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LINCOLN, Neb. (AP) Nebraska is in the middle of a stretch of playing four of five games against teams it lost to last year.

There's no debate about which teams are the elite of the Southland Conference. Just look at the polls - this year or last year - and everyone knows the answer is Sam Houston State and McNeese.

The Latest on the Ryder Cup (all times local): ___ 8:15 a.m.

The 41st Ryder Cup is off to a rollicking start at Hazeltine.

Track the wild card races into the final weekend

ATLANTA -- It once looked like the Detroit Tigers would be catching a break by ending the regular season with an interleague series against the Braves in Atlanta, even if it meant no designated hitter.

CHICAGO -- Carlos Rodon hopes to wrap up his second big league season no worse than his first as the Chicago White Sox open a season-ending series with the Minnesota Twins on Friday.

With three meaningless games left before the Chicago Cubs kick off what they -- and their championship-starved -- fan base hope is a historic playoff run, manager Joe Maddon had to assess some in-house drama as the team prepared to play the Reds in Cincinnati during the final series of the regular season.

PHOENIX -- Arizona and San Diego enter the final series of the regular season in search of smaller victories, unfortunately about all that is left to accomplish in a down year for each.

DENVER -- There will be more focus on personal achievements than collective success when also-rans Milwaukee and Colorado begin a season-ending series Friday.

SAN FRANCISCO -- The San Francisco Giants hoped the home-field advantage in the final three games of the regular season would work to their benefit in the race with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the National League West crown.

PRO FOOTBALL

Coach Mark Dantonio finds himself in an unusual place this weekend. He's trying to get No. 17 Michigan State off the mat and ready to fight back.

SEATTLE -- The Seattle Mariners' slim chances of reaching the postseason took a hit Thursday night, despite their win over Oakland, but they head into a Friday game against the A's with a remaining shred of hope.

Welshman Jamie Donaldson had quite the debut in the Ryder Cup two years ago, though his rookie success wasn't enough to get him invited back.

THOUSAND OAKS, Calif. (AP) Carson Palmer can appreciate Jared Goff's current predicament better than just about anybody.

Fantasy football players must now deal with an added challenge: the bye weeks. That means replacing top players in your lineups, starting with those from Seattle and Green Bay, where the Packers looked better on offense last week.

ST. LOUIS -- Back in April when the season started, it was easy to expect the Pirates' season-ending trip to Busch Stadium meaning something for both Pittsburgh and the St. Louis Cardinals.

PHILADELPHIA -- The New York Mets are in the position every team would like to be in when on the playoff bubble come the end of September.

HOUSTON (AP) A person familiar with J.J. Watt's condition said the Houston Texans' star defensive lineman had back surgery Thursday and is expected to miss the rest of the season.