Roof officially leaving Auburn for UCF

In a release, the Knights announced that head coach George O’Leary has officially hired Roof as his new coordinator. Roof will replace John Skladany, who it was announced “would not be retained for the 2012 season” along with two other assistants/football staff members late last month.

This is a reunion for O’Leary and Roof as the latter served as the former’s coordinator at Georgia Tech from 1999-2001.

“It’s a wonderful opportunity to come to a great place. It’s just as important to come work for a coach who I have tremendous respect for,” said Roof. “He gave me my first break as a coordinator in football, and I think it says a lot about how I feel about coach O’ Leary."

A smart move for Roof. Auburn it appears expected him to work miracles, and rebuild the defense after 2010, and the loss of a lot of the defense. Auburn is another, what have you done for me lately school. Georgia was doing the same thing with Coach Richt, but fortunately, he and the other coaches were able to get the young troops working faster. UGA didn’t have a schedule like Auburn did fortunately, and could get the team up for a run against the SEC East teams this year.

Kansas hires Charlie Weis as its next head coach

In an announcement made on its official website, KU confirmed that Weis will be introduced as the Jayhawks’ new coach at a press conference Friday. The specific time of the press conference is still to be determined. “I’m going to coach for a long time,” Weis said on Nov. 22, when he was asked whether he would be back at Florida next season. “I’m not… my wife says I can’t quit. That’s not even… remember I have a kid who is a freshman in college here. Remember the reasons why I came here. So, I’ll be here for a while, unless you’re trying to get rid of me. No, he didn’t get free tuition if you were wondering.”

That, obviously, was before the KU job came open after the firing of Turner Gill.

Air Force’s Troy Calhoun reportedly interviews for AnM job

The Houston Chronicle reported very early Wednesday morning that Calhoun has interviewed with Texas A&M for their head-coaching vacancy on Tuesday. A&M athletic director Bill Byrne has been interviewing candidates in New York City to replace Mike Sherman, who was fired last week by the Aggies. Interestingly, Calhoun’s former AFA defensive coordinator, Tim DeRuyter, is A&M’s coordinator and will serve as the Aggies’ interim head coach for their bowl game. Alabama defensive coordinator Kirby Smart and Houston head coach Kevin Sumlin have also reportedly interviewed for the position. We’ve also been told a current Pac-12 coach has expressed an interest in the vacancy, although the extent of that interest or whether an interview has taken place cannot be confirmed. Additionally, reports have surfaced that an individual with third-party ties to A&M has approached Clemson’s Dabo Swinney.

Southern Miss’ Larry Fedora was also a candidate for the Aggies job, but accepted an offer from North Carolina Tuesday.

Tide’s McElwain emerging as a leading Memphis candidate

Tide defensive coordinator Kirby Smart has interviewed for the Texas A&M opening. Smart’s offensive counterpart, Jim McElwain, is reportedly drawing interest as well. According to the Memphis Commercial Appeal, McElwain is now one of the leading candidates to replace Larry Porter after a handful of other candidates took jobs elsewhere recently. Mike Leach, Hugh Freeze and Curtis Johnson were all considered top targets for the Tigers, but have since by hired by Washington State, Ole Miss and Tulane, respectively.

The Birmingham News has also confirmed McElwain’s candidacy.

McElwain has interviewed for the Memphis job, but may also be in the mix at Fresno State following the dismissal of Pat Hill. McElwain was Hill’s OC with the Bulldogs in 2007 before taking the job on Saban’s Tide staff.

In addition to McElwain, the Commercial Appeal names Pittsburgh Steelers quarterbacks coach Randy Fichtner, North Alabama head coach Terry Bowden and former Arizona head coach Mike Stoops.

LSU’s Chavis wins Broyles Award as top assistant

LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis won the annual Broyles Award given to the top college assistant coach on Tuesday.

Chavis is in his third year for the top-ranked Tigers, who will play Alabama for the national championship next month.

Chavis is the 16th winner of the award named in honor of former Arkansas coach Frank Broyles, whose assistant coaches went on to become notable head coaches at the college or professional level. They include Barry Switzer, Jimmy Johnson, Joe Gibbs and Jackie Sherrill.

The 55-year-old Chavis guided an LSU defense that was second in the country in both scoring and total defense. The Tigers (13-0) allowed 10.5 points and 252.1 yards per game while finishing the regular season undefeated and winning the Southeastern Conference championship over Georgia.

