COLLEGE FOOTBALL / DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NATION : Oklahoma Goes Back to Practice

The Oklahoma Sooners returned to practice Thursday, one day after staying off the field to voice player concerns about the quarterbacks and other issues.

“We started our preparation for Nebraska today,” Coach Gary Gibbs said after Thursday’s two-hour workout.

Four players have been suspended by Louisiana State for its final game of the season against Tulane, the school said Thursday in citing an unspecified “violation of team rules and use of poor judgment.” The suspended players were identified as freshman quarterback Jamie Howard, sophomore nose guard Jason Smothers, junior fullback Byron Allen and nonroster freshman wide receiver Wylin Williams. . . . Miami’s Micheal Barrow, Washington’s Dave Hoffman and Florida State’s Marvin Jones were selected Thursday as finalists for the Butkus Award, presented annually to the nation’s top college linebacker.