Big East and Big 12 talk about merger

The Big East and Big 12 conferences might join together in their fight for survival.

School and conference officials from the two leagues have been discussing ways to merge what’s left of them if Texas and Oklahoma leave the Big 12, a person involved in the discussions told the Associated Press.

The person, speaking on the condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to talk publicly about what is going on behind the scenes, said Monday there has been dialogue between athletic directors and officials in the conference offices.

Syracuse and Pittsburgh have announced they will be leaving the Big East for the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Texas and Oklahoma are both trying to decide whether to leave the Big 12 for the Pac-12, taking Oklahoma State and Texas Tech with them.

The NCAA has accused South Carolina athletes of receiving $55,000 worth of impermissible benefits and recruiting inducements for getting reduced hotel rates and for their involvement with a Delaware-based mentoring organization.

COLLEGE FOOTBALL

Bob Stoops gets extension

Two days after winning one of the college football season’s early marquee games, Bob Stoops was rewarded with a contract extension that could keep him as the coach of top-ranked Oklahoma through 2018 and pay him $34.5 million over the next seven years.

Oklahoma’s Board of Regents voted to give Stoops a $75,000 bump in his annual salary and a handful of bonuses that will reward him for staying in Norman.

North Carolina will vacate all 16 football victories from the 2008 and 2009 seasons, and reduce scholarships as part of self-imposed penalties following an NCAA investigation into the program.

COLLEGE BASKETBALL

UCLA’s Anderson suspended

UCLA senior guard Jerime Anderson has been reinstated with a two-game suspension after pleading guilty to misdemeanor charges of appropriation of lost property and trespass following his July arrest on suspicion of stealing a laptop computer.

Anderson, who averaged 5.1 points and 2.6 assists last season as Lazeric Jones’ backup, will sit out the Bruins’ exhibition against Cal State San Bernardino on Nov. 6 and their regular-season opener against Loyola Marymount on Nov. 11.

As part of a plea agreement, Anderson must complete 300 hours of community service over a two-year period. If he has no other legal issues and completes his community service, the charge of appropriation of lost property will be withdrawn and dismissed on Sept. 15, 2013.

—Ben Bolch

Kyle Anderson, a 6-foot-8 point guard-forward from Jersey City (N.J.) St. Anthony High who is considered one of the top five prep prospects in the nation, said he has committed to UCLA.

—Ben Bolch

UCLA forward Jasmine Dixon will sit out the upcoming season after rupturing her right Achilles’ tendon during a team workout Monday.

A team spokesman says the senior will undergo surgery Thursday.

Dixon was the team’s second-leading scorer at 12.1 points a game.