Chavis arrived in Baton Rouge, La., in 2009 after spending 14 seasons as the defensive coordinator at Tennessee. While with the Volunteers, he helped Tennessee win at least nine games per season 11 times.

He had an immediate impact upon his arrival with LSU, helping turn around a defense that had ranked near the bottom of the SEC in 2008. The Tigers improved to third in scoring defense in Chavis’ first season, and they followed that up by leading the SEC in pass defense in 2010.

LSU made another leap on defense this season on its way to the BCS national championship game. Led by Heisman Trophy finalist Tyrann Mathieu, the Tigers opened the season with a win over No. 3 Oregon and remain college football’s only undefeated team.

Razorbacks make a change at defensive coordinator

Earlier today Arkansas announced that Paul Petrino was returning as its offensive coordinator to replace GarrickMcGee, who left to become the head coach at UAB. While that coordinator slot may have been filled, head coach Bobby Petrino now has the other coordinator position to fill in the coming weeks. In a press release, UA announced that defensive coordinator/secondary coach Willy Robinson has “resigned” his post. Before the release was issued, rumors had begun circulating that Robinson either had been or was on the verge of being dismissed.

“I want to thank Willy Robinson for his role in helping our defense, which he leaves in better shape than when he arrived,” the head coach said in a statement. “I have the utmost respect for Willy Robinson as an individual who wants the best for the young men he coaches. I give Willy credit for his part in the building process the last four years and wish him future success.”

Robinson had spent the past four seasons as the Razorbacks’ coordinator.

Florida DT Easley has torn ACL

Florida defensive tackle Dominique Easley won’t be available for the Gators on Jan. 2 when they take on Ohio State in the Gator Bowl, coach Will Muschamp confirmed over the weekend. Easley, a sophomore, suffered an ACL tear during Florida’s season-finale game against Florida State and was carted off the field. Easley will have surgery Wednesday.

Easley started all 12 games for Florida, making 37 tackles with 7.5 for a loss while totaling 1.5 sacks, three quarterback hurries and one blocked kick.

Ole Miss tabs Freeze as new head coach

Sunday, it was reported that Hugh Freeze was expected to be offered and accept the head-coaching position at Ole Miss. In a video message posted to Ole Miss’ official website, Archie Manning, who headed the Rebels’ coach search committee, announced that the school has indeed hired Freeze as its replacement for Houston Nutt. Freeze comes to Oxford from Arkansas State, where his Red Wolves capped off a 10-2 regular season with a Sun Belt conference crown in his first and only season at the school.

Manning said during video clip that the committee was “immediately wowed” by Freeze’s “plan, his energy, his track record of recruiting and his proven ability to win and win the right way.”

Richardson, Mathieu take AP’s top SEC honors

Set to square off in the BcS title game next month, Trent Richardson and Tyrann Mathieu took home top SEC honors from the Associated Press Monday afternoon. The Alabama running back was named the offensive player of the year, while the LSU cornerback was named defensive player of the year. Les Miles, coach of the unbeaten and top-ranked LSU Tigers, was named coach of the year. Georgia running back Isaiah Crowell, who’s rumored to be in the doghouse and possibly on the verge of transferring, was named Freshman of the Year. In addition to Richardson and Mathieu, there were two other unanimous selections to the All-SEC first team — Alabama offensive lineman Barrett Jones and Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones. LSU and Alabama tied for most first-team All-SEC selections with five, while LSU’s 11 on the first and second teams combined topped the conference. Alabama had eight total selections, followed by Arkansas (seven) and Georgia (six). Ole Miss was the lone school in the conference to not have a player named to either the first or second team, which could very well be the reason the Rebels were introducing a new head coach today.
by J. Taylor

Finalists for 2011 Heisman announced

Announced on ESPN shortly after 6 ET this evening, the grouping of finalists vying for the 77th edition of the award will include five of the top players in the country for the 2011 season. Here is the quintet of finalists — none of them seniors — as voted upon by former Heisman winners as well as select members of the media:

• Wisconsin running back Montee Ball
• Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III
• Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck
• LSU cornerback Tyrann Mathieu
• Alabama running back Trent Richardson

SEC, Tide dominate coaches’ All-American team

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) announced its All-American team Monday, with the SEC leading all conferences with nine players selected — six of those coming from the defensive side of the ball. The Big Ten (six), Big 12 (five) and Pac-12 (three) were the only other conferences with more than one player.

