COLUMBUS, Ohio — Ohio State running back Ezekiel Elliott apologized for the critical comments he made about play calling after the Michigan State game and says it was the wrong time to make it known he would not be returning to school next season.

Elliott posted a long apology on Twitter on Monday saying, “My intentions were not to point fingers at anyone for OUR failures. I was caught up in emotions. I hope everyone can understand how strongly I love this team and this university and how much I wanted to win that game but I do not regret anything I said.”

Buckeyes Coach Urban Meyer said Elliott will not be disciplined and that he agreed that star junior should have carried the ball more in Saturday’s loss. Meyer says he wished Elliott’s comments would have been made in private instead of during a postgame interview, but that Elliott came to him and apologized.

WISCONSIN: Athletic director Barry Alvarez says it is never acceptable to throw items from the stands at Camp Randall Stadium.

Alvarez made the comments in a letter to season-ticket holders Monday, two days after some fans threw snowballs at cheerleaders during the first quarter of the 13-7 loss to Northwestern.

The cheerleaders were forced to leave their usual spot from behind an end zone, in front of the student section.

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Snowballs were also thrown at officials after the game. Three Wisconsin touchdowns were overturned by officials.

About 7 inches of snow fell before Saturday’s game. Alvarez says workers could not clear all the snow from the seating area in time for kickoff.

Alvarez says a “couple incidents involving a very small percentage” of fans cast the department and fans in a negative light.

LSU: Coach Les Miles considers talk about his job security “off limits” right now and he has no interest in retiring.

Miles also said Monday that Louisiana has become “home” to him and his family as he nears the end of his 11th season with the Tigers.

But LSU is on a skid like no other under Miles, raising questions about his future.

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The Tigers have lost three straight for the first time since he arrived in 2005.

Those losses have dropped LSU, which entered November unbeaten and firmly in contention for the College Football Playoff, to 7-3 and out of the Top 25.

WASHINGTON STATE: Injured quarterback Luke Falk was doing well and might be able to play in Friday’s Apple Cup against archrival Washington, Washington State athletic director Bill Moos said.

Falk, the leading passer in the Pac-12, appeared to suffer a head injury and was carried off the field during No. 20 Washington State’s victory over Colorado on Saturday.

Coach Mike Leach refuses to discuss injuries, so the extent of Falk’s injury is not clear.

OKLAHOMA: Quarterback Baker Mayfield suffered a concussion in last weekend’s win over TCU and the Sooners are optimistic he will be able to play in the Bedlam showdown against Oklahoma State on Saturday.

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VIRGINIA TECH: Coach Frank Beamer said defensive end Dadi Nicolas will be suspended for half of the Hokies’ game at Virginia on Saturday for hitting referee Ron Cherry during a loss to North Carolina.

Nicolas was upset after being called for being offside on a second-down incompletion by the Tar Heels.

In anger, he flailed his arms and struck Cherry’s outstretched arm, drawing an unsportsmanlike conduct flag.

Beamer met with Nicolas on Monday and is convinced the contact was unintentional, but said he clearly hit Cherry’s arm “and that can’t happen.”

AUSTIN PEAY: The school fired Kirby Cannon after a winless season with the Governors just 1-34 in the coach’s three seasons.

Austin Peay will buy out the rest of Cannon’s contract using private funds.

EASTERN KENTUCKY: Coach Dean Hood was fired and the school said it will immediately begin a national search for his replacement.

The Colonels finished 6-5 overall, 5-3 and in fourth place in the Ohio Valley Conference this season under Hood, who was 55-38 in eight years with the program.

MONTANA STATE: Coach Rob Ash was fired after the team went 5-6 this season, including just 3-5 in the Big Sky Conference.


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