COLLEGE: Oregon takes over No. 1 in BCS
Oregon (8-0) and Auburn (9-0) swapped spots atop the BCS standings. Oregon caught up after beating USC 53-32, leaving the Tigers in second place. The other three unbeaten teams, TCU (9-0), Boise State (7-0) and Utah (8-0), are next in the standings, but they’ll need Oregon or Auburn to lose to even have a shot at playing for the national championship. Boise State had been No. 3 for two weeks. Alabama is the highest rated one-loss team in sixth.
* A concussion may keep Miami quarterback Jacory Harris sidelined for Saturday’s game against Maryland, and the Hurricanes are already getting Stephen Morris ready to take over as their starter.
* Notre Dame quarterback Dayne Crist underwent knee surgery and is done for the season. He was hurt in Saturday’s 28-27 loss to Tulsa. Notre Dame (4-5) will start freshman Tommy Rees at quarterback with three games left.
NASCAR: Bowyer emerges at wild Talladega
In Talladega, Ala., in a typically wild ending at Talladega Superspeedway, Clint Bowyer edged teammate Kevin Harvick for the victory, but all three contenders stayed neck-and-neck in the frantic race for NASCAR’s championship. Bowyer earned a bit of redemption after being stripped of 150 points because NASCAR said his winning car at New Hampshire, the first Chase race, was illegal.
This victory came under chaotic circumstances. A wreck way behind the leaders sent AJ Allmendinger‘s car flipping across the track. Nobody had any idea who was leading when the caution froze the field, and NASCAR needed several minutes to review the finish.
The championship race remained the closest in Chase history as contenders Harvick, Jimmie Johnson and Denny Hamlin all finished inside the top-10.
ETC.: Clijsters claims year-end event
In Doha, Qatar, a day after escaping unscathed from a minor car accident, U.S. Open champion Kim Clijsters defeated top-ranked Caroline Wozniacki 6-3, 5-7, 6-3 to win the WTA Championships. The 27-year-old Belgian won her third season-ending event and fifth title of the season.
* In Seattle, Edson Buddle floated a long shot over Kasey Keller in the 38th minute, giving the Los Angeles Galaxy a 1-0 victory against the Seattle Sounders in the first game of the MLS Western Conference semifinals.