believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but

As if bragging rights and recruiting interests werent high enough stakes, some of college footballs best and most storied rivalries have taken on additional meaning in the era of the College Football Playoff.In the Big 12, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State will be spectators this week, as both teams have a bye before Bedlam. That game, too, will carry heavy significance, as the Big 12 champion still has a legitimate shot to finish in the top four. The other Power 5 conferences will take center stage in Week 13, when losses become particularly untimely.Heres a look at the rivalry games that will mean the most to the College Football Playoff, ranked in order of greatest potential impact to the committees final top four on Dec. 4:1. No. 3 Michigan at No. 2 Ohio StateIf Michigan wins: The Wolverines win the East Division and will play for the Big Ten title, and Penn State and Ohio State are done. The Buckeyes will have two losses, wont win their division and will lose their chance at sneaking into the top four as a team that didnt win its conference championship game. The finality of an Ohio State loss will be resounding, and will also help keep the Big 12s hopes alive because it wouldnt have to worry about competing against a one-loss Ohio State team in addition to the Big Ten champ if Penn State wins the East.If Ohio State wins: The Buckeyes still need Penn State to lose to Michigan State to win the East, but an Ohio State victory would eliminate Michigan from the playoff. The Buckeyes would then have four wins against CFP Top 25 teams and a résumé that could rival any in the country. Theres no question the committee would consider Ohio State for a spot in its final top four, but it would also have to balance the Buckeyes résumé with its protocol, which requires the committee to use conference championships and head-to-head results as tiebreakers when résumés are comparable. The question is, would anyone elses résumé really compare?2. No. 23 Washington State at No. 5 WashingtonIf Washington wins: The Huskies would clinch the Pac-12 North, and its possible they could move into the top four, assuming the loser of the Ohio State-Michigan game drops out. A one-loss Washington is still a very viable candidate that can punctuate its résumé with a conference championship, and it will have to hope the Pac-12 title and what should be three wins over ranked opponents (Stanford, Utah and the South winner) will overcome a weak nonconference schedule.If Washington State wins: The Cougars would win the Pac-12 North, which could eliminate the Pac-12 entirely. With an FCS loss on its ledger, Washington State is not going to finish in the top four. The Pac-12 South winner is guaranteed to have at least two losses and would then be playing a Washington State team in the conference championship game instead of a top-five team in Washington. In that scenario, the committee would take a good, long look at the Big 12 winner.3. South Carolina at No. 4 ClemsonIf South Carolina wins: Bye-bye, ACC. Clemson would have two losses to teams with a pedestrian combined record of 13-9 before it even gets to the ACC title game, where it is likely to face an unranked opponent from the Coastal Division. Its not that a two-loss ACC champ cant be in; its that in this particular scenario, Clemsons two losses (to Pitt and South Carolina) wouldnt stack up with Oklahomas (Houston and Ohio State), Wisconsins (Ohio State and Michigan) or even that of Penn State, which also lost to Pitt (in addition to Michigan).If Clemson wins: The Tigers stay in the top four and then must avoid an upset in the ACC title game to stay in the playoff.4. Michigan State at No. 7 Penn StateIf Michigan State wins: The Nittany Lions are eliminated from the East Division race and the playoff conversation. Ohio State will win the East if it beats Michigan and Penn State loses. If Michigan wins, it wins the East, regardless of this games outcome.If Penn State wins: The Nittany Lions also need Michigan to lose to Ohio State to win the East. If that happens, Penn State has a shot at the top four if it can win the Big Ten championship, but it would have to win a résumé comparison against a two-loss Big 12 champion. Its unlikely Ohio State would get in instead of Penn State, but theres a chance Oklahoma could get in instead, leaving the Big Ten out entirely. Nobody is talking much about a top four that could include Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma and Washington -- but it could happen.5. No. 22 Utah at No. 9 ColoradoIf Colorado wins: It clinches the Pac-12 South Division and keeps its playoff hopes alive but would still need help. The best-case scenario would be for the Buffs to beat a highly ranked Washington team in the Pac-12 championship game, but even then its résumé would have to impress the committee more than a two-loss Big 12 champ. Assuming Alabama, Clemson and the Big Ten champion are in, the fourth spot would come down to the Pac-12 champ, Big 12 champ and possibly a one-loss Ohio State that didnt win its league title.If Utah wins: USC wins the South, which could make for an intriguing rematch in the Pac-12 title game if Washington wins the North, as it would be a chance for the Huskies to avenge their regular-season loss to the Trojans. If USC were to beat Washington again to win the Pac-12 title, it would at least enter the conversation as a potential semifinalist.6. No. 13 Auburn at No. 1 AlabamaIf Auburn wins: Alabama would still be a top-four team, but then it would be in must-win mode heading into the SEC title game against Florida. Alabama would then be measured against the other top one-loss teams, and any movement in the top four affects seeding. The committee will not put the No. 1 team at a geographic disadvantage in the College Football Playoff semifinals on Dec. 31. As long as Alabama stays No. 1, it should be headed to familiar territory: Atlanta, for the Chick-fil-A Peach Bowl.If Alabama wins: The Tide should remain the No. 1 team in the country, and would