NCAA Football

All that stands between a Kansas-LSU matchup in the BCS national championship game are some tough opponents. LSU was first and unbeaten Kansas was second in the Bowl Championship Series standings Sunday and the chances of another team catching either without the Tigers and Jayhawks losing seems remote. The Tigers are No. 1 in the polls and the computers ratings and have BCS average of .990. The Jayhawks are No. 2 across the board with a BCS average of .949. Kansas moved up two spots this week, taking advantage of losses by Oregon and Oklahoma.

Hoping for Kansas or LSU to slip up are third-place West Virginia (.888), Missouri (.871), Ohio State (.860) and Arizona State (.802). LSU faces Arkansas at home on Friday before playing in the Southeastern Conference championship game against either Georgia or Tennessee on Dec. 1 in Atlanta. Kansas and Missouri meet Saturday in Kansas City for the 116th time, and never has it been more important. The winner goes to the Big 12 title game with national championship hopes in tact. If Kansas gets by Missouri, either Oklahoma or Texas awaits in the Big 12 title game. Ohio State (11-1) finished its regular season with a 14-3 victory over Michigan and is locked into at least a Rose Bowl bid as the Big Ten champion.

Mississippi put 20 players on probation Sunday after they twice stole items from hotels. A news release said the players have paid for the items, which included radios and pillows. Ole Miss coach Ed Orgeron said in the release that the players will be on probation indefinitely. Officials said the items stolen cost between $15 and $40. "Any actions similar to this will result in more severe penalties which may include dismissal from the team," Orgeron said in the release. The action comes a day after the Rebels lost 41-24 to No. 1 LSU in Oxford. It appears the players will be allowed to play Friday at Mississippi State in the final game of the season. A spokesman said a list of disciplined players was not available. Neither Orgeron nor athletic director Pete Boone immediately returned messages Sunday. Boone is scheduled to attend Orgeron's weekly news conference Monday to answer questions about the disciplinary action.

NCAA Football