Clanregeln » leads backs in Power 5 conferences in rushing yards with 9

Alabama, Ohio State, Michigan and Clemson held the top four spots in the College Football Playoff rankings for the second straight week and Washington moved up a spot to fifth this week.Wisconsin is sixth in the selection committee rankings released Tuesday night. Louisville was the team that took a big drop. The Cardinals fell from fifth to 11th after losing at Houston.Ohio State and Michigan play Saturday in Columbus, Ohio, and the loser is likely -- though not definitely -- out of the playoff race. The Wolverines would move on the Big Ten championship game by beating the Buckeyes. The Buckeyes, though, need help to reach the conference title game.Unbeaten Alabama meets Auburn on Saturday, but the Crimson Tide has already clinched a spot in the SEC title game.Clemson finishes its regular season against South Carolina and then will play in the Atlantic Coast Conference championship game against either Virginia Tech or North Carolina.Washington must win at Washington State, ranked 23rd by the committee, on Friday to win the Pac-12 North and move on to the conference title game against No. 9 Colorado or No. 12 Southern California---BUCKEYES LOOKING GOODOhio State could get shut out of the Big Ten championship game if Penn State, seventh in the committees rankings, beats Michigan State on Saturday. But listening to committee chairman Kirby Hocutt it certainly sounds like the Buckeyes have separated themselves enough from Penn State that the committee is willing to overlook their loss to the Nittany Lions and the possible lack of a conference champions.The committee uses conference championships and head-to-head results to separate teams with similar resumes.But Hocutt, the athletic director of Texas Tech, said as of now the committee does not see a small gap between Ohio State and Penn State.Hocutt said committee took a lot of time ranking teams two through five, spent little time placing Wisconsin at six, and then found very little separation between Penn State and No. 8 Oklahoma, No. 9 Colorado and No. 10 Oklahoma State.---THE BIG 12Oklahoma and Oklahoma State have set up a de facto Big 12 title game for Dec. 3, but the conference still looks shutout of the playoff without upsets in the other conferences.The Cowboys have two losses but one was against Central Michigan and it came on a last-play touchdown that was set up be an officiating error. Hocutt said the committee does not adjust the Cowboys record for the mistake, but it does consider the circumstances of the loss.The Big 12, at the very least, needs one other Power Five champion to finish with two losses to have a shot to make the playoff. But if it comes down to a bunch of teams with two losses the Big Ten seems to have a better chance to get two teams into the field than the Big 12 has to get one.---USC LURKINGThe Trojans have won seven straight games since starting 1-3, play Notre Dame on Saturday and still have a chance to be Pac-12 champions.With Sam Darnold at quarterback since game four, USC has been looked like one of the best teams in the country and it would be fascinating to see how much the committee weighs improvement over the course of the season against the full body of work if a couple of upsets clear a path for the Trojans to climb into the discussion for the final spot.---GROUP OF FIVEThere were four teams from outside Power Five conference in the committee rankings this week, the most at any point this season. The highest ranked champion from the Group of Five conferences will receive a bid to the Cotton Bowl.Boise State was best at No. 19, followed by Houston and Western Michigan. Navy was No. 24.The rankings changed but the situation is still the same as last week. Boise State cant reach the Mountain West championship game on Dec. 3 without a Wyoming loss Saturday. Houston is locked out of the American Athletic Conference title game. Navy has the AAC West clinched.That puts unbeaten Western Michigan in the best position to go to the Cotton Bowl if it wins the Mid-American Conference, but still in danger of being nudged out if Boise State wins its conference.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP Justin Jackson Jersey . Detroit and Boston are deadlocked, 1-1, and Tigers manager Jim Leyland could be forgiven if he was caught rationalizing instead of dissecting how his club could blow a 5-1 lead late in Game 2. Dewayne Dedmon Kings Jersey . