NCAA FOOTBALL at a glance

KANSAS STATE

Wildcats’ Bill Snyder elected to Hall

MANHATTAN, KAN.

Kansas State coach Bill Snyder has been voted into the College Football Hall of Fame, a person familiar with the results told The Associated Press on Thursday.

The person spoke on condition of anonymity because the results will be formally announced Friday in Dallas. Snyder became eligible as an active coach when he turned 75 in October.

Snyder took over one of the worst programs in the history of major college football in 1989 and turned it into a national contender. He briefly retired in 2005, but returned three seasons later after the program had fallen on hard times.

Snyder is 187-94-1 at Kansas State, easily the winningest coach in school history. He’s led the Wildcats to two Big 12 titles and 16 bowl games, including this year’s Alamo Bowl.

ILLINOIS

Beckman announces firings of two coaches

CHAMPAIGN, ILL.

Illinois has fired special teams coach Tim Salem and defensive line coach Greg Colby.

Coach Tim Beckman said Thursday that both are “very good coaches” but changes needed to be made for the team to improve.

Special teams was a particular problem for the Illini (6-7, 3-6 Big Ten). While Illini punter Justin Duvernois was the Big Ten’s second-best punter, kickers David Reisner and Taylor Zalewski both struggled. Between them they were 9-17 on field goals and missed four extra points.

Salem joined the staff in 2012 as running backs coach. Colby worked two seasons at Illinois. The team’s defense was one of the conference’s worst both seasons. Beckman says he will hire replacements as soon as possible.

LOUISVILLE

McGee turns down job offers to stay

LOUISVILLE, KY.

Garrick McGee is staying at Louisville as offensive coordinator.

McGee had been mentioned for several openings including offensive coordinator at Oklahoma, but turned down his alma mater and Sooners coach Bob Stoops to remain on Bobby Petrino’s staff.

The Oklahoma native said in a statement Thursday that “OU has a special place in my heart, but Petrino and the University of Louisville are very special to me.”

The Cardinals went 9-4 in McGee’s first season as coordinator/quarterbacks coach after two years as UAB’s head coach. Injuries caused Louisville to use three quarterbacks last season but the Cardinals earned a Belk Bowl invitation before losing 37-14 to Georgia.

Added Petrino, “I am excited that (McGee) is committed to being a part of what we are building at the University of Louisville.”

HOUSTON

Applewhite hired as Cougars’ coordinator

HOUSTON

The University of Houston has hired Major Applewhite as offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach.

Houston coach Tom Herman added Applewhite to the staff Thursday.

The 36-year-old former Texas quarterback was out of coaching this past season after seven years as an assistant at his alma mater. He was Texas’ co-offensive coordinator in his last four seasons in Austin after serving as assistant head coach in his first three years on the Longhorns’ staff.

Applewhite was Alabama’s offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach in 2007. He also coached at Syracuse and Rice.

IOWA

Hawkeyes announce new starting QB

IOWA CITY, IOWA

Iowa has named C.J. Beathard its starting quarterback, replacing two-year starter Jake Rudock.

Beathard was ranked first on a new depth chart released Thursday. Beathard, who will be a junior next season, was 52 of 92 passing last season with 5 TDs in relief of Rudock.

Rudock, who will be a senior, threw for 2,436 yards and 16 TDs last season. But Iowa’s offense was inconsistent, and it bottomed out in a 45-28 loss to Tennessee in the TaxSlayer Bowl that was much more lopsided than the final score.

Coach Kirk Ferentz also says he’ll meet with the media on Wednesday to discuss the program.

ARKANSAS

Razorbacks’ staff get new contracts

FAYETTEVILLE, ARK.

Arkansas defensive coordinator Robb Smith has signed a three-year contract, one of six Razorbacks assistant coaches to agree to new contracts following the school’s first winning season in three years.

Smith, who helped Arkansas (7-6) improve from 76th to 10th nationally in total defense this season, will receive $750,000 next season, with raises of $50,000 in each of the following two seasons. The former Rutgers and Tampa Bay assistant was scheduled to make $500,000 next season in the second of a two-year contract.

Assistant coaches Barry Lunney, Clay Jennings, Sam Pittman, Ben Herbert and Rory Segrest also received raises following head coach Bret Bielema’s second season — which ended with a win over Texas in the Texas Bowl.

The school also says new contracts for offensive coordinator Jim Chaney, running backs Joel Thomas and wide receivers coach Michael Smith are being finalized.

FLORIDA STATE

Seminoles’ Edwards declares for draft

TALLAHASSEE, FLA.

Florida State defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. has announced he will enter the NFL draft.

The 6-foot-3, 294-pound Edwards says he will not return for his senior season in a statement released from his new agency Thursday.

Edwards says: “I truly hope that I will be lucky enough to have a successful NFL career, and do Florida State proud for years to come, as so many of its alumni have done.” Edwards led the team in 2014 with 11 tackles for loss and finished with three sacks. He didn’t reach his goal of double-digit sacks this season, but he was one of the Seminoles’ top defenders the last two years.

Associated Press