AP Top 25 poll altered after a wild weekend
No. 7 West Virginia reentered the top 10 of The Associated Press college football poll after another weekend in which the number of ranked teams losing reached double digits.
Unanimous No. 1 Alabama, No. 2 Clemson and No. 3 Notre Dame remained unchanged, and No. 4 Michigan, No. 5 Georgia and No. 6 Oklahoma each moved up a spot. The Mountaineers surged from No. 12 after beating Texas on a goahead 2-point conversion in final minute.
Ten ranked teams lost this weekend, four in games against other ranked teams. Over the last two weeks, 21 ranked teams have lost, the most over a two-week span since the AP poll expanded to 25 in 1989.
Iowa State was ranked for the first time this season, one of five teams to move into the ranking this week. AIR FORCE MASCOT RECOVERING >> An Air Force falcon injured at West Point during an apparent prank before Saturday’s annual rivalry game between the two service academies is back home and showing signs of improvement.
The 22-year-old bird named Aurora “was able to fly around in her pen” on Sunday, said Air Force Academy spokesperson Lt. Col. Tracy A. Bunko.
The development is “an extremely good sign,” Bunko said, adding that the academy is “grateful for the outpouring of support and optimistic for Aurora’s recovery.”
The falcon will continue to be evaluated and will get antibiotics to prevent infection, Bunko said.
Army officials at West Point apologized Sunday for the injuries to the falcon and promised a full investigation.
“We are taking this situation very seriously, and this occurrence does not reflect the Army or USMA core values of dignity and respect,” the academy said in a statement.
The Gazette of Colorado Springs reported that the falcon was taken from an Army colonel’s home in a prank by West Point cadets, according to an Air Force representative who spoke to the newspaper on the condition of anonymity.
Aurora is the Air Force Academy’s official and oldest mascot. On the school’s falconry page, the bird is described as a white phase gyrfalcon. Three percent of all falcons are gyrfalcons, and 1 percent of those are white, according to the website. KANSAS COACH FIRED >> Kansas has fired football coach David Beaty, effective at the end of the season, ending a three-plus year tenure marked by modest improvement but just a handful of wins.
Kansas (3-6) has three games left to play against Kansas State, No. 6 Oklahoma and No 15 Texas.
News that Beaty would be let go began filtering out Saturday night, shortly after the Jayhawks looked unprepared and uninspired in a 27-3 loss to Iowa State. The defeat left Beaty with a record of 6-39 with just three wins against Power Five opponents and two Big 12 victories.
New athletic director Jeff Long announced the firing with one year left on Beaty’s contract. Beaty is owed $3 million.
GOPHERS FIRE DC >> Minnesota defensive coordinator Robb Smith has been fired, with the Gophers allowing an average of more than 43 points per game in Big Ten play. Coach P.J. Fleck made the announcement Sunday night. He named defensive line coach Joe Rossi the interim defensive coordinator. USC WINS LATE GAME >> Aca’Cedric Ware rushed for 205 yards and three touchdowns, including 57-yard and 62-yard scoring sprints, as USC beat Oregon State 38-21 late Saturday night in Corvallis, Ore. JT Daniels threw for 177 yards and a touchdown for USC (5-4, 4-3 Pac-12), which snapped a two-game losing streak.