Nebraska’s athletic director is dismissed

Nebraska athletic director Steve Pederson was fired Monday, two days after the Cornhuskers (4-3) suffered their worst home loss in nearly half a century.

Criticism of Pederson and Coach Bill Callahan intensified after consecutive losses to Missouri and Oklahoma State by a combined 86-20.

A 45-14 loss to Oklahoma State on Saturday was the worst at home since a 31-0 loss to Missouri in 1958.

“Steve has done many positive things for Husker athletics during his tenure, but I think only new leadership can objectively assess the state of our program and make the decisions necessary to move us forward,” Chancellor Harvey Perlman said.

Pederson was hired in 2003.

Rogers Redding, the Southeastern Conference’s coordinator of officials, said there was nothing wrong with the reversal of a call Saturday that guaranteed Alabama’s 27-24 win over Mississippi in Oxford.

Mississippi’s Seth Adams found Shay Hodge for what appeared to be a 41-yard reception at the Alabama four with seven seconds left.

The Rebels lined up for a shot into the end zone, but Alabama Coach Nick Saban called a timeout and asked for a TV review, which showed that Hodge had run out of bounds, without being forced out by an Alabama player, before coming back to make the catch.

The SEC fined Kentucky $50,000 for failing to prevent fans from rushing the field after a triple-overtime victory over top-ranked Louisiana State.

Coastal Carolina’s Mario Tynes, Eric Brown Jr. and Ricky Johnson were dismissed from the team, one day after they were arrested on drugs and weapons charges. They were released from custody after each posted $10,000 bail.