BIG 12 WILL TAKE TOP 2 TEAMS FOR TITLE GAME

irving, texas» The Big 12 Conference will not split into divisions for football and instead will match its first- and second-place teams when its championship game returns next season.

Big 12 athletic directors decided on the 1 vs. 2 format after input from their head football coaches, the conference announced Friday.

“Given our round-robin, nine-game scheduling model, it is expected the Big 12 champion will be uniquely positioned for College Football Playoff consideration,” Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby said in a news release. “I would argue there will be no path more difficult than our champion’s, where it will have played every team in the conference, faced at least one autonomy conference nonconference opponent and then plays in our championship game. The guaranteed No. 1 vs. No. 2 matchup will be a great game for our fans, and it’s hard to imagine a stronger position for a conference champion.”

The Big 12 is expected to announce the site of its 2017 championship game during the coming weeks.

Flowers shines in South Florida win

B tampa, fla.» Quinton Flowers ran for 176 yards and two touchdowns to help South Florida get back on track in the American Athletic Conference with a 52-45 victory over No. 22 Navy.

Rebounding from a 16-point loss to Temple that cost the Bulls (7-2, 4-1) sole possession of first place in the AAC’s East Division, Flowers keyed a balanced attack that amassed 629 total yards against an overmatched Navy defense that yielded touchdowns on South Florida’s first six possessions of the game to fall behind 42-14 at halftime.

Four alleged gang rapes at Baylor.

A law firm hired by Big 12 member Baylor University to investigate the school’s handling of sexual assault and violence cases involving athletes determined that 17 women since 2011 reported incidents of sexual and domestic violence involving 19 football players. Four of the cases involved alleged gang rapes.

In May, Philadelphia-based law firm Pepper Hamilton released a scathing report about Baylor’s handling of sexual assault allegations. That report led to the demotion and then resignation of university president and chancellor Kenneth Starr, the firing of football coach Art Briles, the suspension and then resignation of athletic director Ian McCaw and the firings of multiple athletic department employees.

Gators tailback will sit after citation

B gainesville, fla.» Florida running back Mark Thompson won’t play Saturday against Georgia after being cited for marijuana possession.

Thompson, who ranks third on the team with 262 yards rushing and two touchdowns this season, was pulled over early Thursday after he ran a stop sign near campus, according to a University Police Department report. The officer said he smelled marijuana in the car, performed a search and found Thompson in possession of fewer than 20 grams of the substance.

Seminoles receiver out with injury

B tallahassee, fla.» Florida State wide receiver Jesus “Bobo” Wilson will miss Saturday’s game against No. 4 Clemson because of a foot injury.