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. https://www.kingslockerroom.com/Justin-James-City-Edition-Jersey/ . Barcelonas entertaining victory ensured the defending Spanish champions retained their share of the league lead with Atletico Madrid two rounds ahead of their meeting in the capital. Real Madrid needed a late goal by substitute Jese Rodriguez to earn a 3-2 victory at Valencia to stay in third place and three points behind its title rivals. Trevor Ariza Kings Jersey . "We have always prided ourselves on the way we play defence. Having two big pieces back is going to be a key for us moving forward for years to come," said Knighthawks head coach Mike Hasen. DeMarcus Cousins Kings Jersey . The giant slalom world champion slipped during her first run in the morning, landing on her back and then twisting forward before getting her leg caught in the protective material on the side of the slope. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- The Clemson and Florida State showdown this weekend marks the sixth straight year that both teams will be ranked when they square off.Only this time, Florida State will be playing a different role than it is used to.The third-ranked Tigers (7-0, 4-0 ACC) are looking for their first win at Doak Campbell Stadium since 2006 and another shot at a national title. They face a No. 12 Seminoles squad -- who are rarely an underdog at home -- looking to play spoiler to Clemsons hopes of making the College Football Playoff for the second straight season.Florida State (5-2, 2-2) saw its playoff hopes severely diminished with losses to Louisville and North Carolina. Its only fleeting hope would be winning its final five games and hoping for a three-way tie in the Atlantic Division with Clemson and Louisville.Clemson has won 21 straight regular-season games, including 13 straight in the ACC, but needed overtime two weeks ago to hold off North Carolina State. Quarterback Deshaun Watson said that game was just another example that the margin for error the remainder of the season is very small.We got some breaks in the early part of the season, he said. This game will be nothing different for us. We understand that each game is big.The Tigers have been in position to win in their last three trips to Tallahassee. In 2010, they lost on a Dustin Hopkins 55-yard field goal as time expired. Two years later, they held a 21-14 lead at halftime before the Seminoles rallied for a 12-point win.The 2014 game has been a frequent topic of conversation this week. A Watson 2-yard touchdown gave Clemson a 17-10 fourth-quarter lead before FSU tied and eventually won 23-17 in overtime.We have played well in spurts down there in the last few years, we just havent been able to finish, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said.Florida State is considered a home underdog for the first time since facing Oklahoma in 2011. Running back Dalvin Cook said the focus isnt on what could have beeen but how it can finish the season.ddddddddddddWere right here, were 5-2, were 12 in the nation, were right where we want to be at, he said. Weve got to take that next step in the second half of the season. I think guys will realize that.---Some other things to watch as Clemson looks for its second ever win in Tallahassee:GALLMANS HEALTH: Count on tailback Wayne Gallman in Clemsons starting lineup. How effective he can be is still a question. Gallman, who came through the concussion protocol during the Tigers bye week, and Swinney believe the injury wont have any lingering affects against the Seminoles.COOKS HEISMAN HOPES: Cook remains a longshot for the Heisman but has been averaging 227.5 total yards in his past four games with six touchdowns. Cook also leads backs in Power 5 conferences in rushing yards with 900.UNDER PRESSURE: Florida State quarterback Deondre Francois has been sacked 22 times, which is among the most in college football. Clemsons defense is tied for fourth in the nation in sacks and will look to limit the Seminoles to short throws.WILSONS ABSENSE: Florida State wide receiver Jesus Bobo Wilson, who is third in the nation in punt returns, is out due to a foot injury he suffered in the Oct. 15 win over Wake Forest. Wilson is also second on the team in receptions (30) and yards (390). Sophomore Nyqwan Murray will take the seniors place on punt returns.KEEP AN EYE ON: The receivers. Clemsons Mike Williams and Florida States Travis Rudolph are coming off career highs in their last game. Williams had 12 catches for 146 yards and a TD against North Carolina State and Rudolph had 13 receptions for 238 yards against Wake.---AP Sports Writer Pete Iacobelli contributed to this report from Clemson, South Carolina.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.orgFollow Joe Reedy on Twitter at www.twitter.com/joereedy. ' ' '