Boise must settle for 5th in AP
Florida is No. 1 in a landslide.
For unbeaten Boise State, No. 5 will have to do.
The Gators finished atop the Associated Press’ final Top 25 after upsetting Ohio State 41-14 in the BCS national championship game Monday night.
The Buckeyes had been No. 1 since August and were looking to become the third team to hold the top spot in the media poll from preseason through the bowls.
Instead, Ohio State finished No. 2. LSU, Southern California and Boise round out the top five.
Florida received all but one of the 65 first-place votes. Boise, 13-0, got the other.
Autopsy on Danelo
An autopsy was performed on Southern California kicker Mario Danelo on Monday, and the coroner’s office said it could be six to eight weeks before the cause of death is determined.
The medical examiner is awaiting toxicology results that would detect the presence of any alcohol or drugs in the system of the 21-year-old player, the son of former NFL kicker Joe Danelo. The father played at Gonzaga Prep and Washington State.
Foul play has been ruled out. Danelo’s body was found Saturday about 120 feet down a rocky cliff in San Pedro, not far from the family home, police said.
Draft-ready
Four players announced they will skip their senior seasons and enter the NFL draft – Georgia Tech receiver Calvin Johnson, who’s been projected as a high pick; Miami Hurricanes outside linebacker Jon Beason; Defensive tackle Alan Branch of Michigan; and Quarterback JaMarcus Russell of LSU, also expected to be a high pick.
Around the nation
Louisville athletic director Tom Jurich expects to move quickly to replace coach Bobby Petrino, who left Sunday to become coach of the Atlanta Falcons of the NFL.
Jurich said the list of potential candidates was “very short” but he did not identify any coaches.
• Ron Caragher was hired as the University of San Diego’s coach, three weeks after Jim Harbaugh left to take the Stanford job.
• Wide receiver Damian Williams has transferred to Southern California after making 19 catches for 235 yards and two touchdowns as a freshman at Arkansas.
•The Las Vegas All-American Classic, set for next week, was canceled because of problems with financing and sponsorship.
The game, showcasing East vs. West all-stars, was set for Jan. 15.