EUGENE, Ore. (AP) β No. 3 Oregon will try to unleash its high-octane offense on seventh-ranked Michigan State in a showdown of top 10 teams. Ducks quarterback and Heisman Trophy hopeful Marcus Mariota (mehr-ee-OH-tuh) has thrown at least one touchdown pass in 27 straight games. The Spartans will rely on a defense that ranked second in the nation last year to slow down Oregon.
STANFORD, Calif. (AP) β No. 13 Stanford hosts 14th-ranked Southern Cal in an early season Pac-12 showdown with the loser likely facing a big uphill climb to contend for one of the four national championship playoff spots. Stanford has the longest active home winning streak in the national at 17 games.
NEW YORK (AP) β Top seed Novak Djokovic (NOH’-vak JOH’-kuh-vich) heads into his US Open semifinal match with Japan’s Kei (KAY) Nishikori having lost just one set in his five matches. Roger Federer takes a 5-0 career mark against Marin Cilic (CHIHL’-ihch) into their semifinal match.
RICHMOND, Va. (AP) β Nineteen drivers will be trying to lock up the remaining two spots in the Chase for the championship when NASCAR closes its regular season at Richmond tonight. Only four of the 19 can secure a berth without winning the race.
BARCELONA (AP) β The undefeated US national team takes on Mexico in the round of 16 at the basketball World Cup. The Americans have won 59 straight games in international competition dating back to a loss to Greece in the semifinals of the 2006 world championship.
