DES MOINES, Iowa -- Somewhat unexpected championship runs by Michigan State and Iowa last season fueled expectations of potential repeats in 2016.It doesnt look like either team will make it back to Indianapolis this December.The Spartans (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) are a staggering four games behind No. 2 Michigan (7-0, 4-0) heading into their annual showdown game this Saturday.The Hawkeyes (5-3, 3-2), who are off this week, still has something of a plausible path to the West title. But it involves winning their final four games, which would include home victories over the Wolverines and unbeaten and seventh-ranked Nebraska (7-0, 4-0), and one more loss for Wisconsin (5-2, 2-2) and two for surging Northwestern (4-3, 3-1).So how did two teams that just 10 months ago played a title game end up here?Michigan States young defense, which held the Hawkeyes to just 13 points in that slugfest of a championship game in 2015, is letting up nearly 30 points a game. The Spartans had as many as six freshmen playing defense at times in last weeks last weeks 28-17 loss to Maryland (5-2, 2-2).Iowas defense ranks 20th nationally at 18.9 points allowed per game. But its offense has been a mess since mid-September, failing to score more than 21 points in four of its last six games.It certainly gives you time to look deeper at what youre doing and re-assess where your team is at, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of the bye week. Right now, weve come short three times. Wed certainly like to close that gap.Michigan State hosts rival Michigan knowing that a loss would eliminate the Spartans from the East race.The (Michigan) game is played on the field. Youve got to be able to block, tackle and catch the football, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. This is a very fundamental game played at a very high level, and weve got to be able to win our fair share of battles.BAD BREAK FOR THE BADGERSWisconsin kept its slim West hopes alive with a 17-9 win at Iowa last week. But the Badgers suffered a major blow when it was announced that linebacker Jack Cichy, its leading tackler, is out for the season with a torn pectoral. Cichy had 60 tackles, including 37 in his last three games. The Badgers host the Huskers in a critical West showdown, and sophomore Ryan Connelly is expected to take Cichys place.THORSONS GROWTHA big reason why Northwestern has turned into a 1/3 start into a winning record has been the progress of sophomore quarterback Clayton Thorson. He has nine touchdown passes against just one pick in his last three games, all victories, and is third in the Big Ten with 240 yards passing per game. The only league player with more touchdowns than Thorson (14) is J.T. Barrett of No. 6 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1), who host the Wildcats on Saturday.Hes really gaining confidence through his experience. Its gaining knowledge of our offense, trusting in his abilities and just playing at a faster tempo, said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, an Illinois native who yelled Go Cubs! at the end of his time on the weekly coaches teleconference.GEORGE LEGACY AT ILLINOISIllinois found itself down to its third quarterback in last weeks 41-8 loss to Michigan, and the game went about as expected. Jeff George Jr., the son of former Illini star and top NFL draft pick Jeff George, was 4 of 15 passing for 95 yards with a TD, an interception and a fumble in his first start. Coach Lovie Smith wouldnt commit to George as the starter for this weeks home game with Minnesota (2-5, 1-3).We saw improvement on until the end of the game. What Jeff brings to the table is a strong arm. Hes confident in his arm, making all of the throws, Smith said.HE SAID ITWere in this together, as a staff and as players. Tough coaches and tough players fight through things, said Ohio State coach Urban Meyer about last weeks loss. All three of Meyers national title teams bounced back from a regular-season loss.---Online: www.collegefootball.ap.org Nike NBA Jerseys Authentic Cheap . 1 position. The Mustangs (6-0), who beat Queens 50-31 last weekend, earned 17 first-place votes and 287 points in voting by the Football Reporters of Canada. Western was last ranked first in the country in October 2011. Cheap NBA Jerseys China ., and Rudi Swiegers of Kipling, Sask., took sixth spot on Saturday in pairs at the NHK Trophy ISU Grand Prix figure skating competition. http://www.cheapnbajerseysauthenticonline.com/ . -- Hunter Smith scored the winner with just 12 seconds remaining in the third period as the Oshawa Generals edged the host Sarnia Sting 5-4 on Friday in Ontario Hockey League action. Wholesale Jerseys NBA . By having more great seasons. Manning was the only unanimous choice for the 2013 Associated Press NFL All-Pro team Friday. Stitched NBA Jerseys .7 million, one-year contract, a raise of $2.2 million. Wieters had asked for $8.75 million and the Orioles had offered $6.Huddersfields loss to Catalans, injury worries for Sam Burgess and St Helens responding to Lance Hohaia all feature in this weeks set of six... Broughton downs HuddersfieldJodie Broughton made a sensational return to his former home as his hat-trick helped Catalans to a 46-26 win over Huddersfield Giants.Giants head coach Paul Anderson refused to hide behind the sending off of Joe Wardle for a high tackle and didnt hold back as he laid into the attitude and commitment of his team. All the action from the Super League clash between Huddersfield and Catalans We could use the sending off as an excuse to paper over