Gene Deckerhoff, the “Voice of the Seminoles” for 43 years, has announced he’s stepping away from the microphone.

No. 16 Arkansas' game against No. 7 at AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas, and No. 18 Wisconsin's meeting with No. 12 Notre Dame at Soldier Field in Chicago highlight the college football schedule on Saturday.

Emory Jones’ first career start included a touchdown pass, two interceptions and a 35-14 victory against Florida Atlantic on Saturday night.

IT’S GAME WEEK!

Florida’s defense was historically bad last season, so dreadful at times that fans were clamoring to fire everyone.

Mike Norvell has a relatively easy act to follow. Norvells first season at Florida State should be an upgrade from the Willie Taggart era, which was one of college footballs biggest coaching debacles in recent years. It was so obvious that Taggart was in over his head that Florida State cut ties midway through his second season, a rarity in college athletics. He posted four consecutive winning seasons at Memphis before taking over in Florida's state capital. Before he even coached a game, Norvell was on the brink of a revolt in June after he claimed to have spoken to each of his players individually about George Floyds death and the ensuing protests against racial injustice.

The Florida State football team met with coach Mike Norvell on Thursday after a star player accused the coach of lying about personally connecting with each player to discuss the police killing of George Floyd and ensuing protests against racial injustice. I want to tell you that coach just finished a closed team meeting with the football team, Coburn told the board. On Thursday, some support for Norvell was turning up on social media from Florida State players. Linebacker Kevon Glenn tweeted: We love our coach and we are together as a team.___AP freelance writer Bob Ferrante in Tallahassee, Florida, contributed to this report. Follow Ralph D. Russo at https://twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP and https://appodcasts.com/category/ap-top-25-college-football/___More AP college football: https://apnews.com/APTop25CollegeFootballPoll and https://apnews.com/Collegefootball and https://twitter.com/AP_Top25

Florida State wide receiver D.J. After Grosel threw an interception, Jordan Travis broke free for 66 yards to give Florida State a 14-point lead. The Seminoles recovered the onside kick, and two-time interim coach Odell Haggins left Chestnut Hill with his perfect record intact. Florida State fired Taggart on Sunday, a day after a 27-10 loss to Miami, and named Haggins as the interim coach. Boston College: BC is off next weekend before playing Notre Dame on Nov. 23 in South Bend, Indiana.

BOSTON - Six wins wasn't going to be good enough for Florida State. Athletic director David Coburn said it would cost Florida State about $18 million to buy out Taggart. We are Florida State. LEAVITT ELEVATEDFormer South Florida coach Jim Leavitt was promoted from defensive analyst to assistant coach after Taggart's dismissal opened a role for an on-field assistant role. Florida State: FCA Alabama State (4-4) and then No.

Coburn estimates it will cost Florida State about $18 million to buyout Taggart, although the details have not been finalized. Among the potential candidates: former Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, Kentucky coach Mark Stoops, Minnesota coach P.J. "We're going to get back to the standard of Florida State University football. Haggins, who has been a Florida State assistant coach since 1994, has worked for Bobby Bowden, Jimbo Fisher and Taggart. That currently seems to be standard operating procedure these days at Florida State.

"We had no choice but to make a change,'' Florida State University President John Thrasher said. Haggins was 2-0 as the interim in 2017, after Jimbo Fisher left Florida State for Texas A&M in December. "We still have a lot of faith,'' Florida State linebacker Emmett Rice said Saturday. He will receive a large payday as Florida State owes him a $17 million buyout as part of the letter of agreement he signed in Dec. 2017. "Obviously, I am disappointed in the decision today as I believe our future is bright and Florida State,'' Taggart said in a statement posted on Twitter.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The sum is staggering, more than an estimated $20 million to not coach anymore. When Florida State cut ties with coach Willie Taggart on Sunday, it triggered the buyout clause in his contract. That amount really meant that the Seminoles didn't think that Taggart was the right guy to lead the program. Factor in what the Seminoles also had to pay to hire Taggart and that number climbs above $20 million. An ESPN report by Mark Schlabach said that boosters raised $20 million to cover Taggart's buyout, although Florida State has denied that.

