1. Texas A&M had to put a halt this week in what surely will be a year-long celebration of its move to the SEC in order to learn how the league goes about its business. The school sent its top athletic administrators to the SEC office in Birmingham on Tuesday to learn how the league does things, from reading through its by-laws to addressing how the league pays its officials. The mundane always follows the excitement.

2. You could tell when Oregon corner Cliff Harris, a 2010 All-American, returned to the lineup after his preseason suspension that something had gone awry. Harris didn’t resemble the ballhawk and kick returner who a year ago had been a threat to score every time he stepped onto the field. On Monday Harris was suspended again after being ticketed for driving with a suspended license. He needs to have a discussion with himself about how important football -- and a free college education -- is to him.

3. Speaking of unfulfilled potential, three’s USC sophomore tailback Dillon Baxter. Before the 2010 season -- before Baxter had played a down -- Trojans coach Lane Kiffin used Baxter’s name and the Heisman Trophy in the same sentence. On Tuesday, Kiffin announced that Baxter no longer was on the team, but that he would remain enrolled in school. He has rushed 68 times for 281 yards and one touchdown. When you hear coaches talk about recruiting character instead of characters, this is why.