The off week came at an opportune time for Georgia.

The 11th-ranked Bulldogs are dealing with a rash of injuries, most notably to star running back Knowshon Moreno. He sustained a severely bruised elbow in Saturday night's 41-30 loss to Alabama.

Even with an extra week to recover, there's still a chance Moreno might miss Georgia's next game against Tennessee on Oct. 11, according to coach Mark Richt.

"He's got a pretty good contusion on his elbow," Richt said yesterday. "The swelling has got to go down. He's got to get his movement back. He's got to feel that's it's not so sore that it keeps him from playing at full speed. It depends on how quickly it heals and when it feels good again."

Moreno isn't the only one hurting.

Quarterback Matthew Stafford (concussion), linebacker Dannell Ellerbe (sprained knee), receiver Kris Durham (sprained ankle) and tight end Tripp Chandler (shoulder) were also injured against the Crimson Tide. In addition, tight end Bruce Figgins sat out the game with a separated shoulder that likely will require surgery.

TEXAS

SURGERY FOR 'HORNS FB

Texas senior fullback Luke Tiemann will have season-ending surgery to repair a torn ACL in his left knee.

Tiemann was hurt Saturday in the Longhorns' 52-10 win over Arkansas.

Tiemann, a fifth-year player, also played defensive end and contributed on special teams during his 34-game career.

TENNESSEE

QB CHANGE POSSIBLE

Redshirt junior Jonathan Crompton and redshirt sophomore Nick Stephens will compete for Tennessee's starting quarterback job this week during practice, coach Phillip Fulmer said yesterday.

"I'd much rather the guy we anticipated being the starter play well and execute like we want. That's not happening on a consistent basis right now," he said.

Fulmer called Crompton's 8-for-23 passing performance for 67 yards in the Vols' 14-12 loss at Auburn unacceptable.

Whichever quarterback shows the most consistency passing during practice this week will earn the starting job when Tennessee faces Northern Illinois on Saturday.

Elsewhere.

Auburn: Coach Tommy Tuberville said yesterday that Chris Todd will remain the starting quarterback for the 13th-ranked Tigers Saturday at No. 19 Vanderbilt. Kodi Burns got his first significant action since starting the opener and completed a key third-down pass on the final series in a 14-12 win over Tennessee. Tuberville said the Tigers would still play both quarterbacks.