WANTED & UNWANTED » Wolfpack missed the potential game-winning kick t

KANSAS CITY, Kan. -- Joey Logano knows he is in the most precarious of positions heading to the Chase elimination race at Talladega, tied for the eighth and final spot for advancing to the next round of NASCARs playoffs.There are two clear strategies his Penske Racing team could employ.The first is the relatively low-risk option: They could spend the entire race at the unpredictable superspeedway spying on Austin Dillon, who is even with him in points, and Denny Hamlin and Brad Keselowski, who are also within striking distance, and ensure they get through on points.The riskier option? Race to win, points be damned.Thats the way I race. I dont know a different way, said Logano, whose third-place finish behind Kevin Harvick and Carl Edwards on Sunday at Kansas at least made the points route possible.Im sure well talk about it this week, Logano added, but Im a racer.At least three Chase contenders dont have the same dilemma. Harvick and Jimmie Johnson are already locked into the next round by virtue of their wins in the first two stops of the round, and Chase Elliotts trouble for the second straight week left him in a must-win situation.The other nine drivers are much like Logano, racing to win but keeping a wary eye on points.The big thing that swung everything around was Kevin winning. We would have been in pretty good shape if he had finished second, Logano said. It isnt disappointing because we still should be proud of the effort we had, but it would have meant a lot if he finished second.Thats because Harvick had problems of his own in the round at Charlotte, which means even second place at Kansas would have put him squarely on the bubble heading to Talladega.Logano should at least have some confidence heading to the volatile restrictor-plate track. After years of mostly terrible results, he won there to complete a sweep of the entire round last fall.Meanwhile, Dillon was third there earlier this year, Hamlin won there a couple of years ago and Keselowski won for the fourth time there earlier this year.I dont think its a must-win situation, said Keselowski, who spun into the grass and tore up his car before finishing 38th at Kansas. Im not worried about it. Im going to go there and bust my butt to try to win, but I dont think its a must-win yet.Matt Kenseth, Kyle Busch, Edwards and Kurt Busch are relatively safe after steering clear of major trouble the last two rounds, and Martin Truex Jr. has a 13-point cushion over eighth place.For each of them, winning at Talladega would be great. But they also know that simply by staying out of trouble, their spot in the next round is virtually assured.Its a what-have-you-done-for-me-lately sport and to a huge extreme with the Chase now with this format, Truex said. Youve got to perform every single week. Youve got a bad week, it could ruin your whole season. ... Weve just got to go to Talladega and hope that nothing crazy happens.MAKE YOUR PICKNASCAR could take steps soon to limit Sprint Cup driver participation in lower series, a point driven home after Kyle Busch won his ninth Xfinity Series race of the year at Kansas. NASCAR executive vice president Steve ODonnell was asked about the dominance on SiriusXM NASCAR Radio this week and said something could change in the rules by next year.Weve heard the fans. Its interesting, its been a balance throughout the years, he said. We have always had Sprint Cup drivers come into the Xfinity Series and sometimes dominate.As the sport has evolved, one of the great things is weve got more of a fan following in the Xfinity and Camping World Truck Series. They like seeing those drivers come up through the ranks and its our job to make sure that Xfinity is where names are made.NASCAR is already prohibiting any Sprint Cup driver who was in last years Chase from competing in this years season finale for the Xfinity and Truck Series at Homestead-Miami Speedway.Of the 30 Xfinity races this season, 19 have been won by Sprint Cup regulars.TAKING A BREAKThe Xfinity Series is on a two-week break after Kyle Busch trumped the eight Chase contenders at Kansas on Saturday. Justin Allgaier plans to do some endurance racing in Brazil, and Daniel Suarez will squeeze in a trip to Mexico before racing trucks at Martinsville.Its been a while since the last time I went to Mexico to visit my family, my mom, my sisters and my dad, he said. Were going to do something fun with the people from NASCAR.SKIPPING THE SUNTruexs team decided not to take part in this weeks testing at Homestead, even though its the site of the season-ending race next month. One reason is that its far from Denver, where his Furniture Row Racing team is based, and another is that he isnt convinced it does any good.Every time weve tested this year, weve gone to the race track and spent the first day-and-a-half trying to regroup, he said. It seems like its probably hurt us more than helped us.HAAS F1 DECISIONSFormula 1 team owner Gene Haas said Sunday that he wants to see how Esteban Gutierrez fares the rest of the season before deciding on a second driver for his team. Romain Grosjean has been solid in the teams debut, and his spot for next year is secure. But while Gutierrez has been improving in recent races, he still has not earned a championship point.We havent definitively said whether Esteban is the driver for next year or not, said Haas, whose Sprint Cup team won at Kansas. That doesnt necessarily mean that he wont be, either. Az Cardinals Jerseys For Sale . 