Cal’s Tedford reopens quarterback competition

Coach Jeff Tedford reopened California’s quarterback competition Tuesday, giving equal practice time to Kevin Riley and Nate Longshore this week before choosing a starter for Saturday’s game against Arizona State.

Not many teams averaging 445 yards and 43 points would be contemplating a quarterback change, but Tedford is wary about the Golden Bears (3-1, 1-0 Pacific 10) after their slow offensive starts in an embarrassing loss at Maryland and even last week’s 42-7 win over Colorado State.

With a looming visit from the Sun Devils (2-2, 1-0) that could have a big effect on both schools’ hopes for a major bowl game, Tedford is acting aggressively to shake up Riley, the starter who struggled in last Saturday’s start against the Rams.

“We need a little boost there,” Tedford said.

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Tennessee expects to play both Jonathan Crompton and Nick Stephens at quarterback Saturday against Northern Illinois.

The Volunteers (1-3) are off to their worst start in 14 years and Crompton has struggled to get them into the end zone.

Crompton and Stephens are competing this week to start against the Huskies (2-2). But even if Stephens doesn’t practice well enough to start, offensive coordinator Dave Clawson says he wants to see him in a game.

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Florida linebacker Dustin Doe, a two-year starter who has 13 tackles this season, will have surgery today to repair a double hernia and miss at least two games. The 12th-ranked Gators (3-1) also could be without top backup Ryan Stamper (sprained ankle) at Arkansas on Saturday. . . . Iowa running back Shonn Greene, who suffered a head injury early in the fourth quarter of last week’s 22-17 loss against Northwestern, is expected to play Saturday against Michigan State.