DES MOINES, Iowa -- Somewhat unexpected championship runs by Michigan State and Iowa last season fueled expectations of potential repeats in 2016.It doesnt look like either team will make it back to Indianapolis this December.The Spartans (2-5, 0-4 Big Ten) are a staggering four games behind No. 2 Michigan (7-0, 4-0) heading into their annual showdown game this Saturday.The Hawkeyes (5-3, 3-2), who are off this week, still has something of a plausible path to the West title. But it involves winning their final four games, which would include home victories over the Wolverines and unbeaten and seventh-ranked Nebraska (7-0, 4-0), and one more loss for Wisconsin (5-2, 2-2) and two for surging Northwestern (4-3, 3-1).So how did two teams that just 10 months ago played a title game end up here?Michigan States young defense, which held the Hawkeyes to just 13 points in that slugfest of a championship game in 2015, is letting up nearly 30 points a game. The Spartans had as many as six freshmen playing defense at times in last weeks last weeks 28-17 loss to Maryland (5-2, 2-2).Iowas defense ranks 20th nationally at 18.9 points allowed per game. But its offense has been a mess since mid-September, failing to score more than 21 points in four of its last six games.It certainly gives you time to look deeper at what youre doing and re-assess where your team is at, Iowa coach Kirk Ferentz said of the bye week. Right now, weve come short three times. Wed certainly like to close that gap.Michigan State hosts rival Michigan knowing that a loss would eliminate the Spartans from the East race.The (Michigan) game is played on the field. Youve got to be able to block, tackle and catch the football, Michigan State coach Mark Dantonio said. This is a very fundamental game played at a very high level, and weve got to be able to win our fair share of battles.BAD BREAK FOR THE BADGERSWisconsin kept its slim West hopes alive with a 17-9 win at Iowa last week. But the Badgers suffered a major blow when it was announced that linebacker Jack Cichy, its leading tackler, is out for the season with a torn pectoral. Cichy had 60 tackles, including 37 in his last three games. The Badgers host the Huskers in a critical West showdown, and sophomore Ryan Connelly is expected to take Cichys place.THORSONS GROWTHA big reason why Northwestern has turned into a 1/3 start into a winning record has been the progress of sophomore quarterback Clayton Thorson. He has nine touchdown passes against just one pick in his last three games, all victories, and is third in the Big Ten with 240 yards passing per game. The only league player with more touchdowns than Thorson (14) is J.T. Barrett of No. 6 Ohio State (6-1, 3-1), who host the Wildcats on Saturday.Hes really gaining confidence through his experience. Its gaining knowledge of our offense, trusting in his abilities and just playing at a faster tempo, said Northwestern coach Pat Fitzgerald, an Illinois native who yelled Go Cubs! at the end of his time on the weekly coaches teleconference.GEORGE LEGACY AT ILLINOISIllinois found itself down to its third quarterback in last weeks 41-8 loss to Michigan, and the game went about as expected. Jeff George Jr., the son of former Illini star and top NFL draft pick Jeff George, was 4 of 15 passing for 95 yards with a TD, an interception and a fumble in his first start. Coach Lovie Smith wouldnt commit to George as the starter for this weeks home game with Minnesota (2-5, 1-3).We saw improvement on until the end of the game. What Jeff brings to the table is a strong arm. Hes confident in his arm, making all of the throws, Smith said.HE SAID ITWere in this together, as a staff and as players. Tough coaches and tough players fight through things, said Ohio State coach Urban Meyer about last weeks loss. All three of Meyers national title teams bounced back from a regular-season loss.---Online: www.collegefootball.ap.org Kansas City Royals Store . In the response filed Wednesday to the complaint by 30-year-old Alexander Bradley, attorneys say the former University of Florida player is invoking his Fifth Amendment right that protects people from incriminating themselves. Kansas City Royals Pro Shop .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. https://www.cheaproyals.com/ . However, he did make them miss him a little less. Cundiff, who had the unenviable job of replacing Dawson last season, agreed Thursday to a one-year, $1. Royals Jerseys 2020 . But by the time the game started, the Toronto Raptors forward felt even worse. And, for three quarters, it showed as Gay shot a woeful three-for-13 from the field. Royals Jerseys China . - Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie never doubted he would bring back coach Dennis Allen for a third year despite back-to-back 4-12 records. Max Verstappen says Red Bull should be happy with the comfortable gap to Ferrari and think about taking the fight to Mercedes at the German Grand Prix.Verstappen lost out to teammate Daniel Ricciardo for third but both men finished ahead of the Ferraris on the third row. The gap between Verstappen and Kimi Raikkonen was four tenths and the teenager is also encouraged by Red Bull the gap to Mercedes to within a similar margin.Asked if the gap to Mercedes had come down since Friday, he said: Yes, definitely on this track where we did not expect to be that close, we were quite close. So we can definitely be pleased with this qualifying because even we were in front of the Ferrari quite comfortably, and that was very important for us.He was then pressed on whether Germanys qualifying result was proof RRed Bull has moved ahead of Ferrari, he replied: I think we are defiantly on a good way, yeah.dddddddddddd I mean, it shows that definitely. Hopefully now in the race we have good pace again like we had on Friday, and then we will see what happens.Like teammate Ricciardo, Verstappen hopes Red Bulls encouraging long run pace translates into a challenge of Mercedes during the grand prix.It all looked very promising; hopefully we can have the same balance in the car tomorrow. So we see. It will be an interesting race.Hopefully we dont need to cover [Ferrari] like we had to do in Hungary, where we lost out. And hopefully we can follow the Mercedes cars and try to push them. ' ' '