yoffs in 2011. Birds shrewd moves included a draft-day trade for Roy Hibbert and another draft-day trade for George Hill, the signing of free-agent power forward David West and the selections of

You thought you had it all figured out, didnt you?Florida State and Clemson were the ACCs lone playoff contenders. Oklahoma was the Big 12s best. Michigan State? Once again playing the role of little brother.Then came Week 3.Out with the old, in with the new. It was an elimination Saturday for several playoff contenders, but there was also a new wave of teams to be taken seriously. Heres a look at who got bumped from the conversation, and who emerged from the weekend with more legitimate College Football Playoff hopes:ACCOut of the playoff picture: Florida State. The Seminoles can say goodbye to the top four this week after being outplayed in every facet of a 63-20 loss to Louisville. The Seminoles arent out of the CFP because they have one loss; theyre out of the conversation right now because they simply dont look like a top-four team. FSU can still earn a spot in the ACC championship game, but now it needs Louisville to lose twice. The selection committee uses head-to-head competition as part of its criteria when ranking comparable teams, and Louisville left no doubt which team was better.Into the playoff picture: Louisville. From dark horse to contender in four quarters, Louisville legitimized its place among the nations elite with arguably the most impressive performance of the young season against the No. 2 team in the country. It was the kind of statement win against a ranked opponent that doubters or critics were waiting to see, and Louisville delivered. With a Heisman Trophy front-runner in Lamar Jackson, the Cardinals have now joined Clemson as the teams to beat in the Atlantic Division this fall.Big 12Out of the playoff picture: The Big 12. OK, maybe its a little early to be so dramatic, but the Big 12s top two contenders both tumbled in Week 3, and the entire conference is officially in the long-shot category for the CFP. After Oklahoma lost at home to Ohio State, all eyes turned to Texas to carry the banner for the league, but the Longhorns came out on the wrong end of a thriller against Cal. The Sooners playoff hopes are likely over after starting the season 1-2 and not having a conference championship game to compensate for it. The Big 12 title is still a realistic goal for both Texas and Oklahoma -- and TCU, Baylor and Oklahoma State might have something to say about it -- but its unlikely the league winner will have only one loss, like OU did last year, and an impressive nonconference win. Texas, theres still hope: cheer for Notre Dame.Big TenOut of the playoff picture: Iowa. The selection committee will be aware that North Dakota State isnt your typical FCS program, as the five-time defending FCS champs have now won six straight games against FBS opponents and have nine wins over FBS schools since 2005. Still, Iowa lost at home (albeit on a field goal as time expired) to an unranked team. Thats going to be tough for the Hawkeyes to overcome, especially since theyre in the weaker of the two divisions.Into the playoff picture: Michigan State. The Spartans continue to be at their best when expectations are modest. Jim Harbaugh and Michigan have continued to steal the limelight, but Michigan State now has a nonconference win that will resonate with the selection committee through November. Dont forget that the Spartans also have home-field advantage against Wisconsin, Michigan and Ohio State. If they can survive the schedule, theyre in.Pac-12Out of the playoff picture: USC. After dropping to 1-2 for the first time since 2000, USC simply doesnt look capable of winning the conference, let alone finishing among the nations top four. The Trojans were embarrassed in their season-opening loss to Alabama and were outscored by a combined 79-16 in their two losses. The Trojans are struggling to find their offensive identity under first-year coach Clay Helton, and theres not much time to develop one with a road trip to Utah fast approaching on Friday night.Into the playoff picture: Stanford (still). Stanford was a Pac-12 front-runner heading into the season, but Saturdays win over USC was only the Cardinals second game of the year after having an early bye last week. The question is how long Stanford can stay in the picture, as three of the next four games are on the road, at UCLA, Washington and Notre Dame.SECOut of the playoff picture: Ole Miss. That loss to Florida State no longer falls into the good loss category after the Noles got embarrassed by Louisville, and once again the Rebels squandered at least a 21-point lead, this time to Alabama. Ole Miss now needs to run the table and have Bama lose twice to get back into the SEC race. Its not impossible, but certainly seems unlikely considering the Rebels performances in their past two losses and the schedule that lies ahead.Into the playoff picture: Texas A&M. You were warned not to take the Aggies too seriously after their season-opening win (which hasnt amounted to much in recent years), but for the third straight season theyre impossible to ignore after a 3-0 start. A&M relied on five field goals against Auburn and will need more in the red zone from its offense moving forward in the SEC West, but the Aggies join Alabama and Arkansas as the only undefeated teams remaining in the division.OthersOut of the playoff picture: Notre Dame. Losing in double overtime to Texas in the season opener