the cracks but when our attitude at the beginning of the game - giving them the scores that we did - was like it was, I felt overall we got what we deserved, said Anderson.Going 12-0 down and then 20-12 up stinks because it suggests we made a decision to crack on with what our job is, then suddenly decide not to again in the second half.Our start was poor, the second part of the first half was quite good but the second half was abysmal. We gave in and if people want to be part of this club that is not the character that we want.Its embarrassing and if people want to play for the Giants, they wont if they play like that.Phil the Viking Widnes stretched their lead at the top of Super League to two points with a 18-12 win over Wigan Widnes beat Wigan 18-12 on Thursday in a fantastic comeback that handed the Warriors their first home Super League defeat for 21 months.The victory made it a best-ever start to a Super League season for the Vikings and our very own Phil Clarke may need to head down to Select Security Stadium Halton to get fitted out for his mascot uniform.I am scared of making any predictions about where Widnes will finish in 2016, said Phil in his weekly column for Sky Sports. Phil Clarke brings you his top five Super League tries of the week I have seen what Gary Lineker said about Leicester City and dont want to strip down to my underwear! I still think that if they finish in the top eight after 23 rounds they will have done remarkably well but I am still not convinced that they will be able to do that.Go on then: If Widnes finish in the top four I will be their mascot for a match!The cost of winning All the action from the Super League clash between Hull KR and Salford Hull KR ended their nine-month losing streak with a 44-30 win over Salford, however they face a serious injury crisis ahead of Fridays derby against Hull FC.dddddddddddde only had 18 fit players; Kieran Dixon was the only one in our squad who didnt play that was fit, Webster said.Shaun Lunt hasnt trained with us yet, but were hoping he will during the week. Its a short turnaround; were two days behind Hull because they played Friday and well need to make a call on everyone come Wednesday.It gives us three days to prepare. Albert Kelly has done some training but not with us, and hes another one that well have to wait on until Wednesday. James Greenwood and Graeme Horne both came off so theyre inevitably doubts for the game too.St Helens respond to Lance Hohaia St Helens have responded to claims made by Lance Hohaia Saints reacted angrily to allegations made by Lance Hohaia, who claimed the Super League club pressured him to play while he was still experiencing concussion symptoms.Hohaia was punched twice by Wigans Ben Flower in the Super League Grand Final in 2014. Hohaia retired in April 2015 but in a recent interview with New Zealands Sunday Herald newspaper, claimed that he asked for time to rest to recover but was offered prescription medicines and told to play on.Hohaias version of events at St Helens between the Grand Final in 2014 and his voluntary resignation without notice six months later is utterly inaccurate and malicious, the Super League club said in statement.Throughout that time he received the highest level of professional support and empathy, both rugby and medical. His subsequent version of ongoing concussive symptoms were entirely retrospective and only raised by him at the end of that period.At no time was he put under any pressure or duress by the club to play and he was provided with highest level of professional advice and support by the club. St Helens set the very highest standards in that regard.Sam Burgess injury Sam Burgess of the Rabbitohs is taken from the field after a scary incident It was good to see South Sydney Rabbitohs Sam Burgess has been cleared of any serious neck and spinal injuries.Burgess was rushed to hospital after being involved in an accidental clash of heads with another Englishman, former Warrington prop Mike Cooper, in an NRL match against St George Illawarra.However, the Rabbitohs say MRI and CT scans have shown there is no damage to the vertebrae or spinal cord.Were all very happy to know that Sam hasnt suffered any serious injuries from yesterdays game, said South Sydney head coach Michael Maguire.I spoke to Sam and he feels very lucky and he wants to thank the medical staff from both the Rabbitohs and Dragons for their professionalism, the doctors and hospital staff who cared for him last night and this morning, as well as the members and fans for their support and kind words.We will continue to monitor Sams welfare and he knows he is in the best of hands with our medical staff as we move forward.Sinfield: My greatest week Leeds Kevin Sinfield with the trophy after the 2012 Grand Final We are looking forward to getting our hands on Kevin Sinfields book - Kevin Sinf13ld My League Years in Words and Pictures.The pictorial history of his career will be launched this Saturday at Leeds Rhinos Headingley Carnegie store and in it Sinfield reveals why he almost quit the game in 2008 and shares the greatest week of his rugby league career.In 2012 we won the Grand Final and I won the Harry Sunderland award, says Sinfield in an extract in the Yorkshire Evening Post.Two days later Steve [McNamara, the England coach] gave me the captains job and that was probably the best week of my career.The book charts Sinfields rugby league journey from the day he first joined Oldham amateur club Waterhead through to last years all-conquering campaign. 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