Rumors are rampant that Meyer is going to be pursued heavily by USC when Clay Helton likely gets let go, so FSU would have to win a bidding war if it changes course on its Meyer stance. Even if Meyer is not considered, theres enormous pressure now on the FSU administration. This is a critical moment in the course of a once-proud FSU football program that needs this next hire to be right. It sure looked like it in a 27-10 win over Florida State. Miami freshman quarterback Jarren Williams continued to show he is getting better rapidly, throwing for 313 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.

TALLAHASSEE, Florida (CNN) - Florida State University fired head football coach Willie Taggart on Sunday, one day after the struggling Seminoles lost 27-10 to its in-state rival, the University of Miami. "I spoke to Coach Taggart this afternoon to let him know of our decision," said Florida State athletics director David Coburn. He was head coach there from 2010-2012 after serving as an assistant from 1999-2006. Florida State had only two full-time coaches from 1976 to 2017 -- Fisher from 2010 to 2019, and legendary coach Bobby Bowden, who served 37 years as head coach. Defensive line coach Odell Haggins, a 26-year veteran of the FSU coaching staff, will serve as the interim head coach for the rest of 2019.

TALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State Director of Athletics David Coburn announced today that Coach Willie Taggart's contract has been terminated effective immediately. "I spoke to Coach Taggart this afternoon to let him know of our decision," said Coburn. "I think very highly of Coach Taggart and wish him well, but in the interest of the university we had no choice but to make a change," said Florida State University President John Thrasher. "We deeply appreciate all that Coach Taggart has done for our program and wish him and his family nothing but the best," added Coburn. Coburn confirmed that Florida State would immediately engage in a national search to fill the position.

Miami won the gameTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State and Miami meet in what seems to be a must-win situation for both teams. "We're going to beat them,'' Florida State tailback Khalan Laborn proclaimed. And when asked about Miami's secondary and what was challenging about them, Florida State receiver D.J. Now Florida State has to back up the talk. He's on pace to become just the third Florida State running back with multiple 1,000-yard seasons, joining three-timers Dalvin Cook (2014-16) and Warrick Dunn (1994-96).

Jake Fromm #11 of the Georgia Bulldogs passes during a game against the Florida Gators in 2018. Opportunity knocking for Florida as Georgia showdown arrivesGet ready for cocktail week in Jacksonville, but Saturdays annual battle between Georgia and Florida will once again mean more than just an excuse for fans to have a good time. Florida enters 4-1 in league play, while Georgia is 3-1, but the schedule really lightens up for the Gators beyond Saturday. In other words, if Florida wins, Gator fans will likely be drinking cocktails all the way to Atlanta for the SEC championship game. Gierke, who has been the head coach at Orangewood Christian since 2011, is 300-112-1 in his 37-year coaching career.

(Photo byTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State and Syracuse are in similar spots: Both desperately need a victory. In what has been a disappointing season for both programs, Florida State and Syracuse look to keep their bowl hopes alive on the final week of October. "We're going to do whatever we've always done or we will change and do some things that we've never done to try to find a way to find that first (ACC) win,'' Babers said. "I think we're all trying to find a way to get back in the win column,'' Taggart said of the situation that Florida State and Syracuse are in. "We're just going to come out and try to play our best game of the season,'' Hofrichter said as he prepared for Florida State.