The MAC had more players selected — one, Western Michigan wide receiver Jordan White — than automatic-qualifying BcS conference the Big East.

As for individual schools, Alabama had five players (two offense, three defense), while Oklahoma State and Wisconsin had three each and Georgia two. The Tide’s total of five marks the second-highest one-team total in the history of the AFCA All-American teams, which were first announced in 1945. Oklahoma in 2003 holds the AFCA record with six.

Unbeaten and top-ranked LSU had only one player selected to the AFCA team — defensive back Morris Claiborne.

Just two players from the 2010 team made the cut for the 2011 squad — Oklahoma State wide receiver Justin Blackmon and Oregon running back LaMichael James, who made it this year as the AFCA’s all-purpose player.

Of the 25 players, 12 were seniors, 12 were juniors and 1 was a sophomore. The lone sophomore was Georgia linebacker Jarvis Jones.

BCS National Championship Game – New Orleans, La.

LSU vs. Alabama Jan. 9 – 8:30 p.m. ET – ESPN
* - The game is the first intra-conference matchup for the national championship in the BCS era.
* - The game assures the SEC of its sixth straight national championship and 8th overall in the BCS era.
* - LSU has won two BCS National Championships – 2004 and 2008 (both coming at the Louisiana Superdome in New Orleans).
* - LSU won a 9-6 overtime thriller in Tuscaloosa earlier this season. This will be the first rematch for a National Championship since the 1996 season when Florida State defeated Florida, 24-21, in their regular-season meeting, followed by the Gators rolling to a 52-20 win in the 1997 Sugar Bowl to earn the national title.
* - Alabama won the BCS National Championship in 2010 at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
* - LSU is 22-19-1 all-time in bowl games, winning five of the last six (all under Les Miles).
* - Alabama is 33-22-3 all-time in bowl games, having won four of the last six (Nick Saban is 3-1 in bowl games at Alabama).
* - Alabama and LSU are 1-2 in the best records in the SEC since 2007. The Crimson Tide are 49-12 (.8033) and the Tigers are 53-13 (.8030).
* - Alabama has the most defensive shutouts in the SEC since 1992 (17) and LSU is second (16).
* - Alabama and LSU are 1-2 in least offensive touchdowns allowed this season (Alabama-9 / LSU-13).
* - Since 2000, the average winning margin in the LSU-Alabama rivalry is 11.00 points per game. Seven of the 11 games have been decided by 9-points-or-less.
* - LSU and Alabama are 1-2 in the SEC in points per offensive drive this season. LSU averages 2.75 points per drive (413 points/150 drives started) while Alabama averages 2.59 points per drive (373 points / 144 drives started).
* - LSU and Alabama are also 1-2 in the SEC in drive efficiency. LSU scores on 48.0 percent of its offensive drives while Alabama scores on 46.5 percent of its drives. LSU scores touchdowns on 37.3 percent of its offensive drives while Alabama scores TDs on 34.0 percent of its drives.
* - Alabama leads SEC in defensive 3-and-outs, stopping opponents without a first down 50.3 percent of the time (72 of 143). LSU is seventh at 31.5 percent (51 of 162).
* - LSU and Alabama are 1-2 in least amount of turnovers and least amount of opponents scoring off of its turnovers. LSU has turned the ball over just nine times and opponents have scored just 18 points off of them. Alabama has 12 turnovers this season and opponents have scored just 10 points off of them.
* - LSU and Alabama are 1-2 in fourth quarter scoring margin this season. LSU is +101 in the fourth quarter (129-28) while Alabama is +87 (105-18).
* - Alabama leads the nation in eight defensive statistical categories, including total defense, scoring defense, rushing defense and passing defense. The last team to lead the nation in those four categories at the end of the year was Oklahoma in 1986.
* - LSU has given up just 29 points in the first quarter all season, which is second best in the SEC (27 vs. Georgia).
* - KEY PLAYERS: LSU CB Morris Claiborne and Alabama SAF Mark Barron are finalists for the Jim Thorpe and Nagurski Awards and was a semifinalist for the Bednarik … LSU CB/RS Tyrann Mathieu and Alabama LB Dont’a Hightower are finalists for the Bednarik Award … Alabama LB tandem of Courtney Upshaw and Hightower are finalists for the Lombardi and Butkus Awards … Alabama OG Barrett Jones is a finalist for the Outland … Alabama RB Trent Richardson is a finalist for the Doak Walker Award … LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis and Alabama assistant head coach/linebackers coach Sal Sunseri are finalists for the Broyles Award.

