Montgomery, Ala. ? The NCAA says it found no major violations committed by Auburn regarding Cam Newton or other pay-for-play allegations.

The NCAA released a statement Wednesday saying it has closed its 13-month investigation into Auburn’s recruitment of the Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback, whose father shopped his services to another school for nearly $200,000.

The NCAA also cleared Auburn in allegations by four former players that they received payments during their recruitment or careers.

The NCAA says “any allegations of major rules violations must meet a burden of proof, which is a higher standard than rampant public speculation online and in the media.”

It also says the investigation could be reopened if evidence surfaces.

Neb. loses DT Crick for year

Lincoln, Neb. — No. 14 Nebraska has lost defensive tackle Jared Crick for the season due to a torn pectoral muscle.

Coach Bo Pelini disclosed the severity of the injury Wednesday as the Huskers (5-1, 1-1 Big Ten) head into their bye week.

Crick, a 6-foot-6, 285-pound senior from Cozad, Neb., was seventh on the defense with 22 tackles this season, including a sack. He ranks eighth on the Nebraska career sacks list with 20, including 9.5 in both 2009 and 2010.

Crick played in five games this season, but didn’t suit up against Wyoming on Sept. 24 after suffering an unspecified injury against Washington a week earlier.

Pelini says losing Crick is a tough blow. He also says he believes Crick has a bright future in pro football.

FAU AD eyes Leach, others

Boca Raton, Fla. — Florida Atlantic’s athletic director says his long list of possible candidates to succeed coach Howard Schnellenberger includes former coaches Mike Leach, Randy Shannon and Jim Leavitt.

The 77-year-old Schnellenberger, the coach since the program’s first season in 2001, plans to retire at the end of this year.

Athletic director Craig Angelos said Wednesday he’ll begin a formal search for Schnellenberger’s successor soon and hopes to hire someone around the end of the season.

Leach coached at Texas Tech, Shannon at Miami and Leavitt at South Florida. All were fired within the past two years.

Leach went 84-43 in 10 seasons at Texas Tech before he was fired in December 2009 following allegations he mistreated a player who had a concussion. Leach denied the allegations and sued for wrongful termination.

Coach K: 16-team ACC works

Durham, N.C. — Mike Krzyzewski says he not only supports the Atlantic Coast Conference’s recent expansion to 14 teams, he wouldn’t mind if the league kept growing.

The Hall of Fame Duke coach said Wednesday during media day that it “seems to me that if you’re going to go 14, then you should go 16.”

The ACC last month announced it would add Pittsburgh and Syracuse. It’s not clear when they will begin playing, but when they do, Krzyzewski expects at least an 18-game ACC schedule. ACC teams currently play 16 league games per season.

If the ACC stops there, Krzyzewski says he would a two-division setup with seven teams each and a 19-game conference schedule in which schools would play divisional opponents twice and cross-divisional opponents once.

Durant, OKC to host game

Oklahoma City — It might be as close as Oklahoma City ever gets to hosting an All-Star game.

Kevin Durant and Blake Griffin will play on opposing teams in an exhibition game next week at the Cox Convention Center, with LeBron James, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Paul among the other NBA superstars expected to fill out the rosters.

Commissioner David Stern has said Oklahoma City, one of the league’s smaller markets, doesn’t have the hotel rooms and other infrastructure to host all that goes along with the real All-Star game. But the USFleetTracking Basketball Invitational, to be played Oct. 23, will be a rare chance for the community to witness many of the league’s stars playing together instead of just when they come in individually with their own NBA teams.

With players locked out by the NBA, Durant has played in a series of exhibition games, most recently in the Miami area last week. Now, it’s his turn to host one of the showcases in his part-time home. Oklahoma City teammates Russell Westbrook and James Harden are expected to play in the game, along with former Thunder forward Jeff Green, who was traded to Boston last season.

Howard may be out 6 months

Philadelphia — Ryan Howard could miss the start of next season after the Phillies’ slugger had surgery Wednesday to repair his torn Achilles’ tendon.

Howard ruptured his left Achilles’ tendon while making the final out in Philadelphia’s 1-0 loss to St. Louis in the deciding game of the NLDS last Friday night.

“It’s going to be five-to-six months from the surgery until he can play at his accustomed level,” general manager Ruben Amaro, Jr., said.