College football notebook: Big East eyeing name change

• The Big East is taking steps to “tweak” its name now that it includes schools from California, Idaho, Texas, Tennessee and Florida. The Big East commissioned a study to consider alternative names, former interim commissioner Joe Bailey said Thursday at the Bloomberg Sports Business Summit in New York. He wouldn't say when the names would be presented to conference presidents for consideration. “The unintended consequences of adding new schools is that all of a sudden the Big East is a national conference,” Bailey said. “It extends to four time zones in major markets. In one sense, it almost represents the United States in that diversity.” He said it was more likely the conference will “tweak a little” than come up with a wholesale change to the name.

• Arkansas coach John L. Smith filed for bankruptcy protection over debts he incurred through real estate investments in Kentucky. The Chapter 7 bankruptcy petition was filed Thursday in federal court in Arkansas. Documents show Smith has assets of between $1 million and $10 million and debts of between $10 million and $50 million. Smith said in July that he began the land investments when he was coach at Louisville from 1998 to 2002 and that he and other investors lost money when the real estate market softened. After Arkansas fired Bobby Petrino in the spring, Smith came on board for a 10-month contract worth $850,000.

• Two freshmen will miss the season for No. 18 Oklahoma State because of knee injuries. On their first injury report, the Cowboys list redshirt freshman cornerback Jonavan Griffin and freshman linebacker Jeremiah Tshimanga out for the year.

• New Mexico sophomore cornerback Devonta Tabannah will rejoin the team next week. He was suspended for the season opener against Southern after a DUI arrest.

— Wire reports