ATnT Cotton Bowl – Arlington, Texas

Arkansas vs. Kansas State Jan. 6 – 8 p.m. ET– FOX Sports
NOTES: The Razorbacks will be going to its 12th bowl game since joining the SEC … The Hogs are 12-23-3 all-time in bowl games … The Razorbacks have been to the Cotton Bowl 11 other times and are 3-7-1 … Kansas State leads the all-time series with Arkansas, 3-1 … The four meetings were between 1910 and 1926 … The last meeting was on Oct. 30, 1926 with KSU winning, 16-7 … Arkansas is 13th in the nation in passing offense (307.75 ypg), 15th in scoring offense (37.42 ppg) and 15th in punt returns (12.79 ypr) … QB Tyler Wilson is 21st in the nation and leads the SEC in total offense (283.4 ypg) … Wilson also leads the SEC in passing yards per game (285.2) and is 21st in the nation and fourth in the SEC in pass efficiency rating (148.7) … RS/WR Joe Adams leads the nation in punt returns, averaging 16.19 yards per return and P Dylan Breeding is 7th in punting, averaging 45.16 yards per boot … Arkansas defeated Texas A&M, 42-38, in an SEC-Big 12 game earlier this season while K-State won a four-OT thriller against A&M, 53-50 … Arkansas running backs coach/recruiting coordinator Tim Horton was an assistant (running backs) at Kansas State in 2006 …K-State is 7th in the nation in turnover margin (+1.08), 10th in kickoff returns (25.48 ypr), 29th in rushing offense (193.67 ypg) and 30th in scoring offense (33.08 ppg) … Freshman WR Tyler Lockett leads the nation in kickoff returns, averaging 35.19 yards per return … Junior defensive back Nigel Malone has seven interceptions and is tied for third in the nation.

TaxSlayer.com Gator Bowl – Jacksonville, Fla.

Florida vs. Ohio State Jan. 2 – 1 p.m. ET– ESPN2
NOTES: The Gators will be going to their 21st straight bowl game … This will be the Gators first trip to the Gator Bowl since defeating N.C. State, 27-10, in the 1992 game … Florida is 19-19 all-time in bowl games … Former Gator coach Urban Meyer recently took the head coaching position at Ohio State … The only previous match-up between these two teams was the 2007 BCS National Championship in Glendale, Ariz., where Florida defeated Ohio State, 41-14 … Gators are 9th in the nation in total defense (299.58 ypg) and 9th in pass defense (167.25 ypg) … PK Caleb Sturgis is third in the nation in field goals (1.91 per game) and is a finalist for the Lou Groza Award, for nation’s top placekicker … RB’s Chris Rainey (2,393 yards) and Jeff Demps (2,440 yards) are both over 2,000 rushing yards in their careers … Ohio State is 24th in the nation in total defense (328.58 ypg), 26th in scoring defense (20.75 ppg) and 15th in pass defense (186.17 ypg) … Five of Ohio State’s six losses were by a touchdown or less.

Outback Bowl – Tampa, Fla.

Georgia vs. Michigan State Jan. 2 – 1 p.m. ET – ABC Sports
NOTES: Georgia will be going to its 11th straight bowl game under Mark Richt and its 15th straight overall … The ‘Dogs are 7-3 in bowls under Richt … These two teams met in the 2009 Capital One Bowl, with Georgia claiming a 24-12 win … The teams also met in the 1989 Gator Bowl, with Georgia winning, 34-27 … Those are the only two meetings in the series … Georgia is 2-1 in bowls after playing in the SEC Championship Game (2002 – def. Florida State, 26-13, in Sugar Bowl; 2003 – def. Purdue, 34-27, in Capital One Bowl; 2005 – lost to West Virginia, 35-38, in Sugar Bowl) … Georgia has not been to the Outback Bowl since 2005 when it defeated Wisconsin, 24-21 … Georgia is 3-0 all-time in the Outback Bowl … Georgia is 3rd in the nation in total defense (268.46 ypg), 4th in pass efficiency defense (98.27 rating), 7th in pass defense (165.08 ypg) and ninth in rushing defense (103.38 ypg) … DB Bacarri Rambo is tied for 3rd in the nation with seven interceptions … Sophomore QB Aaron Murray has thrown 57 career touchdown passes … The Spartans are 5th in the nation in total defense (272.69 ypg), seventh in sacks (3.08 per game) and ninth in scoring defense (17.46 ppg) … QB Kirk Cousins is 16th in the nation in pass efficiency rating (151.37) and WR B.J. Cunningham is 17th in the nation in receiving yards per game (95.38) … UGA Defensive Coordinator Todd Grantham was Assistant Head Coach & Defensive Line coach at Michigan State in 1998 and was D-Line coach in 1996-97.

