Comment on Nike and Oregon's big recruiting coup win the week: Oregonian Sports Power Rankings

The CSU Rams’ conference championship hopes are no longer in their hands. With a chance to control their own destiny in the Mountain West Conference title race, the Rams fell flat in a trip to California’s Central Valley, losing 28-22 at Fresno State late Saturday night. CSU scored on its first drive to take a 7-0 lead but didn’t score again until after Fresno State built a 28-7 by the end of the first half.

After an NBA Cup loss in Denver, the Nuggets bounced back Saturday by dominating the second half en route to a 127-102 win over the Lakers to split their weekend back-to-back. Including playoff matchups, Denver (9-6) has won 13 of its last 14 games against the Lakers. The Nuggets will be back in action Monday at home against the Knicks. MPJ leads game-winning run in 3rd Trailing 63-57 at halftime, the Nuggets once again needed a jolt from their starting lineup.

A look at how the top Heisman Trophy contenders, including two-way CU Buffs star Travis Hunter, played on Saturday: Travis Hunter, Colorado WR/CB Odds entering Saturday: -400 Numbers at Kansas: 8 receptions for 125 yards and 2 touchdowns; 7 tackles, 1 pass defended Note: The odds are still very much in Hunter’s favor, even if his solid performance wasn’t enough to stop the Jayhawks in a 37-21 loss in Kansas City.

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Kansas did not punt. And CU’s dream of reaching the Big 12 title game took a kick in the walnuts. The Buffs arrived at Arrowhead Stadium with their destiny in their hands. And like every KU ball carrier Saturday, it slipped through their fingers. Racing into the locker room, a KU player leaped into the air and delivered an expletive about CU.

SUNRISE, Fla. — The Colorado Avalanche showed off its sublime collection of skill, increased depth and ability to play beautiful hockey against the defending Stanley Cup champions on Saturday night. Some of the Avs’ early-season flaws were also on display at Amerant Arena. In the end, Colorado needed a great third period from its goaltender and contributions from nearly the entire lineup to collect a 7-4 win against the Florida Panthers. It didn’t always look great, but the Avs have won seven of their last nine games and 12 of 17 since an 0-4 start. “I think we’re pretty happy with the lineup we’re playing now,” Avs coach Jared Bednar said.

First up-close picture taken of star outside Milky Way ABC NewsFirst Close-Up of Star Outside Our Galaxy Shows a Giant About to Blow The New York TimesUnprecedented image may reveal impending supernova that could be visible from Earth CNNStar imaged in detail outside the Milky Way for the 1st time (image, video) Space.comWe've taken a photo of a star in another galaxy for the first time New Scientist