ORGERON, LSU PART WAYS AT END OF ’21
LSU and coach Ed Orgeron have agreed to part ways after this season, 21 months after he led the Tigers to a national championship with what is considered one of the greatest teams in college football history.
“We have very high standards for all of our sports programs at LSU, and we will stand proudly behind our expectations of competing for SEC and national championships year in and year out,” Athletic Director Scott Woodward said Sunday night. “Our last two seasons have simply not met that standard, and based on our on-field results and our evaluation of the potential for future immediate success, it is time for a new direction.”
Sports Illustrated was first to report that Orgeron would not return to LSU in 2022.
While the timing of the announcement — the day after the Tigers (4-3) upset Florida — came as a surprise, the end for Coach O at LSU seemed to be approaching after a blowout loss to Kentucky last week.
The win over Florida at home Saturday made LSU 9-8 since beating Clemson in New Orleans for the national championship on Jan. 13, 2020.
Orgeron is 49-17 with the Tigers in six seasons, including 15-0 in 2019 when Joe Burrow won a Heisman Trophy and LSU earned its third national championship in 17 seasons — coming with three different coaches.
Orgeron received a sixyear contract extension after the 2019 season. According to USA Today, he is scheduled to make $9 million this season.
His buyout, according to USA Today, was more than $17 million if he was let go before Dec. 1.
LSU slipped to 5-5 during the pandemic-altered 2020 season, but expectations were still high that the Tigers would be back among the top teams in the Southeastern Conference this year after Orgeron overhauled his coaching staff.
Cincinnati up to No. 2
Cincinnati moved up to No. 2 behind Georgia in The Associated Press poll, the first time a team from outside the traditional power conferences has been ranked that high since 2010.
The Bulldogs remained a unanimous No. 1 with 63 first-place votes and the Bearcats inched up a spot, taking advantage of Iowa’s loss to Purdue on Saturday.
San Diego State moved up to No. 22 in AP poll, highest since it was 19th in 2017 after similar 6-0 start.
The Hawkeyes dropped nine places to No. 11 and the Boilermakers moved into the rankings at No. 25, snapping the longest current AP poll drought for a Power Five school. The Boilermakers were last ranked in 2007.
Saturday’s late results Utah 35, No. 18 Arizona State 21:
Cameron Rising threw for 247 yards and two touchdowns, rallying host Utah to a victory over Arizona State (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12). Rising added 59 yards and a touchdown on six carries. Tavion Thomas ran for 84 yards and a score. The Utes (4-2, 3-0) took over sole possession of first place in the Pac-12 South, and are the last unbeaten team in Pac-12 play.
UCLA 24, Washington 17:
Dorian Thompson-Robinson carried UCLA long enough for freshman Devin Kirkwood to make the first big play of his college career. Thompson-Robinson threw for two touchdowns and ran for another, Kirkwood came up with a critical interception inside the final 5 minutes, and UCLA (5-2, 3-1 Pac-12) beat Washington (2-4, 1-2) on the road.
Nevada 34, Hawaii 17:
Carson Strong passed for 395 yards and two thirdquarter touchdowns and Nevada (5-1, 2-0 Mountain West) pulled away after halftime to beat Hawaii (3-4, 1-2) at home.
Air Force 24, Boise State 17: Brad Roberts rushed for 138 yards and two touchdowns, Air Force’s defense turned in another stifling performance, and the Falcons (6-1, 3-1 MW) knocked off Boise State (3-4, 1-2) on the road.