Many of college footballs best teams have already reached the halfway point of the 2016 season, and a clear top four in the College Football Playoff race has emerged.Alabama, Ohio State, Clemson and Michigan are who we thought they were. What order would you put them in? Well, they may be interchangeable, depending on how you size each of them up at this point.Defending national champion Alabama looks like the best team, but dont tell Crimson Tide coach Nick Saban that. It might get you an ass-chewing normally reserved for offensive coordinator Lane Kiffin. The top-ranked Tide gave up too many points and far too many passing yards (400) in a 49-30 victory at Arkansas, their 18th consecutive win.Theres still plenty of room for improvement, and Alabama is about to find out if its really the best team in the country. The Tide play at No. 9 Tennessee next week, then host No. 8 Texas A&M on Oct. 22 and play at LSU on Nov. 5.Were certainly not where we want to be, not in all facets of the game, Saban said. Sometimes we play great on offense, but weve just got to be more consistent when we play really good teams.No. 3 Clemson might have the best individual win this season -- a 42-36 victory over Louisville at Death Valley last week. But the Tigers havent beaten anybody else of real consequence, and theyll play only more ranked foe during the regular season: at No. 23 Florida State on Oct. 29.Ohio State might have the best overall collection of talent even if much of coach Urban Meyers rebuilt team is extremely young. The No. 2 Buckeyes have won each of their first five games by at least 20 points, including Saturdays 38-17 win over Indiana. Well know more about Ohio State after next weeks trip to No. 11 Wisconsin.We cant say for sure if Ohio State is even the best team in the Big Ten. No. 4 Michigan demolished Rutgers 78-0, holding the Scarlet Knights to two first downs and only five passing yards. Rutgers punted 16 times in the game, and its longest play from scrimmage was 12 yards.It was Michigans largest margin of victory since an 85-0 win over the University of Chicago in 1939. It was Rutgers worst loss since an 82-0 defeat against Princeton in 1888.It just feels like playing a video game, Rutgers safety Anthony Cioffi told reporters. Just got spanked.Michigan doesnt play a ranked opponent in its next five games and will be heavily favored to roll into its Nov. 26 showdown at Ohio State with an 11-0 record. A Big Ten title -- and potentially a spot in the CFP -- might be on the line.Given the competition the top four teams faced in Week 6, there wasnt much that happened that would have changed opinions about them. However, the second tier of playoff contenders beneath them changed dramatically.No. 6 Houston lost 46-40 at Navy, which all but knocked the Cougars out of contention for the playoff.?We didnt play very well in any phase of the game, and we still had a chance to win it there in the fourth quarter, Houston coach Tom Herman said. Youre not going to win very many games against really good teams on the road turning the ball over three times, one for a touchdown, snapping the ball over the punters head and letting them rush for 300 yards.With Houston falling, No. 5 Washington and No. 8 Texas A&M look like the best bets to challenge the top four teams for the playoff spots.The Aggies moved to 6-0 for the first time since 1994 after surviving a 45-38 win over No. 9 Tennessee in two overtimes. Texas A&M blew a 21-point lead in the second half and then won in overtime after squandering two chances to put the Volunteers away in the final minutes.Texas A&Ms defense allowed 684 yards against Tennessee, including 402 passing. Theyll have two weeks to clean things up before traveling to Alabama on Oct. 22.Its great, Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett said. We finally got over the hump, the little 5-0 hill that weve been facing every year.Talk about getting over the hump. Washington ended a 12-game losing streak to bitter rival Oregon by demolishing the Ducks 70-21 at Autzen Stadium. It was the first time Oregon allowed 70 points in a game since losing to Texas 71-7 on Dec. 6, 1941. The Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor the next day.Im just glad I dont have to talk about the streak, or have to answer that, Washington coach Chris Petersen said. Thats probably the No. 1 thing Ive been asked since the day I got to Seattle.There are plenty of questions about Oregons future after it dropped its fourth straight game. The Ducks are 11-9 in their last 20 games under coach Mark Helfrich since reaching the CFP National Championship at the end of the 2014 season.Its different than a normal loss, no question, Helfrich said. I apologize for that score.The Ducks arent the only team that has fallen dramatically. Notre Dame is also 2-4 after losing to NC State 10-3 on the road. The Fighting Irish offense managed only 113 yards on 64 plays in the rain and wind from Hurricane Matthew. Quarterback DeShone Kizer was sacked five times and completed only 9 of 26 passes for 54 yards.We dont have any excuses, Notre Dame coach Brian Kelly said. We were atrocious offensively.Texas coach Charlie Strong is out of excuses as well. After Strong demoted defensive coordinator Vance Bedford and took over the defensive playcalling earlier this week, the Longhorns surrendered 672 yards of offense in a 45-40 loss to Oklahoma in the Red River Rivalry game in Dallas.Texas lost its third straight game and fell to 2-3 overall. It has allowed 45 points or more in four of its first five games.We lost the game, so there was no improvement at all, Strong said. We gave up 45 points and cant give up those big plays on defense.Playoff teams after Week 61. Alabama: Crimson Tide freshman Jalen Hurts keeps getting better every week. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 253 yards with two touchdowns and one interception and ran for two more scores in a 49-30 win at Arkansas. He has accounted for eight total touchdowns in the last three games.2. Ohio State: The Buckeyes slogged through a 38-17 win over Indiana, which limited the Buckeyes to only 93 passing yards. But Ohio State ran for 290 yards and won their fifth consecutive game by 20 points or more, the longest active streak in FBS. The Buckeyes will have to play better when they travel to No. 11 Wisconsin next week.3. Clemson: The Tigers had a short week after last weeks thrilling win over Louisville, but they responded with a 56-10 rout at Boston College on Friday. Clemson has won 12 consecutive ACC games and eight straight road games, tying the school record set in 1978-79. Theyll get an extra day to rest before hosting NC State next week.4. Michigan: One day after the 100-year anniversary of Georgia Techs 222-0 win over Cumberland, Michigan steamrolled Rutgers 78-0 on Saturday. The Scarlet Knights had two first downs, five passing yards and were outgained 600-39 in total offense. Rutgers has been outscored 136-0 in its last two games.Next four in contention1. Washington: The Huskies took out 12 years of frustration on Oregon, crushing the Ducks 70-21 at Autzen Stadium. It was the Huskies first win in the series since beating Oregon 42-10 in 2003, and theyve now scored at least 35 points in nine consecutive games. The Huskies get a week off before hosting Oregon State on Oct. 22.2. Texas A&M: The Aggies piled up 592 yards against Tennessee and had a 200-yard rusher and 100-yard rusher in the same game for only the second time since 1950. Tailback Trayveon Williams ran for 217 yards with one touchdown, and quarterback Trevor Knight ran for 110 yards with three scores.3. Louisville: The Cardinals had an extra week to stew over their 42-36 loss at Clemson last week. They will host Duke on Friday.4. Tennessee: The Volunteers nearly put together another incredible comeback, rallying from an early 28-7 hole before falling 45-38 in two overtimes at Texas A&M. The Vols were undone by seven turnovers and 12 penalties, and now they have to bounce back to play No. 1 Alabama at home next week.Heisman candidates1. Deshaun Watson, QB, Clemson: Watson is starting to look like the player he was a year ago. He passed for 266 yards with four touchdowns at Boston College on Friday night and is now 24-2 as Clemsons starting quarterback.2. J.T. Barrett, QB, Ohio State: Barrett had a so-so day against Indiana. He ran for 137 yards with one touchdown on a career-high 26 carries while completing 9 of 21 passes for 93 yards with one score and an interception. With 86 career touchdowns (rushing and passing), he moved past former Buckeyes quarterback Art Schlichter for second place in OSU history.3. Jabrill Peppers, LB/RB, Michigan: Peppers scored two of Michigans nine rushing touchdowns in a 78-0 rout at Rutgers. Peppers, who has played 12 positions this season, also had a 63-yard run to set up another score and had an electrifying punt return for a touchdown wiped out by a penalty -- and he did it all without playing in the second half. Afterward, Michigan coach Jim Harbaugh said: In my humble opinion, were looking at a Heisman Trophy winner and candidate.4. Jake Browning, QB, Washington: Browning accounted for eight touchdowns in Washingtons 70-21 rout at Oregon. He completed 22 of 28 passes for 304 yards with six touchdowns and ran for two more scores. In six games, Browning has thrown 23 touchdowns with only two interceptions.Best momentsTweets of the nightBest playsWorst playsQuotes of the night1. It shows the resiliency of our kids. I always say that it lets you know our country is in good shape because these are the leaders of our country in the future. -- Navy coach Ken Niumatalolo after the Midshipmens 46-40 upset of No. 6 Houston.2. Were tired of hearing about everybody else: North Carolina, Miami, Clemson, Louisville. Those are great teams, but we think we deserve to be mentioned in that category. -- Virginia Tech quarterback Jerod Evans, after the Hokies improved to 4-1 with a 34-3 win at North Carolina.3. The game needs to be played, and we need to work to find a way to do that. This conference often describes itself as a family; a family has points of tension. I certainly understand the angst and frustration. I have my own level of angst, but we need to come together to play a football game and find the best way to do that. -- SEC commissioner Greg Sankey to CBS, on whether Florida and LSU will reschedule their game from Saturday, which was postponed because of Hurricane Matthew.4. If I had to do it over again at the end of the game, I probably still would have gone for it, but I would have called a different play. I felt the way the game was going, I felt like we could make a half-yard, and we didnt, so thats on me. Thats my responsibility, and Ill take the blame for it. - Georgia Tech coach Paul Johnson, on his decision to go for it on fourth-and-1 from Techs 34 with 1:47 to play. Pitts defense stuffed Dedrick Mills for no gain, setting up Chris Blewitts game-winning 31-yard field goal with no time left in the Panthers 37-34 victory.Stats that matter1. 9: Purdue snapped a nine-game losing streak with its 34-31 win in overtime at Illinois. It was the Boilermakers first road win since 2014. In its last 17 road games, Purdue is 3-0 at Illinois and 0-14 against everybody else.2. 