Bill Callahan was fired as Nebraska's coach yesterday, his four-year stay marked by big losses at a football program once among the mightiest in the nation.

Interim athletic director and Nebraska great Tom Osborne announced the dismissal one day after the Cornhuskers ended the season at 5-7 following a 65-51 loss at Colorado.

"As a former coach this is a role I really don't like," Osborne said at a news conference. "I hate to sit in judgment of other people. I never envisioned being in a situation where I would have to make a decision on somebody's employment opportunity, but that's the nature of this business."

Osborne met with Callahan for five minutes yesterday, and Callahan left the football complex without speaking to reporters. After Friday's game, he said he enjoyed his time at Nebraska. "I have no regrets," he said.

Osborne said he told Callahan at the end of October there would be a coaching change if Nebraska finished with a losing record. LSU defensive coordinator Bo Pelini and Buffalo coach Turner Gill are the names mentioned most often to fill the position.

OLE MISS AXES ORGERON

Ed Orgeron was fired as Mississippi's coach yesterday, a day after the Rebels blew a game against their big rival to finish the season 3-9 and go winless in the conference for the first time since 1982.

His departure ends a tumultuous three years in Oxford, Miss. The ouster came after Friday's 17-14 loss to Mississippi State.

The Rebels lost five of their last six games, and this season put 20 players on probation for stealing from hotels.

Orgeron went 10-25 in his first job as head coach. The school will pay Orgeron 75 percent of his $900,000 salary through 2009.

ELSEWHERE

Texas A&M: Defensive coordinator Gary Darnell was named interim coach yesterday, a day after Dennis Franchione resigned. Darnell joined Franchione's staff in 2006 after serving eight seasons as coach at Western Michigan. The Aggies expect to get a bowl invitation next Sunday.