Did you see when Jared Verse showed up at Cleveland Browns practice this week, he was wearing No. 8. That number belongs to Browns QB Dillon Gabriel. Or belonged to Gabriel, anyway.

This reminded me of 2003, when USC coach Pete Carroll made quarterback Brandon Hance give up No. 4 and awarded it to wide receiver Whitney Lewis.

Lewis had originally worn No. 26 before Carroll gave him his desired number. Hance was stunned over the move and it generated controversy within the team but Carroll was winning so he was able to pull it off without much backlash. Also, it was before social media.

• USC offensive guard Bruce Matthews, safety Mark Carrier and offensive guard Jeff Bregel are on the College Football Hall of Fame ballot.

• USC women’s basketball will play UNLV at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas on Nov. 2. Arizona will play UCLA the same day at the arena as part of a four-game shootout.
• Oregon State has hired Kevin Griffin from Ohio State as its new athletic director. Griffin was associate VP at Ohio State and is the nephew of 2-time Heisman winner Archie Griffin.