Northeastern University is ending its football program after 74 seasons because the investment required to make it competitive was too high.

The school announced the decision Monday after president Joseph Aoun and the board of trustees Friday endorsed the recommendation by athletic director Peter Roby after a two-year review of the Boston school’s sports programs.

The school spends more than $4 million annually on the football program while an average of 1,500 to 2,000 people attend home games, Roby said.

Tebow, McCoy duel

Tim Tebow and Colt McCoy are set for at least one showdown off the field.

The quarterbacks for No. 1 Florida and third-ranked Texas were chosen finalists for two of the biggest postseason awards outside the Heisman Trophy.

Tebow, McCoy and Alabama running back Mark Ingram are the finalists for the Maxwell Award that goes to the best player in college football. Tebow won the past two Maxwells.

Houston’s Case Keenum joins Tebow and McCoy as finalists for the Davey O’Brien Award given to the best quarterback.

Ingram is also a finalist for the Doak Walker Award as top running back. The others are Toby Gerhart of Stanford, the national leader with 23 touchdowns, and Clemson’s C.J. Spiller.

Extra points

Western Kentucky hired Willie Taggart to replace David Elson, who was fired two weeks ago. Elson will finish the season before Taggart, currently running backs coach at Stanford, takes over. It’s a job Taggart, 33, has coveted since starring for the Hilltoppers from 1994-98. … Sam Houston State fired coach Todd Whitten after a 5-6 season and a fifth-place finish in the Southland Conference. … North Carolina State offensive coordinator Dana Bible has been diagnosed with leukemia and won’t coach the season finale against No. 23 North Carolina. … The Mountain West Conference reprimanded BYU defensive end Jan Jorgensen and assistant coach Barry Lamb for comments they made about Air Force.