Florida State, Auburn lead final AP poll

Alabama was No. 3 in the last rankings until after the bowls.

Michigan State jumped six spots to No. 4 after beating Ohio State for the Big Ten title.

No. 5 Stanford is the Pac-12 champion for the second straight season.

No. 6 Baylor won the Big 12, and Ohio State slipped to No. 7 after its first loss since the 2011 season.

NOTRE DAME — Coach Brian Kelly said nose guard Louis Nix III has signed with an agent and will forgo his final year of eligibility to enter the NFL Draft, where he is projected by many to be a first-round pick.

Nix’s season came to an end Nov. 21 when he underwent season-ending surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. The 6-foot-2-inch, 349-pound senior also had been slowed by tendinitis in the same knee.

Nix, who didn’t play as a freshman, told media at the time he was undecided about whether he would return, saying his focus was on getting healthy.

Nix tweeted a message Friday of an emoticon crying and an Instagram photo taken from a car pulling away from Notre Dame with the Golden Dome reflected in the driver’s side mirror.

WYOMING — Craig Bohl is promising Cowboys fans a great ride in the years ahead after being hired as coach.

Bohl comes to Wyoming after 11 years at North Dakota State, where he has won two Football Championship Subdivision titles and is in the process of seeking a third.

Bohl will remain North Daktoa State’s coach through the end of its playoff run.

When Bohl takes over at Wyoming, he will be paid a base salary of $750,000 a year with the opportunity to earn up to $1.2 million with incentives.

Florida State finished the regular season as No. 1 in The Associated Press college football poll, while Auburn reached No. 2.

The Seminoles and Tigers wrapped up spots in the BCS championship game by winning their conference title games Saturday night.

Florida State received 56 first-place votes from the media panel. Auburn received the remaining four first-place votes.

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