On Thursday, Kiffin weighed in on who should be his replacement.

Speaking on a sports radio talk show on 710-AM in Los Angeles, Kiffin said, “That’s easy. That’s already done. It should be Ed Orgeron.”

Orgeron was bumped to interim coach from assistant head coach — that also included being recruiting coordinator and defensive line coach — when Kiffin was let go in the middle of his fourth season with the Trojans.

USC has shown marked improvement under Orgeron. In his first game, the Trojans beat Arizona at home. The lost at Notre Dame the following week, but rebounded with consecutive wins against Utah, Oregon State, Cal and No. 5 Stanford. They play at Colorado on Saturday before closing the season against rival UCLA.

“Ed has done the Pete Carroll thing to the fullest,” Kiffin added.

USC is reportedly setting its sights high on finding Kiffin’s permanent replacement. While Orgeron wouldn’t fall into that category, it doesn’t mean he’s not in the discussion.

He’s been an assistant at most stops, but was head coach at Ole Miss from 2005 through 2007. But the Rebels went 3-8, 4-8 and 3-9 for a 10-25 three-year mark that included just a 3-21 record in the SEC.


WINSTON ATTORNEY CRITICAL


Florida State quarterback Jameis Winston volunteered a DNA sample last week to the Tallahassee Police Department as part of the sexual assault investigation, his attorney said Thursday, adding that he believes Winston will be exonerated and any DNA does not prove guilt.

Winston's lawyer Tim Jansen said at a press conference Thursday morning that the sex between his client and the accuser "absolutely" was consensual, but then retreated when pressed by reporters who asked him to confirm what he just said.

"I'm not saying that," Jansen said. "I'm saying the eyewitnesses that were there will verify that any material that was found, or any evidence that was found, is consistent with him (doing) nothing wrong."

ESPN first reported Wednesday night that Winston's DNA matched a sample taken from the underwear of the accuser.

Jansen said he has not seen the results of the DNA tests and found out watching television.

"All I know is it's very suspicious that the only news reporting agency that (State Attorney) Willie Meggs met privately with yesterday in his office was the one that reported that last night on television," Jansen said. "And that would be ESPN."

Meggs denied that he — or anyone in his office — released the DNA information to the media. He called the release of the information "problematic." He said he did not know who the source of information was for ESPN.

Tallahassee Police Department spokesman David Northway told The Associated Press that the leak did not come from the police.

Meggs, who has been the lead prosecutor in the Tallahassee area for nearly 30 years, also refused to discuss the results or any other "evidence" that was part of the case. But Meggs did acknowledge that prosecutors have issued subpoenas in order to collect evidence for the ongoing investigation.

Jansen said he's surprised the DNA results were leaked by law enforcement but, "this DNA has no impact whatsoever on this case. The two eyewitnesses that were present will exonerate" Winston.

Jansen said the DNA of one of the eyewitnesses was also taken in the last week by investigators.

"We're not surprised (Winston's) DNA was found," Jansen said. "We anticipated that would be found. We've never ever said he wasn't there. We never said any of that."

Meggs would not answer directly why DNA was taken from one of the witnesses, or whether or not there is a now a possibility of multiple suspects in the case.

But Meggs said his office was "trying to find all the relevant facts in the case" and that he did not want someone to question later what evidence was or wasn't gathered.


SARKISIAN REPRIMANDED 


After Washington lost to UCLA, 41-31, last week, Huskies coach Steve Sarkisian was critical of the officiating.

On Thursday, the Pac-12 reprimanded him for his comments.

“The Pac-12 has specific rules that prohibit our coaches from making public comments about officiating and from discussing private communications with the Conference office,” Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott said in a statement. “We have an obligation to our membership to enforce the Conference rules which they have approved.”

Sarkisian was critical of a hands to the face penalty against Dexter Charles that negated a touchdown. The Pac-12 later acknowledged the penalty should not have been called.

“I’m all about officiating the game and officiating it equally,” Sarkisian said at the time. “If we’re going to have 11 penalties, and UCLA’s going to have eight, it is what it is. But when we go into ballgames and one team has 10 and the other team has two … that’s when it gets frustrating on our end. I don’t think our guys are out there maliciously holding or getting pass-interference penalties. You just like to see it called equally for everybody. Whether that happens all the time or not, I’m not sure.”

The Huskies were whistled for 11 penalties totaling 113 yards and the Bruins had eight penalties for 96 yards.


HOKIES’ FULLER OUT 4-6 WEEKS


Virginia Tech cornerback Kyle Fuller has had surgery to repair what trainer Mike Goforth describes as a "sportsman's hernia."

Goforth says Dr. William Meyers performed the surgery Tuesday in Philadelphia. Goforth said Thursday that Fuller is expected to make a full recovery after 4-6 weeks of rehabilitation.

The senior has been battling a groin injury since the Hokies' bye week before they played Duke on Oct. 26. He played sparingly against the Blue Devils, missed the Hokies' game at Boston College, lasted only a few plays at Miami and did not dress for the Hokies' last game against Maryland.

Virginia Tech is 1-3 in those games.

The timeline for his return leaves open the possibility that Fuller could be back in time to play in Virginia Tech's bowl game.


BOWDEN GETS EXTENSION


Akron coach Terry Bowden has received a two-year contract extension that runs through 2018.

The Zips are 4-7 in Bowden's second season after three straight 1-11 finishes. Akron hasn't won as many as four games since 2008. The Zips are also 3-4 in the Mid-American Conference.

Akron takes a two-game winning streak into its season finale against Toledo next week.

Bowden coached at Auburn from 1993-98 and spent three seasons at North Alabama before coming to Akron last season.


NAGURSKI FINALISTS NAMED


The finalists for the Nagurski Trophy, given to the nation’s top defensive player, were announced Thursday.

Alabama linebacker C.J. Mosley, Michigan State cornerback Darqueze Dennard, Pittsburgh defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Florida State cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and Missouri defensive end Michael Sam made the final cut.

Former Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o won the award last year.

Contributors: Ken Bradley, The Associated Press