As national title contenders recharge, rivalry games take center stage

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Old rivalries always have meaning

The national championship race seems as if it’s being put on hold this week, with the top contenders all big — in some cases too big to count — favorites.

So the attention shifts to traditional rivalries and games with major conference implications.

No. 9 Ohio State has already wrapped up its postseason plans. The Buckeyes are going to play in the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1997, having locked up a share of the Big Ten title with last week’s overtime victory against Iowa.

But the Michigan game is never meaningless for the Buckeyes and it certainly isn’t for coach Rich Rodriguez’s downtrodden Wolverines (6-5).

Michigan can avoid another bowl-less postseason and maybe the Big Ten basement with a victory. With all the troubles in Ann Arbor these days, snapping a five-game losing streak in one of the most heated rivalries in college football would be the best news at Michigan in a long time.

The Big Game is California and Stanford’s yearly meeting and the twist this season is that the Cardinal — not the Golden Bears — are the ones playing for highest stakes.

No. 14 Stanford, bowl eligible for the first time since 2001, is still in the running for a Pac-10 title. Cal is simply trying to position itself for a better bowl slot.

The biggest game in the Pac-10 this week doesn’t have much history, but No. 11 Oregon at Arizona will help — at least a little — clear up a muddled conference race.

In the ACC, No. 18 Clemson can clinch a spot in the conference championship game for the first time by beating Virginia at home.

Cowboys have hopes for BCS at-large bid … OKLAHOMA STATE 41-17.

As heavyweights fall, Broncos’ BCS hopes improve — a little … BOISE STATE 45-24.

Gators get week to recharge battery … FLORIDA 58-10.

Tide also gets to kick back … ALABAMA 45-0.

Jayhawks crumbling as Longhorns stomp toward Big 12 title game … TEXAS 42-10.

Horned Frogs bashing their way toward BCS … TCU 41-7.

Terrelle Pryor starting to win over Buckeyes fans … OHIO STATE 35-14.

Rebels snapped six-game skid to Tigers last year … LSU 24-21.

Great potential for hideous uniforms by both teams … OREGON 38-28.

Heated battle for Land Grant Trophy … MICHIGAN STATE 21-14.

Cardinal ended five-game skid to Cal last year … STANFORD 38-24.

Hawkeyes still have BCS hopes … IOWA 27-14.

Hokies RB Ryan Williams will be 2010 Heisman contender … VIRGINIA TECH 35-17.

Home team has won last four meetings … NORTHWESTERN 28-24.

Even Tigers can’t mess up this one … CLEMSON 42-12.

Cougars have won four straight meetings … BYU 34-21.

Beavers still lurking in Pac-10 race … OREGON STATE 45-10.

Blue Devils’ pass defense is last in ACC … MIAMI 38-17.

Utes are 8-2 against Aztecs in MWC play … UTAH 45-14.

Hey Tigers fans, cheer up, basketball season is here … HOUSTON 55-14.

No. 25 Rutgers (minus at Syracuse

See above, Orange fans … RUTGERS 24-10.

Last week: 17-5 (straight); 12-10 (vs. points).

Season: 181-45 (straight); 108-99-4 (vs. points).