was forgivable, but starting September 1-2 will be nearly impossible to overcome. The Irish know their status as an independent is a gamble -- they can craft the perfect playoff schedule, but it doesnt help if they cant get through it with one loss or fewer. After losing to Texas and Michigan State, Notre Dames playoff hopes are likely over. The Irish dont have a 13th data point, so they have to impress the selection committee members with the 12 games they have, and a 1-2 start isnt the way to do it.Into the playoff picture: Houston. The Cougars faced some real adversity at Cincinnati on Thursday night, trailing 16-12 early in the fourth quarter, but Houstons defense and Greg Ward Jr.?woke up and rallied for their convincing 40-16 win. As long as Houston keeps winning, it should remain in the CFP conversation. The only game in which ESPNs Football Power Index doesnt favor the Cougars is Nov. 17 against Louisville. Michael Green Jersey Online . Mickelson barely made the cut but had the best round of the day with nine birdies and an eagle coupled with two bogeys to sit two shots behind leader Craig Lee of Scotland. Lee shot a 69 for a 12-under 204 total. "I just love the fact I am in contention and have an opportunity in my first tournament of the year here in Abu Dhabi," Mickelson said. Steve Wright Jersey Online . After Martin Skrtel put the Reds in front from close range at Stamford Bridge after only four minutes, Hazard hit back in the 17th with a superb strike. Etoo gave Jose Mourinhos team a decisive lead from Oscars back pass in the 34th. https://www.cheapjerseysatwholesale.com/ . -- Kyrie Irvings last-minute 3-pointer helped seal another victory for Cleveland -- and the Cavaliers longest winning streak since LeBron James left. Dave Croston Jersey Online . The Dutchmans tenure got off to a poor start when referee Guido Winkmann awarded a penalty within two minutes for Niklas Starks clumsy challenge on Alexandru Maxim. Carl Monroe Jersey Online . To the surprise of many, it isnt the Wolverines but their in-state rivals the Michigan State Spartans.INDIANAPOLIS -- A year away from basketball has rejuvenated Larry Bird. Now he wants to win a championship. Bird, the former NBA star who left his job last season after rebuilding the Indiana Pacers and winning the leagues executive of the year award, will be reintroduced to the media Thursday morning as the president of basketball operations. Thats the same job Bird held from 2003-12. "The year off gave me a chance to reflect, to rest, to take care of some health issues and it re-charged me," Bird said in a statement issued by the team. The move is hardly a surprise. He reportedly met earlier this month with Sacramento about becoming that teams general manager and had become a regular in recent weeks as the Pacers held public draft workouts, making his imminent return one of the worst kept secrets in Indy. Following Tuesdays draft workout, general manager Kevin Pritchard even alluded to the fact that Bird appeared on the verge of making a comeback. Donnie Walsh, who preceded Bird as the Pacers top decision-maker then succeeded him last summer as president of basketball operations, will now settle in his new role -- as a team consultant. Walsh had said all along that if, or when, Bird wanted to return, he would gladly step aside. He has. "Hes ready and I couldnt be happier," Walsh said. "I had a great year last year with this team. It is a great group of guys who have the potential for some great things and to remain a part of this, with two people who I love to work with and respect greatly, is very special." Bird has a long track record of success in the NBA. As a player with Boston, he won three championships, three MVP awards, was twice the MVP of the NBA Finals and retired in 1992 as one off the greatest players in league history.dddddddddddd. In 1997, he returned to the bench this time as coach of the Pacers -- his home state team. He was the 1998 NBA coach of the year and two years later led the Pacers into the franchises only appearance in the NBA Finals. Indiana lost that year to the Los Angeles Lakers in six games, and Bird retired after the season in part because of health problems. Three years later, he came back to the Pacers in a front office job. He and Walsh worked together as a team for five years before Walsh left to join the New York Knicks and Bird took over most of the day-to-day decisions with the Pacers. Under Birds guidance, the Pacers returned to the playoffs in 2011. Birds shrewd moves included a draft-day trade for Roy Hibbert and another draft-day trade for George Hill, the signing of free-agent power forward David West and the selections of Paul George and Lance Stephenson in the 2010 draft. Those five, and Danny Granger, produced the franchises first playoffs series win in seven years last season, and it was those five, without Granger, that pushed Miami to the limit in Indianas first conference finals appearance in nine years. "We are all very happy to have Larry back," team owner Herb Simon said. "Larry had a huge impact on this team and where it is now, so its fitting that he comes back at this time. Donnie has been a friend and a valuable contributor to the franchise and will continue to be both. I wanted him to agree to stay in some capacity as I believe with Larry and Kevin, it gives us three of the best basketball minds in the business." The team will hold a news conference Thursday morning to introduce Bird, who will officially take over July 1. ' ' '