for the Hero World Challenge in early December or the Farmers Insurance O

Oregons precipitous slide and Washingtons rise highlighted the opening half of the Pac-12 season. Colorado and Utah could shape the finish.The Ducks and the No. 5 Huskies had last week off but the last time they played it was against each other, and undefeated Washington romped 70-21 at Autzen Stadium. The victory ended Washingtons 12-game losing streak to rival Oregon.The game illustrated the rise of the Huskies, off to their best start (6-0, 3-0 Pac-12) since 1992, and the quick fall of the Ducks, who played for the national championship two seasons ago but have dropped four straight to sit at the bottom of the Pac-12 North (2-4, 0-3.).With a nine-game winning streak dating back to last season, the Huskies host Oregon State on Saturday. The Ducks will visit Cal on Friday night.Washington coach Chris Petersen said the task at hand now is keeping the players focused on the next game -- and off the hype that comes with the undefeated start and the national ranking.It really is hard. With all the stuff outside, there are just so many outside influences. As much as you know, you probably still dont know how much is coming at these kids from all different directions with everybody. Human nature is what it is, Petersen said. Were foolish to think that doesnt have an effect on our team and our mindset. Thats one of the big battles that we have as a team, as a coaching staff, is to keep these guys focused on being focused.Depending on how the season shakes out, Washington could be the first North team besides Stanford or Oregon to play for the Pac-12 title since the league championship game was created in 2011.It could also be that the season-ending rivalry game between Washington and Washington State (which is also undefeated in conference play) in Pullman has some big-time implications.EXPANSION SUCCESS: Colorado and Utah, which joined the Pac-12 when it expanded in 2011, dont want to finish as footnotes again in the South this season. The Utes and Buffaloes sit atop the division standings with 3-1 records, ahead of USC with two losses.While Utah has seen a steady rise with its hard-nosed defensive play in recent years, the Utes have never made it to the Pac-12 championship game. After a 6-0 start last season, Utah was hurt by a 2/3 stretch.Colorado is the more dramatic upstart in the south at 5-2 and vying to become bowl eligible for the first time since 2007. The Buffaloes are coming off a 40-16 rout of Arizona State last weekend and head to Stanford on Saturday.Earlier this month, Colorado made its first appearance in the AP Top 25 since 2003. While the team has since dropped out, the Buffs are still getting enough votes to stay close.Our goal is the Pac-12 championships, like everyone else in the Pac-12. Just the bowl game, that would be nice. That would be nice. But thats not what we want, thats below what we want, Colorado outside linebacker Jimmie Gilbert said. Our goal is to shoot for the stars. If we reach them, thats what we want. If not, we tried.If the two teams are able to keep winning, the Rumble in the Rockies could decide the Pac-12 South.QUARTERBACK WOES: This is the point in the year when injuries start taking a toll. This is especially apparent at Oregon State, which is down to its third-string quarterback, Marcus McMaryion, after injuries last weekend to starter Darell Garretson and backup Conor Blount.Its so bad that a member of the coaching staff, former Utah State quarterback Chuckie Keeton, is serving as the scout-team QB.Arizona finds itself in a similar position with quarterbacks Anu Solomon and Brandon Dawkins hurt.The Wildcats started 17-year-old freshman Khalil Tate at QB in a 48-14 loss to USC last week and when he struggled, they turned to third-string TE Matt Morin. He hadnt played QB since high school five years ago and just started practicing at the position in the last two weeks.I dont know what our quarterback situation is going forward, said Arizona coach Rich Rodriguez, who is looking forward to a much-needed bye this week. But weve got at least two weeks now to figure something out.WHO YA GONNA CALL?: Injuries at other positions have forced No. 19 Utah to get creative. The team was so thin at running back that the Utes coaxed Joe Williams out of retirement last week to help against Oregon State.Williams, who left the team after the second game of the season, ran for 179 yards and a touchdown in the Utes 19-14 victory over the Beavers.HEISMAN HOPEFULS: Just one name really sticks out in the Pac-12: Washington quarterback Jake Browning. The sophomore has thrown for 1,418 yards and 23 touchdowns, with a 72.2 percent completion rate. In the game against Oregon, he threw for six touchdowns and ran for two, matching the Pac-12 single-game record.Stanfords Christian McCaffrey, last seasons AP Player of the Year and the runner up for the Heisman Trophy, did not play last weekend against Notre Dame because of an injury. His status for the game against the Buffaloes is not yet known .McCaffrey is averaging 104 yards a game this season, ranked No. 24 in the nation.