Press Box

• COLLEGE FOOTBALL: Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh, whose team clobbered USC 55-21 on Saturday, is close to completing a contract extension with the school. AD Bob Bowlsby said Sunday that a formal announcement of a new deal was expected to come shortly. The Cardinal (7-3, 6-2 Pac-10) moved into the AP rankings for the first time in eight years, at No. 14, and have qualified for their first bowl bid since 2001. The Cardinal can earn a Rose Bowl bid by beating California at home next week and getting losses by Oregon, Oregon State and Arizona down the stretch.