The Bowl Championship Series is close to an agreement with ESPN to televise college football's championship game and biggest bowls -- a deal that would throw up a huge barrier to any playoff system for at least six years.

The title game and BCS bowls, save the Rose, are currently on broadcast network Fox and would be going to cable for the first time since the system was implemented in 1998.

"We are currently in the process of finalizing with ESPN a television rights agreement for the BCS games that will be played January 2011 through January 2014," BCS coordinator John Swofford said. "ESPN has been a great supporter of college football and we are excited to be completing a future deal that will give them an even larger presence in the postseason."

Fox has broadcast the games since 2007, but a spokesman for the network said it was not going to match ESPN's offer.

ESPN broadcast partner ABC already has the rights to the Rose Bowl and before the Fox deal, held the rights ever since college football's major conferences set it up.

Coach Bill Stewart delivered something of a Pittsburgh-area player report yesterday:

• Starting center Mike Dent of Jeannette High was being re-examined by doctors, and the coach today might be able to deliver a further update. When the depth chart was released last night, Dent wasn't listed on the two-deep -- apparently meaning he isn't expected to play Saturday.

• Starting receiver Wes Lyons of Woodland Hills is expected to return to play Saturday against Louisville after hurting an ankle in the Cincinnati loss Nov. 8.

• And reserve receiver Carmen Connolly of Seton-LaSalle is the new holder for extra-point and field-goal attempts by Plum place-kicker Pat McAfee.

Other than the slightly retooled kickoff-coverage unit, Stewart had no other news to report on the West Virginia front, where the Mountaineers (6-3, 3-1 Big East) visit Louisville (5-5, 1-4) at noon Saturday.

Dent missed the Cincinnati game after 21 consecutive starts due to an unspecified neck malady.

"Michael Dent's still in observation," Stewart said. "He's week to week. We'll know more about that [today]."

Stewart added that Lyons appears to still limp, but he expects him to play at Louisville.

No. 19 Cincinnati dismissed freshman receiver Nick Truesdell from the team for violating one of its rules. The university declined to be more specific in announcing the move. Truesdell played in six games this season on special teams. The Bearcats play No. 20 Pitt Saturday.

Rocky Long is stepping down after 11 seasons at the helm of New Mexico's football team. Long's resignation is effective immediately. Long, the winningest head coach in school history, compiled a 65-69 record and took the Lobos to five bowl appearances in seven seasons since 2002.

Utah State fired football coach Brent Guy 11 games into his fourth season. Guy will coach the Aggies' season finale Nov. 29 at home, but that will be the end of his disappointing tenure at Utah State. The Aggies fell to 2-9 last week with a loss to Louisiana Tech and are 8-38 since Guy took over as coach in 2005.

Edinboro quarterback Trevor Harris is one of eight finalists for the Harlon Hill Trophy, which is awarded to the NCAA Division II player of the year. Harris is the third Edinboro player to be selected. The winner will be selected Dec. 12.