CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- In a rebuilding season for Illinois, even the homecoming opponent is coming to town with a winning record and payback on its mind.For the second time in three season Illinois (2-5, 1/3 Big Ten) has lined up Minnesota as its homecoming opposition. Last time the Illini upset a Golden Gophers team that competing for a Big Ten West title, winning 28-24 on a late fumble returned for a touchdown.Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner was there, and he says it was one of the first things coach Tracy Claeys stressed to the Golden Gophers (5-2, 2-2) this week. Not that Claeys needed to, Leidner said.Guys are hungry and excited to go down there and redeem ourselves, the redshirt senior said.The Gophers are coming off a comeback win of their own, 34-32 over Rutgers, a team Illinois beat by 17.But after last weeks 41-8 los at Michigan, the Illini arent talking about their win two seasons ago or the win over Rutgers two weeks ago.We lost big, first-year coach Lovie Smith said. This isnt a week to talk about any of us, improvement weve made.QUARTERBACK QUESTIONSSmith refuses to discuss injuries with reporters, leaving everyone outside his team guessing the this week and last about who would start at quarterback with injuries to usual starter Wes Lunt (back), backup Chayce Crouch (shoulder). Third-string quarterback Jeff George Jr., the son the former NFL QB, started at Michigan and could see the field again this week. If so, Smith thinks the redshirt freshman will show he learned a lot from his 4-15, 95-yard day at Michigan.I think, traditionally, yes, you get that, Smith said. When you get out in the game you learn an awful lot about how life really is under center.HAVING HARDINThe Gophers will benefit from cornerback KiAnte Hardin being back in the starting lineup. The sophomore was out last Saturday against Rutgers, one of five players barred from TCF Bank Stadium because of a restraining order later requested by an alleged victim of a Sept. 2 incident who works at the stadium on game days. Hardin, whos tied for the team lead with two interceptions, also missed three games earlier this season during a team-issued suspension during a police investigation that produced no arrests or charges.Because the Gophers are on the road, though, Hardin will be free to play against the Illini.One of our 11 best players, and we count on him when hes available to us, Claeys said.LINING UPThe Gophers started three junior-college transfers on the offensive line last week with left tackle Donnell Greene, right guard Vincent Calhoun and right tackle Garrison Wright. Only one starter, center Tyler Moore, was in the lineup last season. But the group has not only helped pave the way for a productive rushing attack led by Rodney Smith and Shannon Brooks, but it has allowed only five sacks, the fewest in the Big Ten and eighth-fewest in FBS.Every single week before the game, on Friday, we get a tips and reminder sheet, left guard Jared Weyler said. And every single week, one of those bullet points is no sacks and no hits. We take a lot of pride in protecting Mitch.RUNNING PREFERREDIn a season of run-heavy offenses in the Big Ten, Minnesota and Illinois are among the teams most reliant on the ground game. The Gophers average 212.4 rushing yards a game and Illinois averages 173.7.RED ZONE PROSPECTSMinnesotas scoring defense hasnt been bad, giving up 22.9 points a game. But when Illinois finds itself in the Gopher red zone, the Illini have to like their chances. The Gophers red zone defense is the worst in the Big Ten, giving up scores on 19 of the 20 trips. Thirteen of those have been touchdowns.---Follow David Mercer on Twitter: (at)davidmercerAP---Online:Associated Press college football coverage: http://www.collegefootball.ap.org/ Dan Feeney Jersey . If ever they start actually putting pictures beside words in the dictionary, the Blue Jays left-handers mug will appear beside “Consistency. Jatavis Brown Jersey . James, who turned 29 on Monday, injured his groin Friday during the Heats overtime loss at Sacramento. He sat out the following game, a 108-107 win Saturday in Portland, before coming back to help send the Nuggets to their seventh consecutive loss. http://www.chargersauthenticshop.com/Chargers-Kyle-Emanuel-Draft-Jersey/ .Y. -- Buffalo Bills coach Doug Marrone has drawn on his Syracuse connections once again by hiring Rob Moore to take over as receivers coach. LaDainian Tomlinson Jersey . In Europe, top teams seem to be largely happy with their squads after spending nearly $1 billion in the off-season. And although English league clubs are unlikely to splash cash in January, Arsenal and Chelsea could be tempted to strengthen their squads with new strikers. Spencer Pulley Jersey . Three came down to the fourth quarter while quarterbacks continued to shine in all four games; so important to the overall quality of the game. NEW YORK -- In three