College football has had many lows, and Jackie Sherrill has been involved in some of them. But the Mississippi State coach`s latest stunt definitely goes way below the belt, as some poor bull discovered.

It has been revealed that Sherrill allowed a bull to be castrated in front of his team before Mississippi State`s game with Texas. He said he used it as an educational and motivational experience.

Sherrill always prided himself on being a great educator.

''The whole story came when I asked our players what a steer was, and none of them knew,'' Sherrill said. ''People say (the Texas mascot) is a Longhorn steer. Is that a bull, or is he a steer?''

Not everyone was amused, least of all the bull. The incident came to light after a complaint was filed last week with the Animal Rescue League. John Harkness, an associate dean of Mississippi State`s veterinary medicine school, said the castration on the practice field was ''out of place.''

Sherrill defended the decision by saying the bull was going to be castrated anyway, and ''I don`t think that calf was embarrassed.''

By the way, Mississippi State defeated Texas 28-10. However, it lost Saturday to Louisiana State 24-3. Obviously, Sherrill shied away from castrating LSU`s mascot-a tiger.

Of course, the bad jokes already are in: What is Sherrill going to do when Mississippi State plays Mississippi, also known as the Rebels?

And people question the sanity of college football coaches.

- Notre Dame linebacker Demetrius DuBose returns to action this week after serving a two-game suspension, but some nagging questions remain. The doubts aren`t based so much on the two loans he received from the head of a Notre Dame booster club who befriended DuBose while he was in high school. Rather, it`s the $25,000 car loan DuBose received from a Seattle area bank that has raised many eyebrows.

According to NCAA Rule 12.1-L, an athlete cannot receive a loan on the basis of ''pay-back potential as a professional athlete.'' The NCAA says the bank maintains it gave DuBose the loan on the strength of his character and his potential as a Notre Dame graduate. And the NCAA bought it.

Forgive us for being skeptical, but how many Notre Dame students also of fine character could have gotten such a loan? How many banks are in the business of lending future graduates enough money to buy a car, let alone a luxury car-remember, we`re talking $25,000? DuBose obviously likes to ride in style.

It doesn`t sound like good business. Who`s kidding whom?

DuBose doesn`t come from a wealthy background, so evidently his pay-back potential as a pro athlete was used to back up the loan. For many, it looked like the NCAA gave Notre Dame and DuBose a pass.

Among the critics was Florida coach Steve Spurrier, who`s still fuming about the way the NCAA treated the Gators, stripping them of their

Southeastern Conference title in 1990.

''All great philosophers will tell you life is not always fair,''

Spurrier said. ''It does seem that some schools are untouchable.''

- The Big 10 is supposed to have a moratorium on any future talk about expansion. So it came as a surprise last week when Penn State Athletic Director Jim Tarman said the conference had directed its 11 schools to think about adding a 12th member when the moratorium expires in 1994.

What gives?

''The moratorium still is in effect,'' said Big 10 Commissioner Jim Delany. ''Nobody is talking to any other institutions. There has been no mandate by the presidents to start thinking about expansion. And any expansion will be ultimately done by them.''

Still, Delany acknowledged that informal discussions do occur among athletic directors, football coaches and faculty.

''But they aren`t discussing it at a presidential request,'' Delany said. ''To say they never discuss expansion is ridiculous. They talk. Everyone talks. But nothing is being done on a formal basis.''

Tarman said any expansion would involve a school next to a Big 10 state, which would seem to eliminate Texas. But that probably isn`t accurate. Texas will be a major player before this is done.

- Also from Delany, he said Michigan coach Gary Moeller could have questioned the controversial pass-interference call on Wolverines defensive back Ty Law that set up Notre Dame`s second touchdown in the 17-17 tie Saturday. During his postgame press conference, Moeller said he couldn`t comment because he risked getting a one-game suspension under the Big 10`s sportsmanship rule.

''He could have said he thought it wasn`t pass interference,'' Delany said. ''He could have said, `I thought the back was there before the ball.` '' The problem, Delany said, is when coaches say more than that, such as calling the officials names.

''In the heat of the moment, instead of just disputing the call, the coaches cross over the line,'' Delany said. ''Then maybe it`s best to do what he did. If they don`t feel like they can stop, then blame it on the rule, blame it on me. They`ll be better off.''

- Notes and quotes: The ''death penalty'' has killed Southern Methodist. SMU is 0-27 in the Southwest Conference since resuming play in 1989.

. . . Southern Cal has won only three of its last 14 games, and its next two games are at Oklahoma and Washington. . . . Last year, Florida State`s slogan was ''No excuses.'' The Seminoles were No. 1 in November before their dream died with consecutive losses to Florida and Miami. So coach Bobby Bowden, what`s this year`s slogan?

''Plenty of excuses,'' Bowden said.