SOONERS RB ANDERSON NOT CHARGED

OKLA.» Oklahoma NORMAN, running back Rodney Anderson will not be charged after a woman accused him of sexual assault, Cleveland County District Attorney Greg Mashburn announced Thursday.

The accusation stemmed from a petition for a protective order in which the woman said Anderson assaulted her in her apartment and that she feared for her safety. An attorney for Anderson called the accusations “patently false,” saying the woman made them after Anderson declined her social invitations.

Anderson has been one of Oklahoma’s breakout stars after season-ending injuries the past two years. He leads the Sooners with 960 yards rushing and 11 touchdowns and has 283 yards and five touchdowns receiving. Oklahoma plays Georgia in a College Football Playoff semifinal Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl.

Drug charges dropped for Georgia LB.

ATHENS,

A misdemeanor marijuana possession charge against Georgia starting inside linebacker Natrez Patrick has been dismissed, apparently clearing the way for him to play in the Rose Bowl semifinal game.

West Virginia RB to skip bowl.

MORGANTOWN,

West Virginia running back Justin Crawford will skip the Mountaineers’ bowl game to focus on preparing for the 2018 NFL draft.

• Injured West Virginia quarterback Will Grier said he will return for his senior season with the Mountaineers in 2018.

Footnotes.

Oregon senior running back Royce Freeman won’t play in the Las Vegas Bowl against Boise State on Saturday. … Telly Lockette has been hired to coach tight ends at Florida State. … Wide receiver Seth Collins has been granted his release from Oregon State. … Scott Frost, who guided Central Florida to a 12-0 regular season before taking the Nebraska job, won the Eddie Robinson Award as the national coach of the year. … Three-time Grammy winner Zac Brown Band will perform the national anthem before the national championship game in Atlanta on Jan. 8.