New Mexico State QB to transfer

One day after being passed over as New Mexico State's starting quarterback, Jeff Fleming has decided to transfer.

Coach DeWayne Walker made the announcement Thursday.

Fleming, a junior from Fullerton, Calif., started nine games last season. He completed 87 of 172 attempts for 789 yards passing, including four touchdowns with 12 interceptions. Walker didn't say where Fleming plans to attend school next.

The news comes one day after junior college transfer Matt Christian was named the starter.

Walker says freshmen Andrew Manley and Tanner Rust are competing to become the primary backup. The plan announced Wednesday called for Fleming to be the Aggies' "change-of-pace quarterback" and run special offensive packages.

USC stripped of 2004 Grantland Rice Trophy: Southern California has been stripped of the 2004 Grantland Rice Trophy, which is awarded by the Football Writers Association of America to the nation's top college football team.

The organization said a committee of current and former officers voted to revoke the honor after USC was penalized for NCAA violations. It did not award the trophy to another school.

USC said it is in the process of returning the Grantland Rice Trophy.

Discover to sponsor Orange Bowl: Discover Financial Services said it will be the new sponsor of the Orange Bowl from 2011 to 2014, ending FedEx Corp.'s longstanding sponsorship of the college football game.

The four-year deal includes sponsorship of the BCS National Championship game in 2013, which will be held in South Florida. Financial terms were not disclosed.

FedEx, based in Memphis, Tenn., had sponsored the Orange Bowl for the past 21 years, making it the longest consecutive sponsor of a bowl game, according to The Orange Bowl Committee.

The switch comes as ESPN takes over coverage rights of the bowl game series from Fox Sports. All title sponsorships were up for renewal as a result.