Posted by ESPN.com's Graham Watson

I am sad to report the passing of a sports icon. TOM II, the Bengal Tiger mascot of the University of Memphis, passed this morning of cancer. He was 17.

According to the release on the Memphis website, TOM II was surrounded by loved ones at the time of his passing.

• Kurt Kragthorpe of the Salt Lake Tribune is proclaiming Utah to be the new center of the college football universe because, according to the article:

No other state can claim two teams in the top 14 of the Football Bowl Subdivision polls (Brigham Young and Utah), a school in the Football Championship Subdivision rankings (Weber State) and the No. 2-ranked junior college program (Snow).

• It's been two seasons since Rice grabbed its first bowl berth after a 45-yard drought, now the Owls' seniors, who were there in 2006, want one more taste.

• Graham Couch of the Kalamazoo Gazette highlights some of the paranoia that takes place during the week leading up to the game between Central and Western Michigan.

• Bryant-Jon Aneteola of the Fresno Bee writes that he doesn't think Fresno State has hit its stride yet this season. That could be bad news for the teams on the second half of the schedule.

• Arkansas State will find out just how good its run defense really is when it faces Louisiana-Lafayette and its top-ranked rushing offense.