when it came up and we’ll address that at the proper time.”
The Buckeyes ended a three-game losing streak with the victory. Freshman Tony Pittman got most of the carries in Ross’ absence and responded with 144 yards and a touchdown on 20 carries.
The Buckeyes had 282 rushing yards, almost as many as they had in their four previous games (287) with Ross as their lead back.
Ross was suspended Friday by Tressel for one game with the no details given as to why.
The strip club Pure Platinum filed a police report on Friday, but Ross was not arrested or charged by Saturday afternoon. The club accuses Ross of theft by deception for using coupons in the club that weren’t his.
Vols’ tight end charged
Tennessee tight end Chris Brown was held out of the Vols’ 17-13 win over Alabama on Saturday after he was charged with shoplifting Friday night, coach Phillip Fulmer said.
Brown, a freshman, started the last two games.
Peterson beats Faulk, Smith
Oklahoma’s freshman running back Adrian Peterson, needing 99 yards to tie Emmitt Smith and Marshall Faulk as the quickest freshmen to gain 1,000 yards, gained 126 yards on 22 carries in the Sooners’ 41-10 rout of Kansas. Peterson now has 1,027 yards in just seven games.