Florida State running back Khalan Laborn (4) fights for yards against Wake Forest in the first half of a game on Saturday. (AP Photo/Nell Redmond)WINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Whether a close game or a blowout, Wake Forest always seemed to find a way lately to lose to Florida State. Nick Sciba kicked a 25-yard field goal - his school-record-tying fifth of the game - with 4:18 remaining, and Wake Forest beat Florida State 22-20 on Saturday night. Wake Forest lost its previous two home games against Florida State by a combined 15 points, and lost by 21 in Tallahassee last year. Wake Forest: Turns out the Demon Deacons could beat Florida State with a bunch of 3s and only one touchdown.

Tamorrion Terry #15 of the Florida State Seminoles is tackled by teammates Chad Smith #43 and A.J. (Photo by StreeterWINSTON-SALEM, N.C. - Coach Dave Clawson wants to see how Wake Forest bounces back from a loss. Florida State has had to do that all too often lately. "It's all about how fast you get up and how fast we can recover and face adversity and just keep pushing,'' Wake Forest defensive lineman Suilaman Kamara said. Quick OctoberThe Demon Deacons will need to beat Florida State to avoid going 0-for-October.

Getty ImagesTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Coach Willie Taggart says James Blackman will start for Florida State against Clemson. But Taggart also said Monday that there is a game plan for using Alex Hornibrook, who guided the Seminoles to wins over Louisville and North Carolina State after Blackman suffered an injury. He suffered a knee injury in the third quarter of Florida State's win over Louisville on Sept. 21. Blackman has completed 86 of 124 (69.4 %) of his passes for 970 yards, nine touchdowns and two interceptions. Hornibrook, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, has completed 44 of 60 (73.3%) of his passes for 571 yards, five touchdowns and no interceptions.

Associated PressTALLAHASSEE, Fla. - Florida State and Louisville are programs rich in football tradition. Florida State finished with a losing record, going 5-7. "They're still Florida State. Florida State (1-2, 0-1 ACC) has lost its games to teams both currently ranked in the Top 25, No. 2 quarterback Alex Hornibrook, a graduate transfer from Wisconsin, would make his Florida State debut on Saturday.

JACKSONVILLE, FLA - Florida State football player Andrew Boselli got a nice surprise on Tuesday. Clements then informed Boselli that head coach Willie Taggart thought that he had earned a full scholarship. Boselli signed with the Seminoles in the Class of 2016 and redshirted his first season. Boselli (6-foot-5, 308 pounds) then went back to football, rejoining the program in spring and grinding himself back into shape. The son of Jaguars offensive tackle and NFL hall of fame finalist, Tony Boselli, Andrew is a redshirt junior with two seasons of eligibility remaining.

On Wednesday at the ACC Media days, Taggart described last year a learning experience. Taggart continued, We dont talk about it (2018 season) unless were asked about it.The Seminoles Gulf-Coast offense was stuck in neutral or reverse for most of last season. Offense (Rank out of 130 FBS teams)Points per game vs. FBS opponents: 20.6 (114)Yards per rush vs. FBS opponents: 2.69 (129)Yards per pass attempt vs. FBS opponents: 7.1 (73)Redzone touchdown percentage vs. FBS opponents: 55.17 (105)Sacks allowed per game vs. FBS opponents: 3.18 (118)Plays gaining 10-plus yards vs. FBS opponents: 142 (88)To help that cause Taggart made a huge change to his offensive staff. Taggart said he needed to be more involved with the whole team and entire staff. On Wednesday Taggart said he wants his team to play with an aggressive identity in all three phases of the game. FSU 2019 ScheduleSat, Aug 31: vs Boise State, 7 p.m. in JacksonvilleSat, Sept. 7: vs. UL Monroe, 5 p.m.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – For the second year in a row, Florida State has completed a recruiting class without signing a quarterback. The Seminoles have major questions and little depth at quarterback behind likely starter James Blackman. Florida State lost its two main quarterback targets when Lance LeGendre selected Maryland on Wednesday. Over the weekend the Seminoles picked up a commitment from Sandalwood quarterback Jeff Simms. FSU head coach Willie Taggart said the following after not signing a QB recruit for the second year in a row.