Kansas fires Weis four games into season

Kansas coach Charlie Weis has been fired four games into his third season as coach, with the downtrodden program languishing again at the bottom of the Big 12.

Athletic director Sheahon Zenger met with Weis yesterday, a day after a 23-0 loss to Texas on homecoming left Weis with a 6-22 record in his second head coaching stop.

Weis, who earned a reputation as an offensive mastermind with the New England Patriots, was fired by Notre Dame in 2009 after five seasons at his alma mater.

“I normally do not favor changing coaches midseason,” Zenger said in a statement, “but I believe we have talented coaches and players in this program, and I think this decision gives our players the best chance to begin making progress right away.”

Defensive coordinator Clint Bowen will serve as interim coach of the Jayhawks, who are 2-2 this season. They play at West Virginia on Saturday.

“I appreciate what Coach Weis did with several facets of our football program,” Zenger said in the statement, “but we have not made the on-the-field progress we believe we should. I believe new leadership gives our coaches and players the best chance to make a fresh start.”

Associated Press poll

Florida State stayed No. 1 in the Associated Press poll after a second straight comeback victory, but support for the Seminoles is waning.

Florida State received 27 first-place votes, seven fewer than last week, from the media panel yesterday. No. 2 Oregon and No. 3 Alabama both had 13 first-place votes. No. 4 Oklahoma drew the remaining seven first-place votes.

There was little movement throughout the rankings, with the first seven teams holding their spots. That could change this week, when six games match ranked teams, including three Southeastern Conference games.

Ohio State moved from 22nd to 20th.

LATE SATURDAY HIGHLIGHT

No. 18 USC 35, Oregon State 10: Cody Kessler passed for 261 yards and two touchdowns, and Su’a Cravens returned an interception 31 yards for another score to lift Southern California (3-1, 2-0 Pac-12). Oregon State is 3-1 and 0-1.