Top USC rusher likely out with injury to knee

Southern California senior running back Vavae Malepeai, the No. 13 Trojans’ top rusher, is unlikely to play Friday in the Pac-12 title game against Oregon because of a knee ligament sprain, coach Clay Helton said. Also, QB Jaxson Dart of Draper, Utah, ESPN’S No. 73-ranked recruit, committed to the Trojans over UCLA, Brigham Young and Arizona State.

■ Azusa Pacific: The private Christian school, located outside Los Angeles, is ending its program after 55 years of Division II and NAIA competition, with athletic director Gary Pine citing heightened travel costs prompted by a lack of in-state opponents.

■ Coastal Carolina: Coach Jamey Chadwell’s contract was extended through 2027. Terms were not disclosed. The 43-yearold, who made $375,000 this season, is 19-16 in two-plus years with the Chanticleers, who are 11-0 this year and ranked No. 9.

■ Jackson State: Cornerback De’jahn Warren of Lackawanna (Pennsylvania) College, the nation’s No. 4-ranked junior college prospect, flipped his commitment from Georgia to the Tigers, who are coached by Hall of Famer Deion Sanders.

■ Virginia Tech: The team opted out of bowl opportunities, ending the nation’s longest bowl streak at 27 years. Athletic director Whit Babcock estimated about three-quarters of the team contracted COVID-19 since March.

■ Kansas State: The team withdrew from bowl consideration, with team activities paused indefinitely amid an outbreak of positive COVID-19 tests and contact tracing.