Colorado’s Bloom Hurting

Colorado wide receiver-kick returner Jeremy Bloom’s status for Saturday’s game against USC is in doubt because of a broken big left toe.

Coach Gary Barnett called Bloom “very doubtful,” although Bloom plans to try to practice today.

“There’s a chance he could play, but I think it’s going to depend on how much progress he makes in the next day.... In all likelihood, we won’t have him,” Barnett said.

Bloom, who returned a punt 75 yards for a touchdown in the Buffaloes’ opener against Colorado State and set up another score with a 31-yard return last week against San Diego State, was injured when he was tripped on his last punt return against the Aztecs.

Barnett says concussion-plagued quarterback Craig Ochs likely will miss games against USC and UCLA but will be cleared to play in the Oct. 5 game against Kansas State.

Ochs underwent four hours of neurological examinations on Monday and had further tests on Tuesday. Senior Robert Hodge will start at quarterback.

*

Utah running back Marty Johnson, the nation’s leading rusher, will miss four to six weeks because of a sprained right knee. Johnson, a senior, is averaging 202.5 rushing yards through two games. J.R. Peroulis will take over as the starting tailback Saturday against Arizona.... Miami receiver Andre Johnson will miss Saturday’s game at Temple after having surgery on his left shoulder. Johnson, who leads the team with seven catches for 100 yards and two touchdowns, had surgery to remove loose particles. He is expected back for the Sept. 21 game against Boston College.... Hawaii running back Jonathan Kauka, who tore ligaments in his right knee Friday against Brigham Young, will miss the remainder of the season.

*

A jersey number randomly assigned to a Pittsburgh walk-on center may have cost the Panthers a possible victory Saturday over No. 21 Texas A&M.; Coach Walt Harris said long snapper Jonathan Sitter’s No. 91 resulted in the Panthers twice being flagged for illegal shift penalties on extra-point attempts after their first touchdown in a 14-12 loss.

In the Panthers’ swinging-gate formation, Sitter needed to be wearing a number between 50 and 79.

The misses forced the Panthers to attempt a two-point conversion after their final touchdown.