weeks, Gary Sanchez has helped the New York Yankees stay within striking distance in the race for the American League wild card.Sanchez and the Yankees get an opportunity to inch closer to a team holding one of the wild-card spots when they open a three-game series with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night at Yankee Stadium.The Yankees will face the Orioles in each of the next two weekends and begin 4 1/2 games out of the second wild-card spot.When Sanchez was promoted from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes Barre, the Yankees were 53-53 and 5 1/2 games behind the Boston Red Sox for the second wild-card spot. Their smallest deficit since Sanchez was called up was 3 1/2 games from Aug. 11-13.Since his promotion, Sanchez has hit nine home runs and New York has won 12 of its last 20 games to get to 65-61. Sanchezs latest home run occurred during Wednesdays 5-0 win in Seattle, which capped a 4-2 West Coast trip.Sanchez has become the Yankees regular catcher while moving veteran Brian McCann to being the regular designated hitter. After his latest home run, Sanchez is batting .389 with an OPS of 1,297.You feel like hes going to hit the ball hard is what you feel, New York manager Joe Girardi said. And youre not sure where its going to end up but you feel like hes going to hit the ball real hard. Hes been locked in and its been fun to watch.Sanchez is one of five major leaguers since 1913 with nine or more home runs in his first 21 games. He also is one of nine with 15 or more extra bases in his first 21 games.As much as fans enjoy hearing those things, none of those accolades matter to Sanchez.I understand it, but the focus is not about me, its about winning games here, Sanchez said through a translator. Thats where my focus is, go out there, play hard and win some games.The Yankees did some winning in their last encounter with the Orioles by taking the first three games by a 14-2 margin before Chris Tillman pitched seven outstanding innings in Baltimores 4-1 win on July 21.To demonstrate how much has changed since those games, 10 players who were on New Yorks active roster will not be with the team Friday due to injuries, demotions or trades.Baltimore moved into first place with its second series win against the Yankees June 3-5 but when it left the Bronx it was a half-game out of first place. Thhe Orioles (70-57) have spent 111 days in first place, have not held a share of the division lead since Aug.dddddddddddd 15 and trail the Blue Jays and Red Sox by one game.The Orioles dropped 2 1/2 games out when it gave up 32 runs in a three-game sweep by the Houston Astros last weekend. Baltimore recovered decently by scoring 22 times in taking three of four against the Washington Nationals.Chris Davis, Manny Machado, Jonathan Schoop and Mark Trumbo homered in the series. The quartet has combined for 118 of Baltimores major league-leading 197 home runs. Neither player connected Thursday as the Orioles struck out 10 times and mustered three hits in a 4-0 loss.Good series for us, Baltimore center fielder Adam Jones said. We took it to a good team and tonight they took it to us. I think overall it was a good series. We played well. Pitchers threw the ball extremely well. Now lets go to New York and do the same thing. Important series.Jones had one of those hits before leaving with a leg cramp but he said he expects to play Friday.Jones and the Orioles will be healthier than their last visit to New York when a flu bug hit the team and forced Machado, Davis and Showalter to miss games.While Sanchez is part of the Yankees attempt to get younger bats in their lineup, Luis Cessa is making his second career start out of necessity. Cessa and Chad Green are in the Yankees rotation because Nathan Eovaldi is having elbow surgery and Luis Severino is in the minors.Cessa made an impressive debut in New Yorks rotation last Saturday when he allowed two hits in six shutout innings during a 5-1 win at the Los Angeles Angels.For all its prowess at the plate, Baltimore has struggled on the mound at times by posting a 4.38 ERA. Those struggles include Yovani Gallardo, who starts Friday and has a 5.08 ERA.Gallardo is 1-4 with a 4.66 ERA in his last 10 starts though he has pitched decently in four starts this month. Gallardo has allowed three earned runs or less in four straight starts, including Sunday against Houston when he allowed three earned runs and seven hits in seven innings.Gallardo faced the Yankees July 20 in New York and allowed four runs and five hits in seven innings of a 5-0 loss. Cheap Jerseys China NFL Jerseys China NFL Jerseys Wholesale Discount Basketball Jerseys Cheap NHL Jerseys Authentic Cheap Baseball Jerseys Free Shipping Cheapest College Jerseys Sale Cheap Football Jerseys China Nike NFL Jerseys Canada Wholesale NHL Jerseys From China MLB Jerseys Outlet Canada Wholesale NBA Jerseys Canada Store Cheap Soccer Jerseys China Cheap Authentic Jerseys Canada ' ' '