Florida St. Is No. 1, Arizona St. Second

Florida State and Arizona State finished as college football’s perfect pair, ranked Nos. 1 and 2 in Sunday’s final regular-season Associated Press poll.

The Seminoles (11-0) and Sun Devils (11-0) were Division I-A’s only undefeated teams, but won’t play each other in a bowl game because of bowl alliance restrictions.

Florida State, which needs a Sugar Bowl victory to claim its second national title, received 62 first-place votes and 1,670 points in nationwide balloting from 67 sports writers and broadcasters.

The final poll of the season will be released after the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2.

Arizona State, which plays Ohio State in the non-alliance Rose Bowl, had five first-place votes and 1,612 points.

With Texas’ 37-27 upset of Nebraska in the Big 12 championship game on Saturday, the Cornhuskers fell from No. 3 to No. 6, allowing three teams to move ahead of the two-time defending national champions.

Florida (11-1), a 45-30 winner over Alabama in the SEC championship game, replaced the Cornhuskers at No. 3 with 1,539 points, while the Buckeyes (10-1) moved up to No. 4 with 1,454 points.

Brigham Young (13-1), which edged Wyoming, 28-25, in overtime in the WAC championship game, improved to No. 5 with 1,322 points. Nebraska was sixth, followed by Penn State (10-2), Colorado (9-2), Tennessee (9-2) and Virginia Tech (10-1).

Northwestern was 11th, followed by North Carolina, Washington, Kansas State, Michigan, Alabama, LSU, Notre Dame, Miami and Texas.

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Alabama defensive coordinator Mike Dubose is expected to be named the Crimson Tide’s new coach today in Tuscaloosa.

The Birmingham News and Mobile Press-Register, each citing sources close to the athletic department, have reported that Dubose, 43, will be named the successor to Gene Stallings.

Dubose is a longtime member of the Alabama “family,” having played for Bear Bryant from 1972-74 and coaching for 12 years with the Crimson Tide.

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Washington State Coach Mike Price has withdrawn from consideration for the coach’s job at Minnesota. “I told Minnesota I needed to know their decision by tonight [Sunday] and they haven’t made a decision, so I am withdrawing,” Price said.