HOUSTON — The Houston Texans released 20 players on Friday, includingKeenan McCardell and Chad Stanley, the only punter in franchise history.

The Texans must release two more players to get to the league-mandated53-player limit by 5 p.m. Saturday.

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ATHENS, Ga. — A 7-6 record with a bowl win over Alabama last year madeOklahoma State a popular preseason pick this year as a team on the rise.

Georgia coach Mark Richt hopes his team also will be on rise this season,and Saturday’s opener against Oklahoma State could help set the path for bothteams.

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JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Jacksonville Jaguars are parting ways withquarterback Byron Leftwich after four frustrating, injury-filled seasons.

Coach Jack Del Rio said Friday the team plans to trade or release the formerfirst-round draft pick. Del Rio also named mobile backup David Garrard hisstarter heading into next week’s season opener, believing Garrard gives the teama better chance to win.

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LOS ANGELES — Robb Akey makes his head coaching debut with Idaho Saturdaynight. Should the Vandals reward him with a victory, it will go down in collegefootball history.

Akey and the Vandals, used to playing in more serene surroundings, face No.1 Southern California at the Los Angeles Coliseum, where a crowd of about 90,000will watch the Trojans go for their 34th straight home victory.

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ANN ARBOR, Mich. — Michigan and Appalachian State open the season withnational title aspirations.

Both might reach their goals.

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A federal judge sentenced former University of Maryland basketball star Lonny Baxter to 60 days in prison on Friday for illegally shipping firearms, a ruling that cost Baxter his contract with a Spanish team. U.S. District Judge Peter Messitte based the sentence on Baxter’s history with firearms and his actions in the case.

STATE COLLEGE, Pa. — The outlook looks dismal for Florida International onSaturday, with a new coach installing new schemes and starting a new quarterbackagainst No. 17 Penn State.

But Joe Paterno spoke at times as if the national champion Florida Gatorswere preparing to swarm Beaver Stadium in the season opener of hisrecord-breaking 42nd season as head coach.

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RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil — The head of FIFA’s delegation scrutinizingBrazil’s 2014 World Cup bid praised the country’s presentation Friday, makingspecial note of President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva’s commitment.

“It was done with great professionalism and competence,” said HugoSalcedo, a Colombian-born naturalized American who led FIFA’s inspection teamthat completed its tour Friday. “We felt … the soul, the enthusiasm, thespirit that is Brazil.”

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FONTANA, Calif. — While Joe Gibbs Racing officials remained mum Friday on the anticipated switch from Chevrolet to Toyota, Kyle Busch was more than happy to talk about it.

Busch, who will leave Hendrick Motorsports to drive for JGR in 2008, said he got a call from the team earlier this week confirming the change.

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By Simon Stone Special to PA SportsTicker

LONDON (Ticker) — England coach Steve McClaren is convinced David Beckham’s latest injury has nothing to do with his punishing transatlantic travel schedule.

Beckham has been ruled out of next week’s Euro 2008 doubleheader with Israel and Russia after damaging knee ligaments in the Los Angeles Galaxy’s SuperLiga trophy final loss to Pachuca on Wednesday.

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