Extra Points

For eight months Texas coach Mack Brown equivocated about whether sophomore Chris Simms would replace junior Major Applewhite at quarterback. Simms started the Longhorns' opener last Saturday but was benched after his fourth pass—an ill-advised attempt that Louisiana-Lafayette cornerback Terrence Hunter returned 43 yards for a touchdown. Applewhite entered the game and led Texas to six touchdowns and a field goal as the Longhorns won 52-10. Bottom line: Applewhite, who still wasn't guaranteed the starting spot this Saturday against Stanford, has proved himself, and Simms still has a lot to learn....

Cincinnati coach Rick Minter calls kicker Jason Mammarelli "our John Daly," perhaps because the senior boots the ball a long way, but Minter is never sure where it's going. In the last three years Mammarelli, primarily the Bearcats' kickoff man, had attempted only four field goals, all from 39 yards or more: Two were blocked, two went wide right. With five seconds remaining and Cincinnati trailing Syracuse 10-9, Minter sent in Mammarelli to attempt a game-winning field goal. Mammarelli booted a 47-yarder that would have been good from 60 yards, and the Bearcats are 2-0 for the first time since 1986....

Small Feat: After Ohio whipped Minnesota 23-17 and Western Michigan beat Iowa 27-21, the Mid-American Conference was 3-6 against the Big Ten this season. Big Feat: Sophomore Eddie Tillitz became the first Miami ( Ohio) player in 26 years to run back a punt for a touchdown when he returned the ball 53 yards in the first quarter against Eastern Michigan. In the third quarter Tillitz did it again—this time going 82 yards—as the RedHawks prevailed 34-17. Tillitz set a conference record with 162 punt return yards.