HOUSTON -- The carnage that Louisville needed to make inroads in the College Football Playoff picture unfolded during this past chaotic weekend. Suddenly, the ball is in the Cardinals court with an opportunity to hold serve.With three of the top four teams in the CFP rankings falling on Saturday -- Clemson, Michigan and Washington, with the Tigers and Wolverines losing to unranked teams -- the door swung open for the Cardinals to secure a coveted spot in the national semifinals. Louisville, which is 9-1 and ranked No. 3 in this weeks Associated Press poll, needed a 34-point fourth quarter to subdue stubborn Wake Forest, but in doing so secured its highest ranking ever.And now, with two games remaining in their regular season, including a critical Thursday night showdown against Houston (8-2) at Houstons TDECU Stadium, the Cardinals have a viable path to a national championship. Well, at least one less treacherous than the road that faced Louisville following its 42-36 loss at Clemson on Oct. 1.For our players they just have to understand that we need to go out and play well and play the type of football that were capable of playing, Louisville coach Bobby Petrino said. Really thats what we need to do our last two games. Whatever happens happens; we cant control any of that. Weve just got to go play the way were capable of playing.Obviously we know its on national TV; nobody else is playing. Everybody will be watching it. But those are the types of games we like, something thats fun as a team, something that weve always felt has helped us in recruiting. And we are used to playing midweek games.The Cardinals will play their fourth non-Saturday game this week. Managing a schedule that undermines the routine of weekly preparation requires both mental and physical flexibility, but at this stage of the season Louisville has endured the drama and sidestepped the pitfalls that befell Clemson, Michigan and Washington.Following the loss to Clemson and prior to their rally against the Demon Deacons, the Cardinals survived close calls against Duke and Virginia. Against lesser foes their defense has thrived, but when challenged by elite offenses Louisville has wavered. Quarterback Lamar Jackson remains a Heisman Trophy frontrunner, yet against Wake Forest he mustered just one touchdown, and that came with 4:05 left to play.Dynamic Houston senior quarterback Greg Ward Jr. is a handful under normal circumstances. Having to prepare for the Cougars high-scoring offense on a short week only ramps up the potential for Louisville to stumble like so many others have.Weve had full steam ahead for this game, Petrino said. We play 7 oclock on a Saturday night then again on Thursday, thats a short turnaround for our players and our coaches. It required us to do some work last week on Houston.Usually on Fridays I get to let our coaches take their kids to school and then come in here later on Friday morning. This week we were in the office at 7 a.m. working on Houston. Usually they get to spend some time Saturday morning. We were up at 7 oclock Saturday morning working on Houston. We had to adjust schedules. Probably dont know a whole lot whats going on in the world besides getting ready for the Houston game.Following a 5-0 start and their climb to No. 6 in the national polls, Houston started eying the Louisville game for its potential to thrust the Cougars into the CFP conversation. But Houston followed with a three-game lull that not only snuffed those hopes, but also put in peril a shot to win an American Athletic Conference title.Houston followed a road loss to Navy with a white-knuckle home win over Tulsa and a shocking defeat against middling SMU. Given those setbacks, the Cougars lack the sizzle they had prior to Navy stunning them and sending their season into a tailspin.That fact doesnt mean the Cougars arent relishing the opportunity ahead.This is extra anticipation and extra excitement knowing whos coming into town, theres no hiding from that, Cougars coach Tom Herman said. But, at the same time, its business as usual. The way we prepare is not going to change. The way we go about our business minute-to-minute and day-by-day, from a preparation standpoint is business as usual. I think our guys are excited to go against a top five team such as Louisville. Damon Severson Jersey . Now, correct me if Im wrong but I saw one official distinctly pointing at the net indicating a good goal but after an inconclusive review they overturned the goal. Shouldnt the ruling on the ice (good goal) stand after an inconclusive review? Why was this overturned? James Veaudry Pembroke, ON -- Hey Kerry, Youll get a lot of these, but why was the Montreal goal against Nashville Saturday night overturned? Eller puts the puck on net and the on ice ruling from the ref behind the net is a Montreal goal. Kyle Palmieri Jersey . Both players have lower body injuries that will keep them out of the lineup until at least January 31, which is the first game they can be activated from IR. http://www.devilssale.com/authentic-blake-coleman-devils-jersey/ . It was the kind of score that might make everyone else wonder which course he was playing. Except that Graeme McDowell saw the whole thing. Crouched behind the 10th green at Sheshan International, McDowell looked over at the powerful American and said, "Ive probably seen 18 of the best drives Ive seen all year in the last two days. Nico Hischier Devils Jersey . JOHNS, N. Will Butcher Devils Jersey . Then the Pacers gave Oladipo and his Orlando teammates the cold shoulder. Paul Georges buzzer-beating 3-pointer at the end of the third quarter spurred a 21-4 run, finally sending Indiana past the Magic 97-87 in a tougher-than-expected opening night matchup. The impasse over the administration of boxing in India could finally be over following the Boxing Federation of India (BFI) elections in Mumbai on Sunday, where Ajay Singh and Jay Kowli were elected president and secretary general respectively.The Indian boxing administration has been in disarray since the Indian Amateur Boxing Federations (IABF) suspension for manipulation in elections in 2012. The new body, Boxing India, which took shape in 2014, was also terminated last year following a rebellion by state units and the sport has since been administered by an ad-hoc committee of the AIBA. Boxing in India has suffered irreparable losses over the last four years, with no nationals being conducted.On Friday, a petition moved by Abhishek Matoria, former president of the now-defunct IABF, seeking the Delhi High Court to stay the September 25 elections, left the Indian boxing community at large, fuming. The argument, however, did not seem to win over the court. Matoria, incidentally is the son-in-law of Abhey Singh Chautala, who held the office of president for 12 years and courtesy the Sports Code could not contest for a fourth term.Ajay Singh, the Chairman and Managing Director of Spicejet Airlines, got 49 votes against the 15 that his rival -- Rohit Jainendra Jain of Delhi -- polled in the election, which had observers from the International Boxing Association (AAIBA) and the Sports Ministry to monitor the proceedings.ddddddddddddWhile AIBA was represented by its Oceania Zone Vice-President Edgar Tanner, the Ministry had deputed Sports Authority of India Director Sushmita Jyotsi as observer.The 51-year-old Singh, who was representing Uttarakhand, was a late entrant to the race and sources say he had the backing of the Indian Olympic Association (IOA).Maharashtras Jay Kowli was elected the Secretary General, garnering 48 votes against the 12 by his nearest rival Lenny DGama of Goa.The third candidate in fray, Haryanas Rakesh Thakran, fetched only 4 votes.Kowli had been voted out of this same position only last year by these state units. At that time, he was the Secretary General of Boxing India, which was dissolved following a revolt by the state units.Assams Hemanta Kumar Kalita had been elected unopposed as Treasurer at the end of the nomination process earlier this week.AIBA observer Edgar Tanner said he was satisfied with the conduct of elections.It was a very well conducted election and very fair election. I will be reporting to AIBA that the Indian boxing federation is back up and running. We can expect strong showing once again from Indian boxers at international competitions, he said. ' ' '