31: Virginia Tech walloped No. 17 North Carolina 34-3 on the road on Saturday, its second largest road win ever against an AP-ranked opponent. The Hokies defeated No. 24 Virginia 38-0 in 2011.3. 149-55: Since losing to FCS foe Eastern Washington and Mountain West Boise State in its first two games, Washington State has outscored its last three opponents by a combined score of 149-55. The Cougars won 42-16 at No. 15 Stanford on Saturday night. The Cardinal lost consecutive games for the first time under coach David Shaw.4. 232: Oklahomas Dede Westbrook had 232 receiving yards and three touchdowns on 10 catches in the Sooners 45-40 win over Texas. It was an OU single-game record for receiving yards and the most by a player on either team in the Red River Rivalry. Custom Los Angeles Angels Jerseys . The scientists believe the small earthquake during a Marshawn Lynch touchdown was likely greater than Lynchs famous "beast quake" touchdown run three years ago, which also came against New Orleans during a playoff game. Cheap Angels Jerseys .05 million next season unless Graham and the Saints subsequently agree on a long-term deal. The designation was released Monday after the deadline passed for NFL teams to use franchise or transition tags on players becoming free agents. https://www.cheapangels.com/ .ca NFL Power Rankings, overtaking the Denver Broncos and remaining ahead of NFC competition San Francisco, Carolina and New Orleans. Los Angeles Angels Store . Batiste, who briefly signed with the Eskimos in 2006, has spent time with several NFL teams including the Pittsburgh Steelers and Washington Redskins. Fake Angels Jerseys . On Tuesday, Ottawa placed forward Cory Conacher and defenceman Joe Corvo on waivers as trade rumours swirl around the Senators. NEW YORK -- ?? The defending world champion is a 25-year-old Norwegian whos been named one of the worlds sexiest men.Magnus Carlsen is tops in an endurance sport that doesnt require him to move from his chair.Its called chess.Carlsen, the highest-rated player in chess history, again aims to win the World Chess Championship, the most eagerly awaited match in a generation, starting Friday in New York.Trying to wrest the title from Carlsen is the 26-year-old Ukrainian-born Russian grandmaster Sergey Karjakin.The prize purse of $1.1 million will be divided 60-40 between the men, who are treated like rock stars in their countries.Carlsen and Karjakin will play in a renovated building on the historic Manhattan waterfront, near Wall Street and the Brooklyn Bridge.The championship has returned to the United States for the first time in 21 years; the last one was in Sochi, Russia, in 2014.In the U.S., organizers face a challenge: how to popularize a sedentary sport with little visible action in a society where most fans favor dynamic sports like football, boxing, basketball and baseball.Still, chess has its fervent American fans, including Jay Z, Jude Law, Arnold Schwarzenegger and President Barack Obama.The International Olympic Committee recognizes the World Chess Federation, which governs championship-linked matches, as a sports entity. It requires not only brain acrobatics but also the physical stamina to sit as long as six hours at a time for three weeks.The board battle pits figures of medieval warriors, kings, queens, bishops and knights against each other in ever-changing plots as dramatic as the Game of Thrones.About 1 billion downloads have been tracked to apps offering electronic versions of the game, says Ilya Merenzon, the Moscow-based chief executive officer of Agon Ltd., which owns the marketing and commercial rights to the World Chess brand for the championships and the qualifying games leading up to it.There are an estimated 600 million players worldwide, Merenzon says.By contrast with the glitzy, high-tech chhampionship, chess enthusiasts can be found playing in hundreds of New York outdoor public spaces, such as Central Park.dddddddddddd Some of these urban street players are homeless.Karjakin was 12 when he became the youngest grandmaster, and Carlsen was a grandmaster at 13.When I was young, I was used to winning games in a very aggressive style, and I would attack all the time and I was used to my opponents cracking, Carlsen said. But when I got to the highest level, then people defended better, so now Im more pragmatic. Whatever risks I take, I try to control the game.Carlsen has cashed in through sponsorships, his own chess app and modeling for ads. He appeared in G-Star Raws Spring/Summer fashion ad campaign along with actress and model Lily Cole.He also was selected by Cosmopolitan magazine as one of the sexiest men of 2013. Since then, hes also been the worlds No. 1 player.All 600 seats for Fridays inaugural game were sold out, starting at $75 apiece. Two games are played on consecutive days, followed by a one-day break, for a total of 12 games.Tens of millions of fans are expected to follow live online, free of charge through the worldchess.com website and affiliate partners. In addition, $15 via Pay-Per-View buys the game in virtual reality, allowing fans to experience the game as if they were there by wearing special goggles.For years, chess seemed to be played in a bubble, far from mainstream media.But it never grew out of style in Carlsens Norway, where TV programs are pre-empted for important games.This week, New York will host the first championship with two grandmasters of the smartphone generation -- a battle of two of the finest minds on the planet, Merenzon says. Our goal is to make chess a pop culture event.---This story has been corrected to show the companys name is Agon, not Agony, and the company does not control the games, just the commercial rights to the brand name. ' ' '