Capital One Bowl – Orlando, Fla.

South Carolina vs. Nebraska Jan. 2 – 1 p.m. ET – ESPN
NOTES: The schools have met three times previously with Nebraska winning all three contest … Last meeting was Oct. 3, 1987 in Lincoln, with Nebraska claiming a 30-21 win … On Oct. 4, 1986 in Columbia, the Huskers took a 27-24 win … The only other meeting was a 28-6 NU win in Lincoln on Oct. 10, 1964 … Carolina is 4-12 all-time in bowl games and has been to bowls seven times since 2000 … Carolina is 3-9 all-time against current members of the Big Ten Conference with two wins over Ohio State (2001 & 2002 Outback Bowls) and Michigan (1980 at Michigan) … The Gamecocks are second in the nation in pass efficiency defense (92.42 rating), fourth in total defense (268.92 ypg), second in pass defense (133.00 ypg) and 13th in scoring defense (18.83 ppg) … DE Melvin Ingram is tied for 18th in the nation in sacks (0.71 per game) … QB Connor Shaw is 7-1 as a starter, completing 66 percent of his passes in his victories for 1,082 yards … Nebraska is 13th in the nation in rushing offense (223.92 ypg) and 8th in kickoff returns (25.90 ypr) … RB Rex Burkhead is 21st in the nation in rushing, averaging 105.67 yards per game … RS Ameer Abdullah is 10th in the nation in kickoff returns (29.96 ypr) and P/PK Brett Maher is 10th in the nation in punting (44.98 yards per game) and tied for 11th in field goals (1.58 per game) … Husker coach Bo Pelini was defensive coordinator at LSU from 2005-07 before taking over at Nebraska.

Chick-fil-A Bowl – Atlanta, Ga.

Auburn vs. Virginia Dec. 31 – 7:30 p.m. ET – ESPN
NOTES: The Auburn-Virginia series is tied 1-1 … Auburn won the 1997 season-opener in Charlottesville, 28-17, while Virginia won the 1998 season-opener on the Plains, 19-0 … Auburn is 21-13-2 in bowl games, having won its last four, including a 22-19 win against Oregon in last season’s BCS National Championship Game … The Tigers have been to the Chick-fil-A Bowl on four other occasions, the most recent being in 2007, defeating Clemson, 23-20 in overtime … The Tigers excel in special teams, they are 19th in the nation in net punting and 14th in kickoff returns … P Steven Clark is second in the SEC in percentage of punts inside the 20 (47.06; 32 of 68) … PK Cody Parkey has put 34 kickoffs for touchbacks, which is second in the SEC … RS Tre Mason is 19th in the nation in kickoff returns … The Cavaliers are 30th in the nation in total defense (343.17) and 34th against the run (128.33).

AutoZone Liberty Bowl – Memphis, Tenn.

Vanderbilt vs. Cincinnati Dec. 31 – 3:30 p.m. ET – ABC Sports
NOTES: Vanderbilt holds a 2-0 lead in the series … Two schools last played on Oct. 8, 1994, a 34-24 Commodore win … Schools also played on Oct. 9, 1993, with Vandy claiming a 17-7 victory … Vandy is 19th in nation in total defense (324.58 ypg) and 27th in rushing defense (123.00) … DB Casey Hayward is tied for 11th in the nation in interceptions … RB Zac Stacy set a school single-season rushing record in 2011 with 1,136 yards … He had five games of more than 100 yards and rushed for three TDs in three different games this season … Vanderbilt is 2-1-1 in bowl games, having won its last encounter, in the Music City Bowl, defeating Boston College, 16-14 … The Bearcats are 6th in the nation in rushing defense (93.67 ypg) and 11th in turnover margin (+0.92) … P Pat O’Donnell is 17th in nation in punting, averaging 43.93 yards per punt … Earlier this year, Tennessee defeated Cincinnati in Knoxville, 45-23.