Florida St. erases 22-point deficit
ORLANDO, Fla. — Redshirt freshman quarterback Deondre Francois completed 33 of 52 passes for 419 yards and two touchdowns while running for another 59 yards in leading No. 4 Florida State to a 45-34 win over No. 11 Mississippi on Monday night.
Francois, the fourth freshman to start the season at quarterback in FSU history, led the largest comeback in Seminoles history — 22 points — after a shaky start in the SEC-ACC showdown at Camping World Stadium.
Francois and the Seminoles, on the verge of becoming the third top-5 team to lose in the opening week, scored 33 consecutive points during a stretch from late in the second quarter until early in the fourth to overcome a 28-6 deficit late in the second quarter.
Ricky Aguayo, another freshman, converted an FSU-record six field goals on six attempts, breaking a mark shared by his brother Roberto.
Cougars’ Ward recovering nicely
An MRI on Houston quarterback Greg Ward Jr. showed no structural damage in his right throwing shoulder, coach Tom Herman said Monday.
“He came in today and felt a lot better,” Herman said during his weekly news conference.
Ward suffered the injury in Saturday’s 33-23 win over No. 3 Oklahoma.
Ward is expected to rejoin UH for practice either Tuesday or Wednesday.
“It feels all right,” Ward said. “It’s getting better each and every day.”
LSU suspends Boutte for game
LSU has suspended offensive lineman Josh Boutte for one game after his late hit Saturday in the final minutes of the Tigers’ loss to Wisconsin.
A release from the school said Boutte called Wisconsin defensive back D’Cota Dixon on Monday to apologize for the hit, which came after Dixon had sealed a Wisconsin victory with an interception. Boutte was ejected after hitting Dixon.
Boutte will sit out Saturday’s home opener against Jacksonville State.
Alabama adds Sarkisian to staff
Former Southern Cal coach Steve Sarkisian is joining No. 1 Alabama’s staff as an analyst.
Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban confirmed the hiring Monday of yet another fired USC coach, joining offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin.
Sarkisian arrived in Tuscaloosa after Alabama’s season-opening, 52-6 win over the 20thranked Trojans.
Southern Cal fired Sarkisian last October after athletic director Pat Haden said he was in no condition to lead practice following an embarrassing public display earlier at a pep rally where he appeared to be intoxicated. He later sought treatment for alcoholism and has sued Southern Cal, alleging the school breached his contract and discriminated against him on the basis of a disability.
Odds and ends
Tago Smith, who replaced Keenan Reynolds as Navy’s starting quarterback, will miss the rest of the season with a torn ACL suffered in a 52-16 victory over Fordham. Senior Will Worth, who ran for 22 yards and completed all three of his passes for 78 yards against Fordham, takes over at quarterback for Navy. … Florida receiver Dre Massey, who also can line up at running back, quarterback, returner and even punter, was lost for the season with a knee injury.