Notre Dame could have new starter at quarterback

Notre Dame might use its third starting quarterback of the season when the Fighting Irish face No. 13 USC on Saturday.

Coach Charlie Weis said Sunday he had not decided whether to stay with freshman Jimmy Clausen, who has started the last five games, or switch to junior Evan Sharpley, who has rallied the Irish (1-6) in the second halves to pull Notre Dame close against Purdue and Boston College.

Weis will announce his decision Tuesday.

The Irish opened the season with Demetrius Jones starting in a 33-3 loss to Georgia Tech. He was replaced by Sharpley, who was replaced by Clausen as all three were ineffective.

Jones left the team a week after Clausen was named the starter for the second game against Penn State.

Weis has repeatedly said Clausen has been the starter because he’s been more accurate throwing. The statistics back him up.

Clausen is 81 for 141 passing for a 57.4% completion rate, while Sharpley is 43 for 80 with a 53.8% completion rate.

Weis indicated the numbers aren’t as close in practice, so Sharpley needs to look better in practice.

“If he wants to move past Jimmy, which I know he does, it’s got to be an everyday thing, it can’t just be a game day thing,� he said.

At least 22 people were arrested in Lexington, Ky., in disturbances following Kentucky’s 43-37, triple-overtime upset of then-No. 1 Louisiana State.

Couches were set ablaze near the heart of off-campus student housing after the game Saturday night, and parties continued until 3 a.m., with bonfires in driveways. Police monitored the city by helicopter.

Most of the arrests were for disorderly conduct, alcohol intoxication and trespassing, university spokesman Jay Blanton said Sunday.

Arizona State remained unbeaten after its usual early struggles. Trailing Washington by four at halftime, the Sun Devils stormed back for a 44-20 victory on Saturday night behind a 76-yard touchdown run by Keegan Herring and a 57-yard touchdown run by Dimitri Nance.

It’s the fourth time in seven games Arizona State has overcome a double-digit deficit or trailed in the second half. The Sun Devils have outscored their opponents, 136-29, in the second half.

The Sun Devils improved to 7-0 overall and 4-0 in the Pacific 10 Conference. Washington (2-4, 0-3) has lost four straight.