College Notes: Franklin Upgraded, Baylor Player Suspended, Ben Heeney

Oct 12, 2013; Athens, GA, USA; Missouri Tigers quarterback

(1) is injured and leaves the game after being hit by Georgia Bulldogs linebacker

(59) and linebacker

(52) during the second half at Sanford Stadium. Missouri defeated Georgia 41-26. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

JAMES FRANKLIN STATUS UPGRADED

Missouri quarterback James Franklin will be back this season, according to Gary Pinkel. Missouri’s starting quarterback will miss only three-to-five weeks and not the rest of the regular season as was originally reported by CBS and ESPN.

Franklin sprained his throwing shoulder in the fourth quarter of Mizzou’s win over Georgia, which has catapulted them into national championship contention. It was originally feared he would miss the rest of the regular season, but Pinkel said at a press conference today that Franklin may only miss three to five weeks. The reduced time means at worst Franklin will be back for the Ole Miss and Texas A&M games.

This is welcome news for the Tigers, who now see their chances for an SEC title tick up a notch. It is one thing to ask Maty Mauk to win home games against Florida, South Carolina, and Tennessee, but a completely different task to ask him to go on the road to Ole Miss and beat a tough Rebels team. Having the experience of Franklin back for that road game, Texas A&M, and a potential SEC championship game would be huge.

But there is a long way to go before any championship games are played. For now the Tigers have to find a way to help Mauk get through the next three or four games.

FLORIDA LOSES MATT JONES

Florida’s task in Columbia this week just got harder with the news that starting running back Matt Jones is out for the season with a torn meniscus. He suffered the injury in the Gators’ 17-6 loss to LSU.

"“Very unfortunate,” Muschamp said. “I hate it for Matt. He’s a great young man. To go through what he’s been through … and then to have this setback is just disheartening for all of us.”"

Mack Brown, a fourth-year junior, will start for Florida. He leads the team with 340 rushing yards.

BAYLOR PLAYER SUSPENDED

Baylor wide receiver Corey Coleman has been suspended by the Big 12 for an illegal hit on Kansas State cornerback Kip Dailey. Dailey was knocked out of the game Saturday after receiving a shot to the head by Coleman. No penalty was called for targeting.

The statement from the Big 12 is as follows:

"“As a result of our review and conclusion that targeting should have been called, Mr. Coleman will be suspended for the first half of Baylor’s next game against Iowa State under Rule 9.1.4 of the NCAA rules book.”"

BEN HEENEY UPDATE

Kansas Jayhawks star linebacker Ben Heeney missed much of the TCU game Saturday after a cut block injured his leg. There is no official word yet about Heeney’s condition, but Heeney did tweet this out Monday afternoon:

Do with that information what you will.