COLLEGE SPORTS NEWS

LSU coach Paul Mainieri is a big fan of the drama that surrounds the opening day knockout round of the Southeastern Conference baseball tournament. In a rare change, the Tigers will be part of it this year.

The storied LSU program has struggled this season — especially by its lofty standards — and is the No. 8 seed at this week’s SEC Tournament in Hoover, Alabama. The Tigers face No. 9 Mississippi State on Tuesday in what might be a must-win game for their NCAA Tournament chances. By David Brandt

On Thursday, representatives from Missouri, Rutgers and UConn participated in a conference call with Major League Baseball to consider options, including potentially creating a mechanism where a percentage of the amount wagered on events involving college teams would be funneled back to the schools. Major League Baseball, along with the NBA and PGA Tour, has been lobbying for similar fees to be paid to the professional leagues based on the amount wagered. By David Purdum and Darren Rovell

The University of Louisville has reached a $4.5 million settlement with former athletic director Tom Jurich, who was fired in the wake of a national federal corruption investigation of college basketball.

Jurich disputed his Oct. 18 firing for cause after nearly 20 years as AD and had considered suing the school. The University of Louisville Athletic Association and Board of Trustees on Friday approved the settlement. Jurich’s employment ended “without cause” as a result of his resignation, also described in the settlement as “retirement.” By Associated Press

Kansas abruptly fired athletic director Sheahon Zenger on Monday morning. Chancellor Douglas Girod announced the move in a letter to campus staff, explaining that “progress in key areas has been elusive” in the athletic department under Zenger, who was hired in 2011.

John Calipari says he has met with the National Basketball Players Association representatives as the Kentucky coach continues to push for new rules that would ultimately end the one-and-done system in college basketball.

Calipari told the Fort Worth Star-Telegram on Friday that he wants the NBPA to help develop a combine for high school juniors to help them prepare for a potential jump to the NBA from high school. By ESPN

Roughly 72 hours after the Supreme Court paved the way for individual states to legalize sports gambling, the NCAA said it will temporarily suspend its current policy and allow states that condone sports gambling to host championship events.

In a news release Thursday morning, the NCAA announced that it is adjusting its policy in the wake of Monday’s ruling to “ensure championship location continuity.” The NCAA’s policy had previously prevented states that allow “single-game sports wagering” from hosting championship events. By Tom Schad, USA TODAY Sports

The youngest son of seven-time Cy Young Award winner Roger Clemens has hit six of his Big 12-leading 19 home runs in the last seven games for the regular-season champion Longhorns (37-18). The junior second baseman also leads the conference with a .703 slugging percentage and 147 total bases. He ranks in the top 10 in three other offensive categories. By Eric Olson