Washington gets close to clinching

Washington has one thing to be thankful for this Thanksgiving: Its season is nearly over.

After notching a clutch 13-16 loss to Washington State, the Huskies pawed (0-11) their way closer to a Bottom Ten title but their work isn’t over yet. There’s still another game to mess up against California.

Meanwhile, threatening gestures were being made by the mysterious SMUs, who have taken over No. 2 on the strength, or rather weakness, of a shocking 10-36 beating by the University of Texas at El Pinpoint Paso earlier this month.

Elsewhere, Arkansas (4-7) crept up to No. 8 under the leadership of high-priced, former Falcons coach Bobby Petrino, who proved he can lose at both the college and pro levels with equal ease.

And, finally, a Bottom Ten welcome to the No. 9 Fightin’ Rash (6-5), the first Notre Dame team ever defeated by a school with eight losses (sizzling Syracuse).

-- Steve Harvey

*--* Wreck, Record Last Loss Next Loss 1.Washington (0-11) 13-16, Wash. St. (OT*) California 2. The SMUS (1-10) 10-36, UTEP Southern Ole Miss 3. Wash. St. (2-10) d. Wash. St. 16-13 (OT)* Hawaii 4. Utah State (2-9) 38-45, Louisiana Tech New Mexico St. 5. Michigan (3-9) 7-42, Ohio State 2009 6. Iowa State (2-10) 30-38, Kansas State 2009 7. Tulane (2-9) 7-56, Tulsa Memphis 8. Arkansas (4-7) 28-31, Mississippi State Louisiana St. 9. Notre Dame (6-5) 23-24, Syracuse USC 10. Syracuse (3-8) d. Notre Dame, 24-23 Cincinnati *--*

*OT means “offenses terrible.”

Rout of the week: USC (9-1) over Fightin’ Rash (6-5).

Crummy game of the week: Utah State (2-9) vs. New Mexico State (3-8).