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CLEMSON, S.C. -- James Conners smile said it all -- Pittsburgh was happy to once again shuffle up the national championship picture.Hey, sorry to do that. But we wanted this one bad, said Conner, who had two touchdowns and ran for 132 yards in the Panthers 43-42 stunner over No. 2 Clemson on Saturday.Conners 20-yard TD run with 5:17 left inched the Panthers into striking range and Chris Blewitt -- after a kiss on the cheek from coach Pat Narduzzi -- struck a perfect, 48-yard field goal with six seconds left for the winning points.Well remember this one forever, Conner said.So, too, will Clemson (9-1, 6-1 Atlantic Coast Conference, No. 3 AP) which saw its run at perfection halted after escaping so many other jams this season. A fourth-down stop a yard shy saved the Tigers 42-36 win over Louisville on Oct. 1. North Carolina States missed field goal at the end of regulation boosted Clemson to a 24-17 overtime win.This time, it was the Panthers (6-4, 3-3) who made the critical plays.When Clemson was driving for a touchdown already up 42-34, linebacker Saleem Brightwell picked off quarterback Deshaun Watson -- his third interception -- and returned it 70 yards to set up a 20-yard TD by Conner that drew Pitt within 42-40.When Clemson attempted to run out the clock, the Panthers defense (despite allowing 630 yards) stuffed Wayne Gallman a yard short on third and fourth downs to take over near midfield with 58 seconds left.We had a chance to put the game away and they stopped us, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney said. We had been making those kinds of plays this year.Nathan Peterman moved Pitt to the Clemson 30 and Blewitt steadily knocked through.It was Pitts highest-ranked win since defeating Backyard Brawl rival, No. 2 West Virginia, 13-9 in 2007 and spoiling the Mountaineers chances at playing for the national title.Our team had a lot of guts tonight, Narduzzi said.And a whole lot of playmakers to topple the defending ACC champs.Peterman had a career-best five TD passes and 308 yards. Conner rushed for 132 yards and a touchdown. He also caught one of Petermans scoring throws.Blewitt, who had a kick blocked at the end of the opening half, was steely eyed and ready. Narduzzi gave his senior a kiss on the cheek and sent him out for the winning kick.As soon as I saw the kick go up, I knew it was going in, Scott Orndoff said. It was jubilation.Clemson had its offense going.dddddddddddd Watson threw for an ACC record 580 yards and three touchdowns. Gallman ran for three TDs and Mike Williams had 15 catches for 202 yards and a touchdown.In the end, it was Clemsons first loss to an unranked opponent in five seasons, a span of 46 games.Come Monday, well start over because its a long season, Watson said. Get ready for Wake Forest. Hopefully, we can clinch the ACC (Atlantic) and punch our ticket for the championship game next week.THE TAKEAWAYPittsburgh: The Panthers showed that Narduzzis program is taking hold. Peterman stayed calm in the face of Clemsons strong pass rush and Conner was able to avoid the Tigers middle duo of Carlos Watkins and Dexter Lawrence to keep Pitt moving.Clemson: Many non-Tiger fans will say this team had it coming after escaping with close wins at home against No. 5 Louisville (42-36 on Oct. 1) and North Carolina State (24-17 in overtime on Oct. 15) after the Wolfpack missed the potential game-winning kick to end regulation. Clemsons path is still clear -- win out and hope its one-loss season is better than most others.POLL IMPLICATIONSExpect a rankings fall for Clemson, certainly from the top five. And theres not that much time left to make up for a loss. After Wake Forest, the Tigers face revived rival South Carolina at Death Valley before potentially heading to Orlando, Florida, for the ACC championship game.RECORD DAYWatsons passing yards broke the 21-year-old mark of Wake Forests Rusty LaRue, who passed for 545 yards against North Carolina State on Nov. 18, 1995. Watson said the record doesnt console him after the loss. Id rather go 0-for-30 with no yards and get the W, he said.SAYING GOODBYEThis wasnt the farewell Clemsons offense wanted. Watson, Gallman, Williams and receiver Artavis Scott are all juniors who were honored with Clemsons seniors Saturday after Swinney said they would all be leaving the program for the NFL after this season. Watson acknowledged wild emotions. Still, Im going to keep a smile on my face, he said.UP NEXTPittsburgh closes the year with two games at home, starting with Duke next week.Clemson will try to earn the ACC Atlantic Division title with a win at Wake Forest next Saturday.---More AP college football: www.collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '