Big Game in Big Ten Gets a Title Sponsor

The No. 2 U.S. local-telephone provider has agreed to pay $1.06 million for the naming rights to the Ohio State-Michigan game for two years.

SBC Communication Inc. said when the teams meet for the 101st time on Nov. 20 in Columbus, Ohio, the matchup will be called the SBC Michigan-Ohio State Classic. The order of the team names will switch for the 2005 game at Ann Arbor, Mich.

*

Ohio State tailback Lydell Ross, suspended for a game after an incident at a strip club, was reinstated by Coach Jim Tressel, but it remained unclear if he would play Saturday against Penn State. The Nittany Lions may be without quarterback Zack Mills because of the lingering effects of a concussion suffered against Iowa.

Northwestern Coach Randy Walker, 50, hospitalized for a second day because of an inflammation of the heart muscle, could be released today, but he may not be on the sidelines for the Wildcats’ game Saturday against Purdue.... California offensive coordinator George Cortez will miss Saturday’s game against Arizona State after undergoing surgery to repair a detached retina.