ay, but you can be sure hell be ready when they do. -- Temple24. North Carolina Tar HeelsRyan Switzer Larry Fedoras up-tempo, bi

PITTSBURGH -- Ivan Nova has developed a pre-game ritual since coming to the Pittsburgh Pirates from the New York Yankees in a trade on Aug. 1.The right-hander walks up to right fielder Gregory Polanco in the dugout just before the first pitch and asks him to hit a home run.He hit two for me today, Nova said with a smile.Nova took a shutout into the ninth inning and finished with a six-hitter while Polanco hit two home runs to lead the Pirates to a 7-1 victory over the Houston Astros on Tuesday night.Nova (10-6) struck out six, walked one and threw 69 of his 98 pitches for strikes while improving to 3-0 in four starts with the Pirates.It was the fourth complete game of the right-handers seven-year career with the others coming in 2013.He was very efficient with his pitches, Pirates manager Clint Hurdle said. He threw a lot of really good sinkers against a very good-hitting team with a lot of right-handed hitters and he locked them up with the ball away.His bid for his third career shutout ended when Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve led off the ninth with consecutive doubles.Pittsburgh snapped its four-game losing streak and stopped Houstons four-game winning streak. Both teams entered 3 1/2 games out of the second wild card in their respective leagues.Nova is doing his best to keep the Pirates hopes of a fourth consecutive postseason appearance alive after being traded for the first time in his career.You dont want to get traded, Nova said. This is not what I was looking for. Stuff like that happens, though. Im happy to be here. Its a good group of guys who want to win and Im trying to do the best I can to help them win.After the Pirates scored four runs in the first inning, Polanco hit solo shots in the third and fifth off Joe Musgrove and Tony Sipp to extend the lead to 6-0 and raise his season total to a team-high 19 homers.It was Polancos second two-home run game of his three-year career. The other was July 4 at St. Louis.The right fielder hit a combined 19 homers in his first two seasons.I guess Im getting stronger, Polanco said. My swing is getting better, shorter and quicker. Experience, too. The more swings you take, the better you get every day.The Pirates opened the first inning with six straight hits off Musgrove (1-2). Matt Joyce and Andrew McCutchen hit consecutive RBI doubles then Polanco and rookie Josh Bell drove in runs with singles.Polanco had three of the Pirates 11 hits while driving in three runs and scoring three times. Joyce and Bell added two hits each.The Astros Marwin Gonzalez had three hits.Musgrove, a rookie making his fourth career start, was rocked for five runs and eight hits in four innings with two strikeouts and no walks. He has allowed a combined 13 runs in 9 1/3 innings while losing his last two starts.Hes learning, Astros manager A.J. Hinch said. Thats part of the nature of having young starters. Hes got to learn to battle himself through his first back-to-back games of adversity. He has pitches to do it. He has a ton of competitiveness in him.TRAINERS ROOMAstros: 3B Luis Valbuena will undergo surgery in the next few days to repair a torn tendon in his right hamstring. Out since July 27, Valbuena finishes the season hitting .260 with 13 home runs in 90 games. ... OF Preston Tucker (strained right shoulder) will begin a rehab assignment Wednesday at Double-A Corpus Christi. ... 3B/OF Yulieski Gurriel (right hamstring tightness) did not start for a second straight game after making his major league debut Sunday but is expected to be in the lineup Wednesday.UP NEXTAstros: RHP Collin McHugh (7-10, 4.99 ERA) starts the finale of the three-game series Wednesday. He is 0-4 with a 9.00 ERA in his last five starts.Pirates: RHP Gerrit Cole (7-8, 3.30) is 0-2 with a 6.48 ERA in his last three starts. Stitched Angels Jerseys .C. -- Chris Thorburn thinks one of the reasons the Winnipeg Jets have been successful under new coach Paul Maurice is that theyre playing together as a team. Angels Jerseys 2019 . The FA rejected Wilsheres appeal that the length of his punishment was "clearly excessive" and said Thursday his suspension begins with immediate effect. He will miss league matches against Chelsea on Monday and West Ham on Dec. https://www.cheapangels.com/ . - After leading the Saints to a fourth playoff appearance in five seasons, Drew Brees expressed confidence in the direction of his team and, perhaps more importantly, showed a willingness to listen to contract proposals if the team needs his help getting under the NFLs salary cap. Cheap Angels Jerseys . "I was fortunate to play many years at this level with a great organization and unbelievable teammates," said Hejduk in a statement. Angels Jerseys China .