---AP Sports Writers John Marshall in Phoenix and Pat Graham in Denver contributed to this report. Kansas City Royals Gear . Colin Wilson had two goals and an assist, and Mike Fisher scored a goal and helped set up two others in the Predators 6-4 victory over the Red Wings on Monday night. Cheap Royals Jerseys . MLS Commissioner Don Garber and Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez also will attend the session, which was announced Monday. The league has discussed placing its next two expansion teams in Miami and Atlanta. https://www.cheaproyals.com/ . Terms of the deal were not immediately available. The 26-year-old finished last season with Clevelands Triple-A affiliate in Columbus after signing with the Indians in August. Royals Jerseys 2020 . Tests earlier this week revealed a Grade 2 left hamstring strain for Sabathia, who was hurt in last Fridays start against San Francisco. Its an injury that will require about eight weeks to heal. He finished a disappointing campaign just 14-13 with a career-worst 4. Stitched Royals Jerseys . -- The plastic that was taped across the lockers in Oaklands clubhouse came down and the champagne that was on ice went back into the cooler. Forty-five years ago, on May 13, 1971, Ben Hogan walked away from professional golf -- literally.This was more than two decades after a near-fatal crash with a Greyhound bus. He didnt just recover from that crash; he won four titles at the U.S. Open, two at the Masters and one at the Open Championship.Hogan knew a thing or two about dealing with adversity and overcoming it. He also apparently knew when enough was enough.On that day, nearing his 59th birthday, he opened with an embarrassing 44 on the front nine of the Houston/Champions International event. On his 11th hole, he tweaked a leg injury while walking into a ravine and then withdrew from the tournament.While riding on a cart back to the clubhouse, Hogan was asked what happened. Dont ever get old, he reportedly answered.He never again teed it up in a competitive event.Mondays news that Tiger Woods has withdrawn from this weeks Safeway Open doesnt feel like his Ben Hogan finish. It doesnt feel like this will be his figurative walk-off moment, if not the literal one Hogan endured.Soon after the news became official, Woods posted an explanation to his website.After a lot of soul searching and honest reflection, I know that I am not yet ready to play on the PGA Tour, he said. My health is good, and I feel strong, but my game is vulnerable and not where it needs to be.Those dont sound like the words of a man who is finished overcoming adversity. They dont sound like the words of a man resigned to believing enough is finally enough.Theres an excellent chance that this speed bump in Woods comeback is exactly that -- a mere delay before he once again starts playing competitive golf, gradually improving with each event he enters.At 40, Woods is a full generation older than current superstars Rory McIlroy,?Jason Day and Jordan Spieth, but he is hardly the age of Hogan when he stopped playing. Woods is still younger than Phil Mickelson, Darren Clarke and Ernie Els, all of whom won majors in their 40s in recent years. It doesnt take the most optimistic mind to believe that if those guys can reach that level of success late in their ccareers, maybe Woods can too.dddddddddddd.Of course, thats getting way ahead of ourselves. As is the case with everything swirling around Woods these days, we dont know for certain when hell next play -- not yet, at least. All of which leaves open the possibility that this isnt just a speed bump, that this isnt just some delay in the process.As Woods alluded to on his website, this is less about his physical limitations and more about some combination of technical and mental issues that is holding back critical parts of his game. Even he would admit it would be better the other way around. Hed rather have a physical injury that he can rest, recuperate and recover from than something that has no definitive timeline.Woods cant confide to the world that he will unequivocally be ready for the Hero World Challenge in early December or the Farmers Insurance Open in January because he doesnt know. His guess is as good as anyone elses.?Theres more than a little irony in that scenario.As Woods was, in theory, preparing to compete this week and the golf world was once again buzzing about his return, the highest intrigue stemmed from the fact that the player who was once the games surest thing is now the great unknown. We didnt know how his swing would look, how hed chip, how hed putt, how his mannerisms would be. Apparently, neither did he.?And so our great unknown is now also his great unknown. Woods admitted that his game is vulnerable, and we can speculate that he himself feels vulnerable right now as well.Theres an excellent chance that this isnt the end of the road, that this is a speed bump on his way to a comeback, rather than his Ben Hogan finish.Theres also a chance, small as it might be, that Woods walk-off is more figurative than literal. That after two decades atop the golf world, 14 major championships, 79 PGA Tour victories and the domination of an entire era, this might be the uncelebrated ending. The great unknown might forever remain concealed. ' ' '