AUSTIN — Texas linebacker Lance McFarland, who in July was diagnosed non-Hodkin’s lymphoma, is hoping to beat the cancer and return next season. He originally noticed a lump in June. Once treatment began, doctors also found a mass on his kidney. He’s already begun chemotherapy in Houston at The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. His mother says doctors are giving him an 80 percent chance of being cured. ... The Longhorns again have the league’s thicket media guide. This season’s book has 592 pages, up from 576 last year.

COLLEGE STATION — R.C. Slocum left Texas A&M with the sixth-highest winning percentage among active coaches. Now that Slocum is out of coaching, his replacement, Dennis Franchione, moves up to seventh. ... One of Franchione’s favorite stories about the summer was when he was visited at practice by No. 41. That’s not a jersey number. It’s where George Bush falls in the numerical order of U.S. presidents. Bush’s presidential library is on campus and he attends many games. ... Another offseason thrill for Franchione was throwing out the first pitch at a Texas Rangers game.

STILLWATER, Okla. — Last year, Les Miles became the first coach in school history to defeat Nebraska and Oklahoma in the same season. His reward: a contract extension through 2008. ... The Cowboys are expecting big things from Rashaun Woods’ younger brother, redshirt freshman D’Juan, who is expected to start at the other receiver spot. QB Josh Fields says D’Juan shares many of the same skills as his record-setting big brother. “We did a video of them running the same route and it was almost identical,” Fields said. “We couldn’t believe it was two different guys running that route.” ... Another freshman to watch is 6-foot-3, 305-pound tackle Xavier Lawson-Kennedy from Duncanville, Texas. He bench-pressed 505 pounds in the spring.

LUBBOCK — Renovations at Jones Stadium are completed, giving Texas Tech more than 2,700 additional seats; most of them are in 47 new luxury boxes. There’s also a new press box. The school spent $84 million on the renovations and the construction of a new facility for the football program, which is still being built. ... Taurean Henderson led the team in rushing yards and receptions last season as a freshman. He averaged a combined 101 yards per game.

WACO — New Baylor coach Guy Morriss quickly got the attention of his players during the spring. Top running back Rashad Armstrong was among seven players left out of spring drills so they could concentrate on academics. And when cornerback Bobby Hart violated team rules, Morriss dropped the interception and punt return leader from the team. ... Morriss and his staff were already recruiting in Texas before leaving Kentucky last December. Their roster at Kentucky included 15 players from Texas, where Morriss and most of his assistants are from. “We’re fortunate the home state is rich in talent. We should be able to go out and find 20-25 guys a year to go to Baylor,” Morriss said.

NORTH

MANHATTAN, Kan. — Kansas State’s kicking game, unsettled in 2002, looks more stable this year. Joe Rheem and Jared Brite shared placekicking duties last season, but coach Bill Snyder said the job will be Rheem’s alone this year. Brite will continue as Kansas State’s kickoff specialist, and be the punter and holder. ... Senior DL Andrew Bulman, listed as a starter on the preseason depth chart, brings plenty of muscle to the job. The 275-pound Bulman holds Kansas State’s football records in the bench press (625 pounds) and incline press (532 pounds).

BOULDER, Colo. — Junior guard Terrance Barreau, 23, has been teased by his teammates for being the oldest player at Colorado, but he has no reason to apologize. Barreau spent four months last winter helping build an Air Force base in Kyrgyzstan that launched missiles over the Himalayas into Afghanistan. After his sophomore season at the Air Force Academy in 2000, Barreau decided military life was not for him, and he wanted to join the Buffaloes in 2001.

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska quarterback Jammal Lord spent much of the summer watching videotape, something he rarely did before. “He’s more mature and confident, and he wants to be a leader,” coach Frank Solich said. “He’s doing all the things necessary if you’re going to be a great quarterback.” ... New defensive coordinator Bo Pelini coached linebackers for nine years with the Green Bay Packers, which gave him instant credibility.

COLUMBIA, Mo. — Missouri’s Faurot Field has a new surface. The natural grass that had been down since 1995 was torn out and replaced by FieldTurf, a synthetic blend that’s popular among colleges and some pro teams. Division rivals Nebraska and Kansas State have it. ... Cornerback Terrence Curry is trying to come back after missing two seasons due to a gruesome knee injury. Curry has had two operations to repair the damage from one play two springs ago: he tore two knee ligaments and sprained the other two. Teammates respect him so much for coming back that he’s been named a co-captain.

AMES, Iowa — Iowa State has 29 seniors, many of them legitimate stars. But much of the excitement in the Cyclones’ camp centers on four freshmen, all of whom could start on offense in the Aug. 30 opener against Northern Iowa. Quarterback Austin Flynn, running back Stevie Hicks and fullback Ryan Koch are redshirt freshmen. Tackle Aaron Brant, a 6-foot-7, 314-pounder, is a true freshmen. He enrolled at Iowa State last January after graduating from high school early.

LAWRENCE, Kan. — When Kansas meets Missouri on Sept. 27, the winner will hold a one-game edge in the nation’s second-oldest rivalry. The Border War series is tied at 51-51-9. ... Northwestern (Aug. 30) and Jacksonville State (Sept. 20) are both first-time opponents for the Jayhawks. ... There are three sets of brothers on the Kansas roster, including identical twin defensive backs Ronnie and Donnie Amadi. The others are WR Gary Heaggans and DB Greg Heaggans, and RB Cullen Homolka and LB Josh Homolka. Also, DT Travis Watkins and FB Brandon Watkins are cousins.