Observers get ready for 1vs.2 matchup between LSU, ’Bama
With nine ranked teams off over the weekend, including four of the top five, there was little movement throughout the AP Top 25. LSU is No. 1 for a second consecutive week and Alabama is No. 2. The Tigers and Crimson Tide on Saturday will play the first regularseason 12 game since the same two did it in 2011.
Ohio State is No. 3 as the margin among the top three teams widened a bit after last week’s historically close vote. The firstplace vote distribution stayed the same. The Tigers received 1,479 points and 17 firstplace votes, Alabama had 1,472 points and 21 first places, and Ohio State got 1,467 points and 17 firsts. No. 4 Clemson received the other seven firstplace votes and Penn State remained No. 5.
Georgia jumped two spots to No. 6 after beating Florida in the weekend’s biggest game. The Gators slipped four spots to No. 10.
Navy moved into the Associated Press poll at No. 25, giving the American Athletic Conference four ranked teams, more than all but the Big Ten and the SEC.
Navy joins fellow AAC members No. 17 Cincinnati, No. 19 Memphis and No. 23 SMU in the Top 25.
Appalachian State was the only team to fall out of the rankings this week. The Sun Belt Conference’s lone representative lost for the first time this season, falling at home to Georgia Southern on Thursday.
Florida State firing: Florida State fired secondyear head coach Willie Taggart on Sunday, less than 24 hours after the Seminoles lost to Miami and with the team in danger of missing a bowl game for the second consecutive season.
Taggart was 912 at Florida State, which won the national title in 2013 and has been in a freefall for the past three seasons. The Seminoles have not been ranked this season, were 05 against Miami, Florida and
Clemson under Taggart and attendance for games at Doak Campbell Stadium has plummeted.
“We had no choice but to make a change,” Florida State President John Thrasher said.
The school said longtime Florida State assistant Odell Haggins has been asked to take the job as interim head coach for the remainder of the season. Haggins was 20 as the interim head coach in 2017, after Jimbo Fisher left Florida State for Texas A&M in December.
“We still have a lot of faith,” Florida State linebacker Emmett Rice said Saturday. “We have a lot to play for. It’s not over just because we lost to Miami.”
For Taggart, it is over. He will receive a large payday as Florida State owes him a $17 million buyout as part of the letter of agreement he signed in December 2017.
“Obviously, I am disappointed in the decision today as I believe our future is bright,” Taggart said in a statement posted on Twitter.
Florida State (45) plays at Boston College (54) on Saturday, and needs to win two of its final three to become bowl eligible. The Seminoles finish the regular season against FCS foe Alabama State and then play at No. 10 Florida. #21 Boise State 52, San Jose State 42: George Holani ran for 126 yards and four touchdowns and the visiting Broncos (71, 40 Mountain West) bounced back from their first loss of the season by outlasting the Spartans (45, 14) on Saturday night. San Jose State quarterback Josh Love threw for 438 yards and cut the deficit to 4542 on his second TD pass of the game with 3:56 left, but the Spartans fell to 014 alltime against Boise State.
“Losing this one hurts,” Love said. “It would have been huge for us, obviously. It was one step closer to a bowl game. We have three opportunities left. We have to win two of them.”