COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : ACROSS THE NATION : Aztecs’ Faulk Has Collapsed Lung

San Diego State’s Marshall Faulk will remain hospitalized at least through today while he recovers from a collapsed lung, the team’s trainer said Wednesday.

Faulk also fractured one left rib and cracked another Saturday night in the Aztecs’ 38-24 Western Athletic Conference victory over New Mexico.

“The doctors want to make sure his discomfort diminishes and that his left lung is fully healed before they will release him from the hospital,” trainer Brian Barry said.

Faulk, who suffered a broken rib and a cracked rib in last week’s game, will miss Saturday’s game at Texas El Paso, after which his availability will be determined week to week.

Faulk was hurt after a four-yard run when a tackle by New Mexico safety Eric Jack knocked him backward into pursuing linebacker Jesse Becton, whose helmet went into Faulk’s rib cage.

Faulk carried 14 times for 153 yards, leaving him 17 yards shy of becoming the first freshman to rush for 1,000 yards in six games. Florida’s Emmitt Smith needed seven games to reach 1,000 yards in 1987.

Before the injury, Faulk tied one NCAA record. His touchdowns on runs of one and 63 yards gave him 18 for the season, tying the freshman record by Hawaii’s Jamal Farmer in 1989.

Faulk leads the nation in scoring, is second in rushing and sixth in all-purpose yards.