Mike McNeil, among other former players, allege some NCAA violations were going on at Auburn dating as far back as 2007. They include academic fraud, player payments, and overspending on recruits. The overall story tells of how McNeil got no support from the school following his arrest on armed robbery charges in early 2011, allegations he denies and will fight at trial. He certainly feels like he has an ax to grind against the school, so take his words with whatever grain of salt you choose to. If there is any truth to what he's saying, then it could cast a shadow that actually sticks across the Chizik era on the Plains.

A Mississippi State coach has a very simple message for 4-star linebacker recruit Michael Ferns. You just have to see it.

Turns out Mike Gundy really did consider the Tennessee job before deciding he couldn't leave his alma mater. Sounds like the allure came down to a belief that UT is an easier place than Oklahoma State to win a national title, and because (essentially, in so many words) he could play more cupcakes in Knoxville. He euphemistically describes is as having concerns about scheduling, but one big concern is about playing a tough opponent in a kickoff game on top of a nine-game conference schedule. So, cupcakes.

If you don't know who Nate Silver is and don't know whether you should trust him -- well, just ask Mitt Romney whether he should have listened to his own pollsters or Silver. In any case, The New York Times' statistical probability guru gives Florida a 12.7 percent chance of winning the NCAA basket-ball tournament, giving the Gators the third-best chance in the country.

A basketball game between Mississippi State and Loyola of Chicago 50 years ago helped end segregated college basketball. NPR had a good story about it this morning that you can either listen to or read here.

Kari Chisholm of StiffArmTrophy.com collects known Heisman votes and turns them into a projection. His model, which is 10-for-10 in picking winners so far, has Johnny Manziel not just winning the statuette, but being one of the top 10 winners ever. A lot of voters have expressed the thought that this year's was one of the tougher decisions they've had to make. If that's true, the vast majority ended up breaking the same way.