yer said what many people around college football likely are thinking.I

STILLWATER, Okla. -- For the second straight year, No. 11 Oklahoma State heads into its regular-season finale against its in-state rival, No. 7 Oklahoma, with a chance to claim the Big 12 title.Last year, Oklahoma State was missing several key starters because of injuries, with quarterback Mason Rudolph hardly playing, and wound up losing 58-23 on its home field. Oklahoma claimed the Big 12 championship and advanced to the College Football Playoff.This time, coming off their most complete performance of the season, a 31-6 win over TCU on Nov. 19, followed by a bye week, the Cowboys (9-2, 7-1 Big 12, No. 10 CFP) are well-rested and determined to finish the job Saturday at Oklahoma (9-2, 8-0, No. 7 CFP).Were a healthier football team now, not only physically but mentally, OSU coach Mike Gundy said. We were a little bit beat up at this time last season. These guys, hopefully, weve instilled in them the importance of whether you have a tough loss or a big win, you have to continue to move forward. I think the biggest factor is were healthy and were in a position to practice at the pace that we need to practice in order to play at a high level.For the players, knowing that the Big 12 title is on the line brings out different mental approaches. One is to ignore the consequences of the result and just go out and play.We just look at it as any other game, try not to get too caught up in the hype or the emotions of it, said senior running back Chris Carson, who rushed 17 times for 146 yards and a touchdown against TCU. But this is great, playing for a Big 12 championship for the second year and hopefully looking for different results this year.Another mindset is to embrace the importance of the game and enjoy the high-stakes aspect of it.This is what you want as a senior, to be in a game with the Big 12 championship on the line, said tight end/fullback hybrid Blake Jarwin, who has 16 receptions for 180 yards and a touchdown this season. Its a new opportunity to go and maybe get a Big 12 championship. Im excited to go out there.As painful as it was seeing the Sooners celebrate on their field last season, the Oklahoma State players point out that the motivation to win is not really about returning the favor.Its not really a revenge factor, its done, but its really more of a learning experience, junior linebacker Chad Whitener said. Watching film from last year, really going back and studying, seeing what they did right and what we did wrong.Not necessarily revenge, but we know that we lost it last year, and we want to win, added Carson, who gained 38 yards on seven carries in last seasons showdown. Thats just the motivation -- it doesnt matter who we play, we just want to win the Big 12 championship.Saturdays game between Oklahoma State and Oklahoma marks the sixth time in the last nine seasons that the annual matchup known as Bedlam will determine the Big 12 champion.Besides last years game, a 33-24 Oklahoma win in 2013 prevented Oklahoma State from claiming the title and allowed Baylor to emerge as champion. In 2011, Oklahoma State defeated the Sooners 44-10 to win its only Big 12 championship and deny OU a share of the title.In 2010, Oklahomas 47-41 victory prevented the Cowboys from advancing to the Big 12 championship game, and in 2008, OUs 61-41 win enabled it to advance to the Big 12 title game.Gundy is proud that the annual in-state battle between the rivals has become such an important game on the national college football landscape.You have schools that are having fantastic seasons, have very exciting players, and give the state a lot to think about, Gundy said. We have 4 million people here in the state and its a big game. When they put up the college football standings and you have Oklahoma and Oklahoma State in the top 10, thats a tremendous financial advantage, marketing, for both universities in the state of Oklahoma.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Jan Vertonghen Jersey .B. - Sebastien Auger made 44 saves as the Saint John Sea Dogs edged the visiting Acadie-Bathurst Titan 2-1 on Saturday in Quebec Major Junior Hockey League action. Thorgan Hazard Belgium Jersey . The defending champion beat Gael Monfils of France 7-6 (6), 6-3, while second-seeded Andy Murray of Britain dispatched Edouard Roger-Vasselin, also of France, 6-3, 6-3. Making his first appearance since injuring his wrist a month ago, Del Potro had difficulty with his service games in the first set. http://www.soccerbelgiumteamonline.com/Dedryck-Boyata-UEFA-European-Belgium-Jersey/ . It says Pocklingtons lawyer filed the appeal Friday in a California court. 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COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The giant video screen in Ohio States indoor practice facility ran a loop of MMA fighters beating each other senseless, coach Urban Meyers way of reminding players that they have one swing to knock out Michigan State this week and keep their championship dreams alive.With all the playoff talk swirling after a seismic college football Saturday that saw three teams ranked higher than the Buckeyes lose and an odd tiebreaker situation that could see them advancing to the playoff without even playing in the Big Ten Championship game, the idea is to shut out the noise and keep the team focused on the immediate task.Meyer said its difficult to keep players from looking ahead and worrying about things that are out of their control. Ever since the Oct. 22 loss at Penn State , schedule boards in the football complex were covered up and the program renewed its focus on just winning the next game.Im debating right now what to do with that, Meyer said Monday when asked about the amped-up playoff chatter. I did not cover it yesterday. I havent covered it throughout the year. In the past I have. I dont know yet. But the focus is obviously Michigan State.It may help that there is a revenge element when it comes to the Spartans, although that angle was mostly downplayed by players on Monday. But remember, it was Michigan State that came into Ohio Stadium last year and ended the Buckeyes chances of repeating as Big Ten and national champions .Theres a little bit of human element that comes into the game, especially with them ruining senior night for us last year and ruining the season we were supposed to have last year, guard Billy Price acknowledged. Its in the back of your head, absolutely.Like last year, the championship hopes of No. 2 Ohio State (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten, No. 5 CFP) will be erased with a loss to Michiggan State (3-7, 1-6), a program that has fallen on hard times this season.ddddddddddddThey always have a chip on their shoulder when the Buckeyes are in town, and its going to be the same way this Saturday, Ohio State center Pat Elflein said. The records dont matter.Because of the loss to Penn State, and Michigans loss at Iowa on Saturday, Ohio State could be kept out of the conference title game by the tiebreaker system , even if the Buckeyes beat Michigan State and then Michigan on Nov. 26. Then the question becomes if the playoff committee will install Ohio State in the top four without a conference championship on its resume.At least one player said what many people around college football likely are thinking.I see it like this: If we win out all our games, Big Ten championship or not, you not going to put us in? quarterback J.T. Barrett said incredulously. Like youre going to leave Ohio State out? That doesnt make sense to me.NEVER MICHIGAN: Buckeyes fans were put in the distasteful position of needing Michigan to beat Iowa.If Michigan had won, and Ohio State took care of business against Michigan State and Michigan, that would have given Ohio State the East Division crown in the tiebreaker and a spot in the conference championship game. As it stands now, Penn State will win the tiebreaker if the Nittany Lions win out.But Buckeyes players werent rooting for Michigan. Thats just never going to happen.No, not at all, Price said.No, I dont root for them, linebacker Raekwon McMillan said.You dont ever want to root for those guys, Elflein said.---More AP college football at www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 .---Follow Mitch Stacy at http://twitter.com/mitchstacy ' ' '