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. During the college football offseason, we have ranked everything from the weakest position groups to Hail Mary grabbers.This week, using the ESPN College Football Power Rankings as our guide, we answer this question: Whos the player on each top 25 team that is single-handedly worth the price of admission?1.?Alabama Crimson Tide Tim Williams When Williams puts his hand in the dirt and pins his ears back on third down, watch out. Alabamas senior outside linebacker is a ferocious pass-rusher. Just ask Michigan right tackle Kodi Kieler, who was spun out of shoes and knocked down by Williams in the Cotton Bowl. -- Alex Scarborough2.?Clemson Tigers Deshaun WatsonThere are plenty of big-time playmakers on Clemsons roster, but the star of the show is clearly Watson. The junior is arguably the best player in the country, and hes a whiz as both a passer and a runner. Few QBs execute the deep ball as well as Watson, but hes just as likely to create a big gain with his legs as he is with his arm. Last season, he became the first quarterback in college football history to throw for 4,000 yards and run for 1,000. --?David M. Hale3.?Oklahoma SoonersBaker MayfieldDont overthink it. Sure, the Sooners backfield includes Samaje Perine, who ran for an NCAA-record 427 yards two years ago against Kansas. Undoubtedly, though, he plays second fiddle to the guy who leads OU on offense. Mayfield is a Heisman candidate because of his uncanny ability to create havoc at any moment, with his right arm or his legs. Mayfield is a highlight machine, as evidenced by his 4,105 yards of total offense last year to go with 43 touchdowns. Hes efficient and exciting -- and you never know what you might see him do. Even better, youve got two seasons left to watch Mayfield at this level. -- Mitch Sherman4. Florida State SeminolesDalvin CookNo Power 5 running back had more carries of more than 20, 30, 50, 60 or 70 yards than Cook. Once he makes it through the defenses first wave, there is no player better at breaking off long runs. --?Jared Shanker5. LSU TigersLeonard FournetteTheres only one proper answer here, and its Fournette. The Tigers might have a roster full of blue-chippers, but Fournette is a rare talent. One of the most intriguing SEC storylines this season will be whether the junior running back can duplicate his 2015 production, as he led the FBS with an average of 162.8 rushing YPG. --?David Ching6. Ohio State BuckeyesJ.T. Barrett Barrett put together an incredible freshman season in 2014, breaking 19 school and Big Ten records and finishing fifth in the Heisman Trophy voting. This team belongs to him again, now that Cardale Jones is off to the NFL, so expect him to fluster defenses while contending for several national awards. -- Jesse Temple7. Stanford Cardinal Christian McCaffreyWhat hasnt been said about McCaffrey? The good news is were about to stop talking -- and reading -- about McCaffrey and watch the 2015 Heisman Trophy runner-up do his thing. And that is make spectacular plays as a runner, receiver and return man. We havent seen anyone like him since Reggie Bush. --?Ted Miller8. Michigan WolverinesJabrill Peppers The buzz surrounding Peppers is warranted, and we could finally see him demonstrate his full potential as a three-way player this season. Hes a hybrid linebacker and safety, a wide receiver, a potential Wildcat quarterback and a return man on special teams. Lets hope Jim Harbaugh allows him to roam free. -- Temple9. Tennessee Volunteers Derek BarnettWhen Barnett is on, hes one of the best defenders in the SEC. In two seasons, he has racked up 20 sacks (only player in school history to do that) and 33 tackles for loss. Hes an absolute monster to monitor off the edge, with his rare combination of strength and speed. Eyes are usually focused on Joshua Dobbs and Jalen Hurd on offense, but one of the most electrifying players in the SEC resides at defensive end for the Vols. --?Edward Aschoff10. Notre Dame Fighting Irish Go to Notre Dame, enjoy all of the sights and sounds ... and keep an eye on the offensive line. Specifically, the left side. Tackle Mike McGlinchey and guard Quenton Nelson are monsters. Their position coach, Harry Hiestand, is as good as it gets. The group deserves more appreciation, and itll get it on this roster. --?Matt Fortuna11. Ole Miss Rebels Chad KellyKelly was one of the SECs most exciting players to watch in 2015. He set the single-season school record for total offensive yards (4,542) and touchdowns (41) last season. The nimble runner with the huge arm is so much fun to watch because he can make so many plays on the move. Kelly led all Power 5 quarterbacks by completing 65 percent of his passes on throws outside the numbers. He completed 64 passes for 20-plus yards (second nationally) and completed 55 percent of his passes thrown at least 10 yards, which was nearly 10 percent higher than the national average. --?Aschoff12. Houston Cougars Greg Ward Jr.No doubt, its Ward. In 2015, he was one of only two quarterbacks in the nation to throw for at least 2,500 yards and rush for at least 1,000 yards (Clemsons Deshaun Watson?was the other). Wards ability to befuddle defenses with both his passing ability and his running prowess makes every offensive play intriguing. --?Sam Khan Jr.13. Michigan State SpartansMalik McDowell Defensive tackles rarely garner praise as a worth thee price of admission player, but McDowell is that good.ddddddddddddHe recorded 13 tackles for loss last season and is expected to be an All-American by seasons end. If you like a good offense stuffer in the trenches, McDowell is your man. -- Temple14. Washington Huskies Myles GaskinIn a conference loaded with great running backs, Gaskin ends up on the periphery of the radar. That might not last, seeing that the Huskies look like a rising Pac-12 power, in large part because Gaskin rolled up 1,300 yards rushing and 14 touchdowns last year as a true freshman. With just about everyone back on offense, including what should be a much improved offensive line, Gaskin might end up the most productive runner in the conference. --?Miller15.?TCU Horned Frogs KaVontae Turpin Gary Patterson has said you cant have too many guys like Turpin on your team because games are still won by bigger, more physical players. But who wouldnt want more matchup-wrecking speedsters just like him? Whenever Turpin gets the ball as a receiver, rusher or returner, get your popcorn ready. He produced 1,675 all-purpose yards and nine TDs as a true freshman last year because, at 5-foot-9 and 153 pounds, hes a hard dude to catch and an even harder one to chase. -- Max Olson16. USC TrojansJuJu Smith-SchusterThis much is certain: If USC is going to upset Alabama in the season opener, Smith-Schuster needs to come up big against a talented Crimson Tide secondary. The 6-foot-2, 215-pound receiver is a powerhouse with hands and speed and perhaps the best all-around receiver in the nation. --?Miller17. UCLA BruinsJosh RosenRosen exceeded his substantial recruiting hype as a true freshman last year, and more than a few NFL folks have already pegged him as the top pick in the 2018 draft. Rosen has it all, including an arm that matches strength and accuracy like no one else in college football. Now, can he deliver the ball in the season opener before Texas A&M defensive end Myles Garrett gets his hands on him? That is the question. --?Miller18. Georgia Bulldogs Nick ChubbBulldogs fans certainly want to know how much (or if) future superstar Jacob Eason will play in the opener against North Carolina, but Georgias meal ticket is still Chubb. If the junior running back is operating at full strength following a 2015 knee injury, he will rank among the nations top running backs. --?Ching19.?Louisville CardinalsLamar JacksonThe only acceptable answer is Jackson, who made a name for himself with only one performance: a monster game against Texas A&M in the Music City Bowl. He became only the third quarterback in bowl history to rush and pass for more than 200 yards. Unfortunately for future opponents, that was only the beginning. --?Andrea Adelson20. Oregon Ducks Royce FreemanAlthough the Ducks are known for up-tempo flash on offense, Freeman is a 230-pound semi who barrels over defenders and grinds out tough yards. He piled up 1,836 yards and 17 touchdowns last season and averaged 6.5 yards per carry as a sophomore. Although the shadow cast by Stanfords Christian McCaffrey is large, Freeman is big enough to escape it. --?Miller21.?Oklahoma State Cowboys James WashingtonThere might not be a wideout in college football who delivers more thrilling acrobatic catches than Washington. The Big 12s lone returning 1,000-yard receiver, Washington is a legitimate candidate for the Biletnikoff Award. As a threat to haul in a dazzling touchdown grab at any moment, he is definitely worth the price of admission. -- Jake Trotter22.? Baylor Bears Seth RussellOnly one player in college football was responsible for five touchdowns a game last season, and his name is Seth Russell. He was playing at a ridiculous level before his season-ending neck injury -- dont forget his 540 total yards (380 passing, 160 rushing) and six TDs against a veteran West Virginia defense. Russells ability to hit the deep throws and bust big runs with ease makes him a constant home run threat and a fan favorite. -- Max Olson23. Iowa HawkeyesDesmond King Any time King is in the secondary, the potential for a game-changing interception exists. He picked off eight passes last season and won the Thorpe Award for the nations best defensive back. Teams might be afraid to throw his way, but you can be sure hell be ready when they do. -- Temple24. North Carolina Tar HeelsRyan Switzer Larry Fedoras up-tempo, big-play offense is usually worth the ticket price, regardless of whos making the highlight-reel plays, but the one player who stands out is Switzer. Its one thing that Switzer is among the best slot receivers in the country, but his lightning-quick speed also makes him among the most dangerous return men in ACC history. He tied a college football record with five punt-return TDs in his freshman season. He added two more last season and now stands just one shy of tying the NCAA record for career punt-return touchdowns. --?Hale25.? San Diego State AztecsDonnel PumphreyThe defending Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year, Pumphrey has rushed for 4,272 yards in his career -- second only to Marshall Faulk. Last year, he rushed for 1,653 yards and 17 touchdowns. San Diego State is 21-7 all time when he scores at least one rushing touchdown. -- Kevin Gemmell ' ' '