LSU’s Leonard Fournette announces his return to form in a big way

Each week during the season, visit “The Huddle” for the latest in college football news, notes, conversation and opinion.

This is notable

Louisiana State running back Leonard Fournette barreled his way back into the college football spotlight by rushing for three touchdowns and a school-record 284 yards in 16 carries against Mississippi. Fournette sat out three games because of an ankle injury, which he said still hasn’t completely healed. In each of the four games in which he has played, Fournette has rushed for more than 100 yards. The No. 19 Tigers have an open date Saturday before hosting top-ranked Alabama on Nov. 5.

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To say that Rutgers has had a tough season is an understatement. The Scarlet Knights are 2-6 overall, 0-5 in the Big Ten Conference and endured shutout losses of 58 points against Ohio State and 78 points against Michigan in consecutive weeks. It looked as though the Scarlet Knights’ luck was about to turn against Minnesota when they took their first lead of the Big Ten season, 32-31, with 4:01 to play. However, the Gophers kicked a 28-yard field goal with six seconds left to win, 34-32. Rutgers won’t lose this week, though. It has a bye.

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That was tweet

“@CoachMikeMac promised In N Out to the team when we won! He delivered! The Rise is Real! #DoubleDoubles #AnimalFries #ItsOurTime”

— Darrin Chiaverini (@CoachChev6), Colorado’s co-offensive coordinator accompanied this post with a photo of Coach Mike MacIntyre carrying a box of burgers after a 10-5 win over Stanford. The No. 23 Buffaloes are bowl eligible for the first time since 2007.

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Hot off the presser

“We always comes back to, ‘We’re so close.’ I told the team, ‘we’ve worn that cliché out, where we’re so close.’ It’s not so much that you’re so close. We need to capitalize and win those games.”

—Charlie Strong, Texas Coach

Remember when Texas defeated Notre Dame, 50-47, in a season-opening thriller? It seems like forever ago. Texas is 3-4 overall and 1-3 in the Big 12 after a 24-21 loss to Kansas State. How much longer can Strong last in Austin? Guessing not more than a day after the Longhorns’ season finale.

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“I’ve never seen a worse call in the game of football.”

—Jim Harbaugh, Michigan coach

Days after routing Illinois, 41-8, Harbaugh remained irked with officials over a third-down spot. With 2:04 remaining — and Michigan leading by 33 points — Harbaugh challenged the spot of a seven-yard pass on third and nine. The spot stood, but somehow Michigan managed to hold on.

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“It’s one of those deals where you go, ‘How in the world could this ever happen? How could somebody let this happen?’ But it doesn’t change our preparation. Our guys are excited and looking forward to it. They’re excited to play and we’re going to put our best foot forward.”

—Sonny Dykes, California coach

Every season there’s at least one Pac-12 coach who takes exception with the conference’s scheduling. It’s a gripe that the commissioner’s office should listen to. California defeated Oregon, 52-49, in double-overtime last Saturday and now must play USC on Thursday night at the Coliseum. Meantime, the Trojans are coming off a bye week.

“The challenge is there. No question about that. Can we win? Yeah, we can win. I firmly believe that. I know none of you do. But that’s why I’m coaching.”

—Mark Dantonio, Michigan State coach

Michigan lost to Michigan State last season when the Wolverines botched a punt in the final seconds and the Spartans scored a touchdown. However, the situation in East Lansing has become so dire that no one is expecting anything close to last season’s thriller. Michigan State has lost five consecutive games, its longest losing streak in 25 years.

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Fresh out the Pac

Ryan Burns is out and Keller Chryst is in at Stanford as the Cardinal became the latest Pac-12 team to switch starting quarterbacks.

Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, Oregon State, UCLA and USC also have made changes because of injuries or in search of greater production.

“I hate to get to this point,” said Stanford Coach David Shaw, whose team is 4-3 overall and 2-3 in the Pac-12 less than a year after winning the Rose Bowl game. “But it’s the best thing for this offense. We need more production at that position. It’s our challenge to support Keller.”

Burns, a senior, passed for 1,058 yards and five touchdowns, with seven interceptions, in seven starts.

Chryst, a junior, has played in 10 games in his college career and has passed for a 122 yards and a touchdown, with an interception.

The Cardinal play at Arizona on Saturday.

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My Thiry

Fresno State might call, but don’t expect Lane Kiffin to answer.

Tim DeRuyter is out for the Bulldogs after a 1-7 start.

But Kiffin? He is bigger than Fresno State. And really, that’s no slight to what is usually a competitive Mountain West Conference team.

Kiffin has never landed a career-building job. He has always landed what most coaches would consider destination spots: The NFL’s Oakland Raiders, Tennessee, USC and even Alabama, if only as the offensive coordinator.

Fresno State is a great post for an up-and-coming coach. That’s not Kiffin, who is a known commodity and has spent the last three seasons under Nick Saban rehabilitating his image and learning from one of college football’s great minds.

Power Five or bust, Kiffin. We’ve come to expect nothing less.

lindsey.thiry@latimes.com

Follow Lindsey Thiry on Facebook and Twitter @LindseyThiry