1. About That Pass: Colt McCoy said that he knew that he had time to throw the ball out of bounds. One problem, though. Texas offensive coordinator Greg Davis taught him that the clock would stop as soon as the ball sailed out-of-bounds past the first-down marker. By rule, the clock didn’t stop until the ball hit a railing on the stands. “Coach Davis called me yesterday and said, ‘I’ve been coaching it that way for 37 years. I’m going to teach to throw it in the dirt,’” McCoy said.

2. Members of the College Football Hall of Fame are notified of their election by delivery of a congratulatory football. In New York for the black-tie dinner Tuesday, Class of 2009 member Grant Wistrom of Nebraska said his wife opened the box, saw the football and handed him a marker, thinking it was an autograph request. Auburn’s Ed Dyas knew exactly what the football meant. “I was crying,” Dyas said. “My wife was crying. It’s the greatest thing that’s ever happened.”

3. Oregon coach Chip Kelly got a kick out of having one first-team All-Pac-10 player – tight end Ed Dickson. “I can’t complain about (Oregon State quarterback and first-teamer) Owen Canfield,” Kelly said. “He’s a good player. The rest of the backfield is (Heisman finalist) Toby Gerhart and ‘Quizz’ (the Beavers’ Jacquizz Rodgers). Can’t argue with that.” The Ducks’ Rose Bowl foe, Ohio State, also had only one all-conference player. That game looks more and more interesting.