Florida State stuns North Carolina

Christian Ponder threw for 395 yards and three touchdowns to help Florida State rally from a big second-half deficit and beat North Carolina, 30-27, on Thursday night at Chapel Hill, N.C.

Rod Owens had nine catches for 199 yards, including a 98-yard score, for the Seminoles (3-4, 1-3 Atlantic Coast Conference), who trailed 24-6 early in the third quarter.

Ponder directed a stunning rally capped by an 18-yard touchdown pass to Beau Reliford with 6:20 to play.

Shaun Draughn ran for 126 yards to lead North Carolina (4-3, 0-3).

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The players who were with Jasper Howard when the Connecticut cornerback was fatally stabbed Sunday are ready to play this weekend against West Virginia, Coach Randy Edsall said. Edsall said he had been concerned about the mental state of sophomore receivers Kashif Moore and Mike Smith. . . . Arkansas Coach Bobby Petrino has been reprimanded by the Southeastern Conference after publicly criticizing officials who worked his team’s loss to Florida last weekend. . . . Notre Dame has agreed to play Western Michigan next season, completing the 2010 schedule. Athletic Director Jack Swarbrick said the Fighting Irish also will play Tulsa and Utah in South Bend next season. . . . The University of Minnesota has apologized after its Goldy Gopher mascot poked fun at a Penn State football player who was praying before last week’s game.