COLLEGE FOOTBALL DAILY REPORT : AROUND THE NATION : Pitt’s Martin Plans to Enter NFL Draft

Pittsburgh running back Curtis Martin, urged by his coach and NFL executives to stay in school and prove he’s healthy, said he will pass up a final year of eligibility and turn pro.

Martin rushed for 1,132 yards last season and was leading the nation in rushing after a 251-yard game against Texas, but badly sprained an ankle against Ohio on Sept. 10 and hasn’t played since.

Because Martin hasn’t played after Pitt’s fourth game, he could return next fall under NCAA eligibility rules as a fifth-year senior.

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Gary Gibbs, Oklahoma football coach, denied published reports that he plans to resign. David Boren, who takes over as school president Thursday, said Gibbs’ status will be “evaluated in due course at the proper time with the balance of consideration of the coach’s contributions.” . . . Bowl update: Big Eight officials said that if Nebraska loses to Oklahoma and Colorado defeats Iowa State, the league would pick its Orange Bowl representative even though Nebraska defeated Colorado earlier. . . . Texas Tech will earn a Cotton Bowl berth if it wins its final games against Houston and Texas Christian and Florida State is in line to be its opponent on Jan. 2 in Dallas. But the Seminoles reportedly prefer to play in the Fiesta Bowl against Colorado, if the Buffaloes finish second in the Big Eight.