Trojans back on top

Texas had a short stay at No. 1 in Bowl Championship Series standings.

Southern California jumped over the Longhorns, returning to first place after a one-week absence. The margin between USC and Texas is still small – only .0038 – though up from last week when the margin separating first and second was the slimmest in the eight-year history of the BCS.

Third-place Virginia Tech gained on the top two, but the Trojans and Longhorns remain on course for a Rose Bowl showdown.

The top five teams in the BCS are unbeaten, with Alabama fourth and UCLA moving up a spot to fifth. It’s the second straight season that the BCS top 10 has five unbeaten teams with five weeks left in the regular season.

Texas is tops in the computer rankings again this week, but USC’s 55-13 victory over Washington State helped boost the Trojans’ computer score enough for them to reclaim first.

Southern California’s BCS average is .9767. Texas is at .9729.

Huskies pondering QB change

In one breath Monday, Washington football coach Tyrone Willingham stood firmly behind Isaiah Stanback as his starting quarterback.

In the next breath, Willingham left open the possibility that come Saturday’s 3:30 p.m. kickoff against Oregon State at Husky Stadium, Johnny DuRocher could be taking the snaps for the Huskies.

“We’re going to look very closely at our situation and make sure we have things in the right order,” Willingham said. “We have to make sure that we’ve got that situation where it needs to be. Because I was not pleased with what I saw in that ball game. Of all the ball games, that was not our best one.”

Stanback had his worst game of the season in the loss to Arizona State, going 8 for 20 for 171 yards, no touchdowns and an interception. He also lost a fumble.

Tennessee’s Sanders resigns

Randy Sanders resigned as Tennessee’s offensive coordinator, two days after the Volunteers lost their third straight game with another punchless performance.

Sanders will remain on the staff through the season, keeping part of his job as quarterbacks coach. Play-calling duties will be handled by coach Phillip Fulmer, Sanders and the rest of the offensive coaching staff.

Callahan denies making gesture

Nebraska coach Bill Callahan said he didn’t make a throat-slashing gesture while arguing with an official during the Cornhuskers’ loss to Big 12 rival Oklahoma.

After Kejuan Jones’ 17-yard TD run that gave the Sooners a 31-17 lead in the fourth quarter, Callahan engaged in an animated discussion with referee Steve Usechek after the touchdown.

Videotape showed Callahan raising his right arm, index finger extended, and making a motion from left to right across his throat.

Around the country

Specialists have found no evidence to contradict an earlier diagnosis of viral meningitis as the cause of death for Missouri football player Aaron O’Neal. … Jackson State fired coach James Bell, two days after a loss that ensured the once proud Division I-AA program of its third straight losing season. … Miami and Florida International will play in the 2006 and 2007 seasons.