be the only Power 5 team to finish the regular season undefeated.7. No. 15 Florida at No. 14 Florida StateIf Florida wins: The Gators would be on a three-game winning streak heading into the SEC title game against Alabama, and if they could pull off an epic upset, they definitely would be considered by the committee for a spot in the top four -- just like two-loss Oklahoma, and a potential two-loss Big Ten champ (Penn State or Wisconsin).If Florida State wins: The Gators would drop to three losses, and a team that was already a long shot would need a miracle to finish in the top four.8. Minnesota at No. 6 WisconsinIf Wisconsin wins: The Badgers will clinch the Big Tens West Division with a win or a Nebraska loss on Friday. Wisconsin needs to win, though, to validate its playoff candidacy. If the Badgers win the Big Ten title, and their only losses of the season are to Ohio State and Michigan, they would then have to hope their résumé impresses the committee more than the Big 12 champions.If Minnesota wins: The Badgers would likely be eliminated from the playoff conversation, and would then need Nebraska to lose to win the division. If Nebraska beats Iowa, though, and Wisconsin loses to Minnesota, Nebraska will win the division.9. Notre Dame at No. 12 USCIf Notre Dame wins: USC is officially eliminated from the playoff conversation, even if it wins the Pac-12 South and the conference title. Four losses, at least in theory, should be far too much to overcome to be considered a top-four team.If USC wins: The CFP hasnt seen a two-loss team yet, let alone a three-loss conference champion as a semifinalist, so theres no precedent to go on, but USC has clearly impressed the committee down the stretch. The Trojans would have ended the regular season on an eight-game winning streak but would still need Utah to beat Colorado to win the South.SuperlativesPlayer in the spotlight:?Michigans QB. Last week was the first chance for the selection committee to see what Michigan looked like without injured starting quarterback Wilton Speight, and his backup, John OKorn, completed 7 of 16 passes for 59 yards in a 20-10 win over Indiana. It didnt make a dent in the committees latest ranking because the committee likes Michigans three wins over CFP Top 25 teams and the Wolverines defense. Still, Michigan will need more from its passing game to beat the No. 2 team in the country. Michigan had to rely heavily on its running game against IU and looked one-dimensional and often predictable. Who will be Michigans QB in Columbus, and can he help topple the Buckeyes?Matchup to watch: Auburns rushing offense vs. Bamas run defense. Auburn leads all Power 5 schools in rushing yards per game while Alabamas run defense also leads the Power 5 in the same category.Upset watch: Michigan State at Penn State. The Spartans have nothing to lose, and are a well-coached team in spite of their 3-8 record. They just pushed Ohio State to the brink, and have the potential to do it again in Happy Valley.Dont forget about: The Commonwealth Cup. Virginia at Virginia Tech is an overshadowed rivalry game this week, but one that could have playoff implications as the Coastal Division winner will have a chance to upset Clemson in the ACC title game. The Hokies will clinch the Coastal with a win or a North Carolina loss against NC State.Under-the-radar game: Wyoming at New Mexico. This game matters to the New Years Six Bowl picture because even though Boise State is the committees top Group of 5 team right now at No. 19, the Broncos still need Wyoming to lose Saturday to clinch their division in the Mountain West. The highest-ranked Group of 5 champion is guaranteed a spot in a New Years Six bowl, so if Boise doesnt even win its division, undefeated Western Michigan should take the lead.Dubious distinction: Sorry, Georgia Tech, this one goes to you. Georgia has won 13 of the past 15 games in this rivalry, including last season. Small victory for the Jackets: Georgia Tech won the last meeting in Athens in 2014. Ivica Zubac Jersey . Scott won the Australian PGA last week in his first event in Australia since winning the U.S. Masters in April. American Matt Kuchar, ahead by two strokes with four to play and even with Scott with one to go, double-bogeyed the 18th after taking two shots to get out of a bunker. Montrezl Harrell Clippers Jersey . -- Jaye Marie Green shot a 4-under 68 on Thursday to increase her lead to five strokes after the second round of the LPGA Tours qualifying tournament. https://www.clipperslockerroom.com/Angel-Delgado-City-Edition-Jersey/ . The incident occurred at 19:56 of the second period of the Kings 4-2 road win over Edmonton on Sunday. Nolan punched Oilers forward Jesse Joensuu in the jaw in front of the Kings goal during a scrum. Louis Williams Jersey . -- Brandon Jennings made the most of his first game with the Detroit Pistons on Sunday night. Kawhi Leonard Clippers Jersey . The Hall of Fame defenceman told Landsberg that he believes fighting still has a place in todays game, but thinks staged fighting needs be outlawed. ALBANY, N.Y. -- Rayshan Clark scored on a 2-yard fumble return and Ethan Starks kicked two field goals, including a 50-yarder, and Albany defeated Stony Brook on Saturday to capture the Golden Apple Trophy in the Empire Classic.Clark, who also intercepted two passes, had the difference-making touchdown with 4:46 left in the third quarter. Quarterback Jack Cassidy fumbled the snap one play after Jon Martins 63-yard punt pinned the Seawolves on their 5 and Clark scooped up the loose ball and stepped into the end zone.Starks, a redshirt freshman, kicked his career-best field goal for the Great Danes (7-4, 4-4 Colonial) late in the first half to produce a 3-3 tie.ddddddddddddPrzemyslaw Popek had his second short field goal for the Seawolves (5-6, 4-4) with 3:08 left but the Great Danes recovered the onside kick. After a punt, Rocco Marucci intercepted Stony Brooks Hail Mary pass on the final play of the game.Both quarterbacks threw three picks, Stony Brook also lost two fumbles and the teams combined for 453 yards of offense. ' ' '