MADISON, Wis. -- Bart Houston began the season as Wisconsins starting quarterback before losing his job to Alex Hornibrook.With Hornibrook listed as questionable with a head injury for the Big Ten title game against No. 8 Penn State (10-2, 8-1 Big Ten) on Saturday, the No. 6 Badgers (10-2, 7-2) may have to turn back to Houston. A fifth-year senior, Houston rallied the Badgers to a 31-17 victory over Minnesota last Saturday.No doubt hes given us a spark a number of times, its been good to see, Wisconsin coach Paul Chryst said Monday.Houston took over for Hornibrook when he was injured late in the second quarter against the Golden Gophers and led Wisconsin to 24 second-half points. Wide receiver Jazz Peavy said Houstons fun-loving persona helps keep the team loose no matter what the situation is.In the fourth quarter we were going into one of these drives and Bart comes into the huddle telling jokes and stuff like that, Peavy said with a laugh. Im thinking this guys really relaxed right now and Im locked in and focused.Peavy, whose 71-yard scamper on a jet sweep set up Corey Clements 2-yard touchdown run to snap a 17-17 tie, said Houston has a fun, goofy personality that bodes well in pressure situations.Bart brings that ease to the group of guys in the huddle. He allows us to be a little more freely and not uptight, Peavy said.Chryst has come to appreciate his senior quarterbacks approach to the game on and off the field.One thing I have enjoyed and appreciate from Bart is I think he is having fun playing the game, Chryst said.Houston, who scrambled 12 yards to sustain a third quarter scoring drive, has proven he can make plays with his arm and his feet.Bart does a great job of being in the moment, Chryst said. He cares about this team and has confidence in himself. He wants to contribute and believes he can contribute and help.When Chryst was asked what would happen if Hornibrook cant go on Saturday and Houston gets dinged he replied Well be all right.Game notesOffensive lineman Jacob Maxwell has been ruled out for Saturday with a right shoulder injury.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25.Jodie Meeks Raptors Jersey . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. Cameron Payne Jersey . He says so-called TRT is only one problem and he wants to go even further than the ban. "Its about time," St-Pierre told reporters at a promotional event in Montreal on Friday. 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"Hes going to have hip surgery on Jan. 7, and hell be expected to rehabilitate for four to six months beyond that," Canucks general manager Mike Gillis said Friday in an interview.WIGGINS, Miss. -- The Mississippi chapter of the NAACP is calling for a federal investigation of a possible hate crime after an African-American football player at a southern Mississippi high school allegedly had a noose placed around his neck and yanked backward by a teammate.Derrick Johnson, president of the Mississippi chapter of the civil rights group, told ESPN the incident took place the afternoon of Oct. 13 at Stone County High School.The alleged victim in the attack, a sophomore member of the football team, was not physically harmed but was terrified by the incident, Johnson said.John Feaster, the first-year head coach for the Stone Tomcats, told ESPN the incident happened inside the football locker room as players were getting ready for practice.I reported it to the administration and handled it as swiftly as I could, Feaster said.The individual that was responsible hasnt been with our team since the incident. I just want it understood, it could have been the biggest superstar and he would have been gone. I dont care who it is -- if you do something like that, you cant be part of our team, Feaster added.The alleged victims father, when reached Monday night by ESPN, declined to comment and said he and his family wish not to be identified.Were calling on federal investigators to view this as a racial hate crime. No child should be in fear of going to school. No child should be walking down the hall or in the locker room and be accosted with a noose around their neck. This is 2016, not 1916, Johnson said at a news conference in Wiggins on Monday.Johnson told ESPN that at least three students, all of them white, were involved in the incident but Feaster, the head coach, disputed those details.To my knowledge it was one individual. It was not a group, Feaster said.Johnson told ESPN the incident was first reported to the Stone County Sheriffs Department by the victims mother, but that she was discouraged from filing a report.Stone County Sheriff Mike Farmer had not responded to a request for comment froom ESPN.ddddddddddddJohnson called on school officials to expel anybody responsible for the incident and said these same individuals came to school earlier this year brandishing Confederate flags on their vehicles.Johnson said the parents of the sophomore who was attacked have not been informed of any punishment for the students involved.Stone County High School Principal Adam Stone referred comment to Superintendent Inita Owen. She and school board attorney Sean Courtney didnt immediately respond to phone calls and emails seeking comment.Allowing students to commit blatant hate crimes without severe consequences sends a message to students that their safety and well-being are not valuable enough to be protected, the NAACP said in a statement Monday.Mississippi has struggled with a history of racial division. It is the last state that still incorporates the Confederate battle emblem on its state flag. In 2014, two out-of-state students at the University of Mississippi placed a noose on the campus statue of James Meredith, the black student who integrated Ole Miss in 1962. Both pleaded guilty to using a threat of force to intimidate African-American students and employees. Neither attends the school anymore.The names and ages of the students involved in the Stone County incident werent immediately released.The African-America student targeted in the attack has returned to school and football practice, according to Feaster.Its tough. I feel bad for the kid it happened to. Thats where my major concern is, Feaster said.When asked about frustrations within the African-American community in the predominantly white Stone County, Feaster responded: Trust me. I understand. Im an African-American male and I was born and raised in Mississippi. Its sad that something like this happens in 2016. I just pray we can get it together.Information from The Associated Press was used in this report. ' ' '