Michigan slipped in front of Southern California into second-place in the Bowl Championship Standings yesterday, but there's no reason for the Trojans to worry.

USC is still a solid No. 3 behind first-place Ohio State and Michigan. And with the Buckeyes and Wolverines slated to meet on Nov. 18 in Columbus, Ohio, the Trojans remained in good shape to secure a spot in the BCS championship game with an undefeated regular season.

The Buckeyes, who have been No. 1 in the polls all season by a wide margin, have a BCS average of .9764 out of a possible 1.000. The Wolverines' .9451 gives them a slight edge over the Trojans (.9430).

What is more important for the Trojans is their wide margin over fourth-place West Virginia. The unbeaten Mountaineers moved up a spot this week, switching places with Auburn. But West Virginia's .7551 average leaves it with loads of ground to make up on the top three.

The BCS title game will be played Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.

Ohio State, USC and Michigan are in control of the national championship race. If two of those teams finish the regular season unbeaten, it probably won't matter what goes on with the teams behind them.

USC and Michigan are tied for the top spot in the computer ratings with Ohio State third. The Trojans are second in the coaches' poll and Michigan is a close third. In the Harris poll, the positions are reversed.

In the AP poll, Ohio State is No. 1 with Michigan second and USC No. 3.

The BCS average is determined by a team's standing in the coaches' poll and the Harris Interactive poll. Each poll counts for a third of a team's grade. The other third is determined by a compilation of six computer ratings.

NORTH CAROLINA

BUNTING OUT AS COACH

John Bunting is out as North Carolina's football coach but will remain with the Tar Heels through the rest of this season, school officials said last night.

Bunting met with athletic director Dick Baddour earlier in the day and was told he would not return next season. The players were informed of the decision during an evening meeting, and school officials said Bunting and Baddour would discuss the decision further during a news conference today.

"I am disappointed and of course I don't agree with the decision, but I know I must accept it," Bunting said.

North Carolina (1-6, 0-4 Atlantic Coast Conference) is 0-6 against I-A teams this season and was coming off a 23-0 loss at struggling Virginia.

Bunting has three years remaining on his contract, which pays $286,200 annually. He is 25-42 in six seasons at UNC.

ELSEWHERE

Southern Illinois: Southern Illinois football coach Jerry Kill was hospitalized yesterday after having a seizure shortly after taping a weekly television show, according to the university.

Tests performed on Kill, 45, at Carbondale Memorial Hospital came back normal, the university reported in a press release, citing his wife, Rebecca. She said her husband was resting comfortably yesterday afternoon and hoped to return to work soon.

Tennessee: Tennessee running back LaMarcus Coker will miss at least three weeks with a knee injury, coach Phillip Fulmer said yesterday.

Coker, who started the last three games for the No. 8 Volunteers, was hurt Saturday during a kickoff return in the fourth quarter against Alabama.