LOS ANGELES — Southern California tailback Stafon Johnson had emergency throat surgery yesterday after a weightlifting accident.

The senior who scored the No. 7 Trojans' go-ahead touchdown against Ohio State two weeks ago was bench-pressing when the bar slipped from his right hand and fell onto his throat.

"It hit him with a lot of force, and it hurt him," coach Pete Carroll said after the Trojans' brief practice last night. "No broken bones as far as I understand, but he's got some damage in there somewhere, and they're working it out, trying to figure out what it is."

Johnson is the Trojans' second-leading rusher with 157 yards, and he leads USC (3-1, 1-1 Pac-10) with five touchdowns.

Johnson had a spotter when the accident happened — an assistant strength and conditioning coach was standing over him.

"I've seen players have the bar slip and fall onto their chest, but never in my 25 years of coaching have I heard of someone dropping a bar on their throat," said strength and conditioning coach Chris Carlisle, who was standing 10 feet away when the accident happened. "We're fortunate he was being spotted."

FLORIDA

TEBOW MAY BE READY

Florida coach Urban Meyer says he thinks quarterback Tim Tebow will play in the top-ranked Gators' next game, against No. 4 LSU on Oct. 10.

Meyer said yesterday that Tebow has a headache, but is eating well. He thinks — but doesn't know — that his star player will be ready to go against the Tigers.

The coach also said that Tebow remembers the play in which he suffered a concussion during Saturday night's win over Kentucky. The 2007 Heisman Trophy winner was sacked by defensive end Taylor Wyndham in the third quarter, and his helmet struck a teammate's leg.

OKLAHOMA

BRADFORD ON MEND

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops says Heisman Trophy winner Sam Bradford is progressing in his rehab from a sprained shoulder, but a decision on whether he'll play against No. 17 Miami won't be made until later in the week.

Bradford has missed Oklahoma's last two games with a sprained AC joint in his right, throwing shoulder.

Stoops said yesterday that Bradford visited noted expert Dr. James Andrews in Alabama over the weekend to get an additional opinion on how his recovery is going.

ELSEWHERE

Alabama: Starting linebacker Dont'a Hightower will miss the remainder of the season.

Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban said yesterday that the surgery to repair a damaged ligament in Hightower's left knee will require three to four months of recovery time.

The sophomore inside linebacker was injured in first quarter of Saturday's 35-7 win over Arkansas.

New Mexico: Head coach Mike Locksley has been reprimanded for a fight involving an assistant coach, who told police Locksley struck him and split his lip.

Athletic director Paul Krebs said at a news conference yesterday that Locksley was issued "a verbal reprimand" with a follow-up letter placed in his personnel file after the Sept. 20 altercation with receivers coach J.B. Gerald, who told police he didn't want to file charges.

Ohio State: Strong safety Kurt Coleman has been suspended for one game for a helmet-to-helmet hit and "targeting a defenseless opponent" in the ninth-ranked Buckeyes' 30-0 win over Illinois on Saturday.

Coleman, a team captain and second-team All-Big Ten selection a year ago, was flagged for the hit on Illinois backup quarterback Eddie McGee on the final drive of the game.