I do think that this conference race with Chicago is keeping us focused.

Their latest meeting is just one of consequence as conference races - and the resulting bowl game assignments - begin to take shape.

The team's season and the conference race may come down to the trip to Louisville on Nov. 2.

This conference race is so close you have to prepare your team carefully for every game.

But we know the regular-season conference race, except that you're always trying to win for the obvious reasons, is meaningless.

San Diego State has a brutal nonconference schedule but could still figure into the conference race.

And this is a game that has little significance in terms of conference races, bowl games or poll rankings.

Heading into the final weekend of the season, the Huskers were two games behind Baylor in the conference race.

L.S.U. finished second in the conference race at 5-1.

Middle Tennessee fell to 2-4 overall and was out of the conference race at 1-3.