wide receiver, but it takes game opportunities to really assess w

BLOOMINGTON, Ind. -- Indiana has one last chance to salvage its postseason plans: Beat rival Purdue on Saturday, bring home the Old Oaken Bucket for a fourth straight year and become bowl-eligible.Lose to the Boilermakers at home and they can make holiday plans at home.The Hoosiers have survived this scenario to earn their last two bowl bids -- winning on a late field goal in 2007 and in an 18-point rout of their rival last season. They were hoping to avoid another nerve-wracking season finale, but now they have no choice.Its definitely a little poetic, this is how you would write it up in the books, guard Jacob Bailey said. But like I said, you dont have to hype it up any more than it already is. You have to win the bucket.Looking back, there have been plenty of missed opportunities this season.Richard Lagow threw five interceptions in a 33-28 loss to Wake Forest. The Hoosiers came out flat in a 24-14 loss at Northwestern.Then there were all those close calls against top teams. No. 2 Ohio State scored two touchdowns in the final 19 minutes to pull away for a 38-17 win. No. 10 Nebraska hung on for a 27-22 victory in Bloomington. No. 12 Penn State scored 17 points in the final 3:58 for a 45-31 victory and last weekend No. 4 Michigan scored the final 14 points for a 20-10 victory.Those twists and turns in a sometimes promising, sometimes frustrating season have forced the Hoosiers (5-6, 3-5 Big Ten) back into this high-stakes all-or-nothing game.I dont want to get any text messages from my buddies about how hard they played and how close they are, Im tired of that, defensive coordinator Tom Allen said. Weve got to find a way to finish.On paper, at least, Indiana appears to have the advantage.The Boilermakers (3-8, 1-7) come to town with six straight losses including all five since interim coach Gerad Parker replaced the fired Darrell Hazell. Purdue has been outscored 128-27 in the second halves of its past five games and allowed No. 6 Wisconsin to run away last weekend with a 35-point scoring flurry in the final 8+ minutes of the first half.Plus, another victory over Purdue would allow Indiana to tie its school record for most consecutive wins (four) in the series. The only other time it has happened came from 1944-47.So in the minds of Hoosiers players and coaches, theres plenty at stake and only one outcome they want to accept: Win and advance.We havent talked about that at all, coach Kevin Wilson said. We need to have a good week. Its a rival, weve had a couple slip away. But this team is battling, overcoming and we just want to have a good week.--More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org and https://twitter.com/AP-Top25 Kris Versteeg Jersey . The Barrie Colts defenceman, who impressed many with his play for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, is the top-ranked skater in the February rankings. 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Romero appeared to elbow and kick Houston defender Kofi Sarkodie. SEATTLE -- In the midst of Washingtons John Ross returning after 20 months away from football and reminding everyone just how fast he is on the field, the unthinkable happened.Huskies quarterback Jake Browning actually managed to overthrow Ross when the speedster was open sprinting down the sideline.Ive got to put more air under it, Browning said with a grin.The return of Ross proved the biggest highlight for No. 14 Washington coming out of its 48-13 win over Rutgers to open the season. While the Pac-12 took its collective lumps on the opening weekend, the Huskies appeared worthy of their preseason billing, even if their first true test of whether they are a top 15 program wont come for a few more weeks. They play Idaho on Saturday.Ross was the star, playing for the first time since suffering a major knee injury during spring practice in 2015. Ross had five catches for 90 yards, with 88 of those yards coming on two long touchdown catches, and he returned a kickoff 92 yards for a touchdown. It was his fifth touchdown of 90 yards or more in 27 career games at Washington.I figured they would kick it to me because I didnt do nothing last year. I havent really proved anything, Ross said. Just to see they did I got very excited.Ross immediately provided a dynamic that was missing from Washingtons offense a year ago when the Huskies struggled to push the ball downfield in the passing game. In 13 games last season, Washington had five passing touchdowns of 30 or more yards.They had three touchdown passes of 30 or more yards in the opener.It cant just be the John Ross show, Washington coach Chris Petersen said. People will figure out how to slow that down fast. But I think its really nice to come out of the gate and make some plays there so people have to pay attention to that closely.Speed was never the queestion about Ross prior to his injury.dddddddddddd The question was what would be the best position to play him. His exceptional speed made him a threat as a wide receiver, but it also made him effective as a defensive back. With the injuries Washington suffered in its secondary during the 2014 season, Ross split his time between offense and defense.The last time he was on the field in a game setting prior to Saturday -- January 2015 in the Cactus Bowl -- Ross started at cornerback, meaning the growth potential at wide receiver is significant. Since suffering his knee injury, Ross has focused solely on being a wide receiver, but it takes game opportunities to really assess where the improvement needs to be.I feel better than I have ever, Ross said. I feel bigger. I feel faster. Just really thankful Im able to do it again.Petersen understands there is more development needed with Ross, pointing out not just the lack of game reps but the limited practice reps for Ross as a wide receiver. His speed will always separate Ross and be his biggest strength, but now its learning the intricacies of the position that will really allow him to stand out.I dont want to say behind, but I still think he has a lot more to him, Petersen said on Monday. I mean, just in terms of practice reps. He hasnt had a ton of practice reps. I maybe even think about that more than the game reps. Some of these guys have had a lot. As we all know, to build true skill takes hours and years of these reps over and over. He hasnt really had that, with us, at least.So its been nice to watch him this fall progress with some detailed, route-running stuff.---AP college football site: http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '