College Football | AD: Auburn wanted Tuberville

AUBURN, Ala. — Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville's job was not in jeopardy when he decided to step down and he declined several requests to reconsider, athletic director Jay Jacobs said Thursday.

Jacobs said Tuberville's departure after 10 seasons was "completely his decision" and that the coach would be leading the Tigers next season if he had not chosen to leave.

"To say the least, I was a little shocked," the AD said. "But after three times of asking him would he change his mind, he convinced me that the best thing for him and his family and for this football program was for him to possibly take a year off and take a step back."

Jacobs said he and school president Jay Gogue agreed to pay Tuberville the buyout price of $5.1 million because it was "the right thing to do."

Auburn's coaching wish list could include Texas Tech's Mike Leach, who until Thursday was a leading candidate for the Washington job; Louisiana Tech's Derek Dooley; Arkansas' Bobby Petrino; and current coaches-in-waiting Jimbo Fisher of Florida State and Will Muschamp at Texas.

Ball State keeps focus

DETROIT — Ball State is going to get shut out of the Bowl Championship Series even if the No. 12 Cardinals beat Buffalo in the Mid-American Conference title game tonight.

And coach Brady Hoke insists that fact doesn't bother him.

"We don't control any of that, and that hasn't been anything we've been concerned with," he said

Non-BCS schools Utah, Boise State and Texas Christian are all ahead of the Cardinals in the latest standings, and only one of them is guaranteed a spot in one of the top bowls.

That likely leaves Ball State (12-0, 8-0 MAC) looking at a return trip to Ford Field for the Motor City Bowl.

Likewise, the Bulls (7-5, 5-3) probably won't change their postseason destination tonight, because they're likely making a short trip to Toronto for the International Bowl.

But Buffalo is not about to quibble: The Bulls are eligible for a bowl for the first time since moving up to compete with college football's top-tiered teams in 1999.

Notes

• Mike Teel threw for 447 yards and matched a Big East record with seven touchdown passes, and Rutgers (7-5, 5-2 Big East) routed Louisville 63-14, sending the Cardinals (5-7, 1-6) to their worst finish since 1997.

• Fresno State has accepted a bid to play in the New Mexico Bowl. The Bulldogs (7-5) will meet a Mountain West team Dec. 20.

• Two schools named new coaches: Utah State hired Utah defensive coordinator Gary Andersen, and Toledo hired Oklahoma State defensive coordinator Tim Beckman.

• Tennessee S Demetrice Morley was arrested on an outstanding warrant stemming from a 2007 robbery charge. The warrant was issued in Miami after Morley failed to appear in court on Sept. 4 for a hearing related to a strong-armed robbery at Florida International University on April 24, 2007.

• Texas Tech reserve DB De'Shon Sanders was arrested on two cocaine-related charges. The player was charged with one count of conspiracy and one count of possession with intent to distribute 50 grams or more of cocaine base, according to a federal indictment.

• The Penn State senior who plays the Nittany Lion mascot will miss the Rose Bowl after being suspended for violating team rules. James Sheep was charged last week with DUI.