Fast Break

College football

BCS Cougs

Washington State is ranked 25th in the current BCS standings, making its 2006 debut in the controversial college football rankings after upsetting the Oregon Ducks 34-23 on Saturday.

Ohio State remains No. 1, but Michigan has passed Southern California for No. 2. Ohio State and Michigan, both undefeated, will play their annual showdown next month.

Meanwhile, Ohio State’s run at No. 1 in the Associated Press poll is now one week short of the Buckeyes’ longest to start a season.

Ohio State was on top of The Associated Press Top 25 for the ninth consecutive week when the poll was released Sunday. In 1969 under coach Woody Hayes, Ohio State started the season No. 1 and stayed there for 10 weeks. A loss to Michigan dropped the Buckeyes from the top spot.

The 1998 Buckeyes also spent nine weeks at No. 1 to start the season before being upset by unranked Michigan State on Nov. 7.

The Wolverines were No. 2 in the latest media poll, which had few changes after a weekend with far more close calls than upsets.

Southern California was No. 3, followed by West Virginia and Texas. The Mountaineers received two first-place votes. Ohio State got the other 63.

No. 5 Texas needed a late field goal by backup kicker Ryan Bailey to beat Nebraska 22-20 in Lincoln.

No. 6 is Louisville, followed by Auburn, Tennessee, Florida and Clemson to round out the Top 10.

There were no new teams in the poll this week.

Dating to the final regular-season AP poll of 2003, there have been only three No. 1 teams. USC was No. 1 for a record 33 consecutive polls before Texas beat the Trojans in the Rose Bowl to finish No. 1 last season. Ohio State began this season top-ranked.

DIII football

Whitworth stays put

Whitworth, continuing its best run in the d3football.com poll, remains at No. 11 this week after Saturday’s 26-7 victory over Menlo.

In fact, the top 13 teams in the poll were unchanged.

The Pirates, 7-0, play Willamette at the Pine Bowl on Saturday.

GOLF

Watson, Trump win skins game

Donald Trump knows the importance of a good partner.

The extravagant developer had a real good one Sunday in the Manhattan Golf Classic, teaming with five-time British Open champion Tom Watson to beat Annika Sorenstam and Natalie Gulbis 10-8 in the skins event on Governors Island.

“I need all the help I can get,” Trump said.

The 6-handicapper helped Watson as well in the friendly competition, earning skins with net birdies on three holes where he received strokes.

“Donald played very well,” Watson said. “He hit three 5-woods that he just smoked. He had it under control today.”