Truth & Rumors > NCAA

09:00 AM ET 05.18 | The University of New Mexico and former men's basketball coach Steve Alford have reached an agreement in principle on the buyout he owes his former employer. UNM issued a news release Friday stating the buyout amount plus savings of deferred compensation payments, incentive bonuses would net the university a "favorable" outcome of $625,000. UNM had demanded $1 million and Alford had offered $200,000. After sorting through who owes who what, the additional "hard" dollars Alford and his new employer, UCLA, will owe UNM come to $300,000. UCLA, meanwhile, said it was blindsided Friday afternoon by UNM's announcement. The two sides have not yet signed any agreements, and UCLA made it clear that it is not paying the $625,000 initial media reports implied in UNM's statement. "On Friday afternoon, the University of New Mexico issued a news release stating that they had reached a buyout agreement with their former Men's Basketball Coach, Steve Alford, who last month accepted the head coaching job at UCLA," read an emailed statement UCLA sent to the Journal on Friday. "The UNM news release does require some clarification. While there has not been a signed agreement, New Mexico has agreed to accept $300,000 of their original $1 million demand. A larger figure included in UNM's release appears to include certain bonuses which Coach Alford previously agreed to forego (sic) when he decided to terminate his contract there and accept the offer from UCLA."

Albuquerque Journal

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08:22 AM ET 05.18 | Quarterback Wes Lunt's transfer list just got shorter. Oklahoma State is restricting Lunt from transferring to either Southeastern Conference schools or Southern Miss, where Lunt's former offensive coordinator Todd Monken is now the head coach. Cowboys spokesman Gavin Lang confirmed the news via email after CBSSports.com spoke with a source with direct knowledge of Lunt's transfer process. When asked why the SEC and Southern Miss were restricted, Lang said that decision is between Lunt and coach Mike Gundy. Lunt was reportedly considering SEC schools Tennessee and Vanderbilt along with Southern Miss, Louisville and Illinois. More reports say the restrictions extend to Pac-12 schools and future opponent Central Michigan.

CBS Sports

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10:19 AM ET 05.18 | Arizona Wildcats coach Rich Rodriguez announced Friday that running back Daniel Jenkins has rejoined the program after a short-lived transfer to Washington State. Jenkins, who has one season of eligibility remaining, announced in January that he was leaving the Wildcats' program to transfer to Washington State after serving as Ka'Deem Carey's backup last season. Jenkins graduated in December and would have been able to play for the Cougars right away. The Moreno Valley, Calif., native has ultimately decided to spend his senior season with the Wildcats after a few months in Pullman, Wash., though. Jenkins rushed for 301 yards and two touchdowns on 67 carries as a junior for the Wildcats. Rodriguez said tonight that Jenkins will be looked upon as a leader immediately.

Arizona Republic

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08:27 AM ET 05.18 | Illinois wide receiver Darius Millines and defensive end Darrius Caldwell have been kicked off the team. Illinois Sports Information Director Kent Brown said Thursday the players were dismissed over unspecified violations of team rules. Millines was one of the team's most-productive receivers. He was already on an indefinite suspension over the matter. In announcing the suspension in March, coach Tim Beckman declined to discuss the details. Millines was the No. 2 receiver in yardage last fall behind Ryan Lankford on a team that struggled to move the ball. Millines caught 32 balls for 319 yards and no touchdowns.

Associated Press

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01:55 PM ET 05.17 | In what might be the most WSU thing in the history of WSU things, President Elson Floyd announced Thursday that the school will cancel classes on the afternoon of Thursday, Oct. 31, in advance of that night's televised football game against Arizona State. Additionally, he said that attendance at morning classes will be at the discretion of faculty. A less cynical person would note that Pullman more or less has to change everything to accommodate the influx of people into the city when there is a football game. Floyd said this is an "opportunity to share the beauty of our unique Pullman campus before a national television audience in a broadcast carried by one of the ESPN family of networks," and that this is "part of our efforts to ensure the safety and ease of travel throughout campus for faculty, staff, students and fans."

Elson Floyd/WSU

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