T25-SCHEDULE
Showdown in Tallahassee
UNDATED (AP) β Potentially, Florida State or Notre Dame could move to the top of the AP poll after they play each other as part of today’s Top 25 schedule.
The No. 2 Seminoles will host the fifth-ranked Fighting Irish in a showdown of 6-0 teams. The winner could make a case for vaulting past top-ranked Mississippi State, which is idle this week.
Florida State quarterback Jameis (JAY’mihs) Winston led the Seminoles to a win over Syracuse last week, despite continuing scrutiny from a sexual assault allegation in 2012.
Notre Dame’s Everett Golson has thrown for 1,683 yards and 16 touchdowns this season.
Florida State takes a 22-game winning streak into the meeting and could be facing their last ranked opponent this season.
That’s just one of five top 25 match-ups on the schedule.
Seventh-ranked Alabama hosts No. 21 Texas A&M, which has lost two in a row. This is a critical game for the 5-1 Crimson Tide if they hope to keep alive their chances for a College Football playoff berth. To do it, they’ll have to stop Aggies quarterback Kenny Hill and the nation’s No.3-ranked passing offense.
No. 11 Oklahoma is home to 14th-ranked Kansas State in what amounts to an elimination game for playoff contention. Neither the 5-1 Sooners nor 4-1 Wildcats has beaten a ranked team this season.
No. 12 TCU and 15th-ranked Oklahoma State meet in Fort Worth. The 5-1 Cowboys bring a five-game winning streak into the game and are 3-0 in the Big 12, tied with Baylor for the top mark in the conference. TCU is looking to rebound from a 61-58 loss to fourth-ranked Baylor that dropped the Horned Frogs to 4-1.
No. 17 Arizona State hosts 23rd-ranked Stanford in a Pac-12 meeting. The Cardinal lead the nation in scoring defense at 10 points per game and are second in total defense, allowing 238 yards per game. The Sun Devils are seventh nationally in total offense with 556.8 yards per game and are 13th with 41.2 points per game.
NASCAR-TALLADEGA
Talladega qualifying today
TALLADEGA, Ala. (AP) β NASCAR drivers are facing another cut down after tomorrow’s race at Talladega. Qualifying is set for today.
The bottom four of the 12 remaining drivers in the Chase field will be cut following the race. Among those in jeopardy are Jimmie Johnson, Brad Keselowski and Dale Earnhardt, Jr. who all likely need a win to make it into the next round.
NHL-SCHEDULE
Unbeaten Isles in action
UNDATED (AP) β The surprising New York Islanders hit the road with their 4-0 record to take on Pittsburgh. That’s one of 11 games on the NHL schedule tonight.
The Islanders were perfect through the season’s first four games previously in 1976-77 and 2001-02. John Tavares tops the Islanders with a league-leading nine points, while teammates Brock Nelson and Kyle Okposo are in a group tied for second with seven points. Defending scoring champ Sidney Crosby tops the Penguins with four goals and three assists.
Montreal is tied with the Islanders for the league lead with eight points. The Canadiens look for their second straight home win when they take on Colorado.
Philadelphia skates into Dallas looking for its first win of the season.
GOLF-SHRINERS HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN OPEN
Two at the top
LAS VEGAS (AP) β Andrew Putnam and Russell Knox are the co-leaders heading into the third round of the Shriners Hospitals for Children Open. Putnam shares the halfway lead in just his fourth PGA Tour event. Andrew Svoboda and Tony Finau start today’s play just a shot off the pace.
CHAMPIONS TOUR
Haas, Durant share lead
CONOVER, N.C. (AP) β Two-time champ Jay Haas and Joe Durant share the lead heading into the second round of the Champions Tour’s Greater Hickory Kia Classic. They enjoy a two-shot lead over Roger Champman and Scott Dunlap. Kirk Triplett heads up a group of five golfers three shots off the lead.
LPGA
South Koreans Bae, Baek share lead after 3rd round at LPGA tournament in South Korea
INCHEON, South Korea (AP) β South Korean duo Hee Kyung Bae and Kyu Jung Baek both shot a 4-under 68 to take a share of the lead after the third round of the LPGA’s KEB-HanaBank Championship on Saturday.
Bae birdied five holes after the turn on the Ocean Course at the Sky72 Golf Club, while Baek had six birdies to go with two bogeys.
Both were at 5-under 211 overall, one stroke ahead of a large group that includes No. 2-ranked Inbee Park, Suzann Pettersen of Norway and overnight leader Karine Icher (kuh-REEN’ EE’-shur) of France, who only managed a 73.
