FSU maintains No. 2 ranking
Florida State took firm hold of second place in the BCS standings behind top-ranked Alabama and grabbed the inside track to the national championship game.
The Seminoles were in second last week, but seemed likely to get passed by Oregon if the Ducks could have remained unbeaten. Stanford, however, handed Oregon its first loss of the season Thursday and Florida State benefited.
The Seminoles (.9619) are a solid second in the USA Today coaches’ poll and Harris poll, and second in the computer rankings that make up the final third of a BCS average.
Ohio State (.8926) is third in the polls but fourth in the computers. The Buckeyes are closer to fourth-place Stanford (.8689) than Florida State.
Unbeaten Baylor (.8618) is fifth, not far behind the Cardinal.
Missouri
After the Tigers’ 48-17 win Saturday against Kentucky, coach Gary Pinkel declared that senior quarterback James Franklin, who missed four games with a shoulder injury, would likely start against Mississippi after the team’s off week. He was available against the Wildcats in an emergency that wasn’t necessary with backup Maty Mauk’s record-tying, fivetouchdown game, but Franklin did get some fourth-quarter work.
Valparaiso
Coach Dale Carlson was fired, a day after the Crusaders lost 72-12 to Butler, athletic director Mark LaBarbera announced Sunday in a news release. Carlson was in his fourth season and departs with a 3-40 record. The Crusaders are 1-9 overall, 1-6 in the Pioneer League. Assistant head coach Mike Gravier will serve as interim coach for the season finale Saturday at home against Dayton.
Florida
Following the Gators’ 34-17 loss Saturday to Vanderbilt, coach Will Muschamp said he mishandled a verbal confrontation from a Florida fan Nov. 2 in Jacksonville following the Georgia game.
“That doesn’t bother me,” Muschamp said of the boos. “I made a mistake last week. I made a real mistake about a very, very passionate Florida fan that was telling me his opinion of me. You know what, that’s fine. They pay their tickets, they can boo all they want.”
Texas
The school announced running back Johnathan Gray and defensive tackle Chris Whaley are lost for the season after leaving a 47-40 overtime win Saturday against West Virginia with injuries.