COLUMBUS, Ohio — Death, taxes and Ohio State linebackers. Nothing in existence is a greater guarantee. This season should be no different as James Laurinaitis and Marcus Freeman return to anchor the team’s perennially consistent unit.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Let’s leave the past where it belongs and focus on the future. I don’t feel like this Kansas marketing campaign is doing any favors to the team with the insinuation that another Orange Bowl is a realistic option. Because let’s just put all the cards on the table: it isn’t.

LOS ANGELES — I understand tradition. I like tradition. If tradition were a girl, I would go through an extremely long courtship until I was sure of our love, and then I would propose marriage to tradition and hope against hope that tradition said yes. But some traditions are stupid. Like the UCLA football team’s tradition of ditching practice.

LOS ANGELES — Tuesday after practice, USC coaches named Mark Sanchez as the starting quarterback. The redshirt junior, who backed up NFL-bound John David Booty the last two years, won the job over Arkansas transfer Mitch Mustain.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — Kansas offensive coordinator Ed Warriner keeps telling incoming running back recruit Jocques Crawford that he needs to be an impact player next season. After watching Kansas’ annual spring football game Monday night, it’s apparent why.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. — The Gators’ 2006 BCS National Championship trophy fell off of its stand in UF’s football offices and broke Friday. The Waterford crystal trophy was insured for $8,000, and the university has already put in an order to replace it.