The Atlantic Coast Conference is home to maybe the best and most important player in college football this season.Clemson quarterback Deshaun Watson is the favorite to win the Heisman Trophy and the leader of a team with hopes of getting back to the College Football Playoff -- and finishing the job this time around.Florida State running back Dalvin Cook could also make a run at the Heisman Trophy. Louisville quarterback Lamar Jackson and Miami quarterback Brad Kaaya might get into the Heisman mix as well, and North Carolina running back Elijah Hood is maybe the most unheralded member of the great class of junior ball carriers around the country.The ACC has no shortage of potential All-Americans and award winners, but these six players could play pivotal roles for their teams this season.DeAngelo Brown, NT, LouisvilleThe Cardinals defense looks loaded, despite losing its best player, defensive lineman Sheldon Rankins, to the NFL. Brown is a powerful nose tackle that Louisville will need to clog up the middle and stay on the field to let the Cardinals athletes make plays.Shaq Quarterman, LB, MiamiThe Hurricanes run defense was abysmal last season. There is hope among fans of the U. that new defensive coordinator Manny Diaz and his 4-3 defense will fix much of the mess they blame on former coordinator Mark DOnofrio. There is also much optimism about Quarterman, an early enrolling freshman who has already locked up the middle linebacker job.Travis Rudolph, WR, Florida StateThe Seminoles quarterback competition between Sean Maguire and Deondre Francois will be the main event of fall practice. Improved play by Florida States receivers will also be needed this season, especially from Rudolph. He led the team with 56 catches for 916 yards, but too often the junior had little impact on games in 2015.Jaylen Samuels, TE, North Carolina StateIts hard to pin a position on the 223-pound junior. Tight end. Fullback. Maybe H-back? Whatever you want to call him, new Wolfpack offensive coordinator Eli Drinkwitz would be wise to get the ball to Samuels more often. He scored 16 touchdowns on 121 combined carries and catches last season.Thomas Sirk, QB, DukeSirk is recovering from a torn Achilles tendon in his left leg and remarkably is aiming to be ready to start fall practice with his teammates on Aug. 8. Sirk was Dukes leading rusher (803 yards and eight touchdowns) on top of his 2,625 yards passing last season. Backup Parker Boehme is a similar player with promising upside, but having Sirk healthy would huge for the Blue Devils.Christian Wilkins, DT, ClemsonThe 315-pounder gained some fame by catching a pass off a fake punt in the Tigers playoff victory against Oklahoma. Fun stuff, but Wilkins work up front as a freshman was even more praise-worthy. With Clemson sending two defensive ends to the NFL, Wilkins will be expected to fill a bigger role this season. He has a chance to develop into the best defensive lineman in the country.Extra pointSix more pivotal players: Patrick Towles, QB, Boston College; Brisly Estime, WR, Syracuse; Andre Smith, LB, North Carolina; Bucky Hodges, TE, Virginia Tech; Dontez Ford, WR, Pitt; KeShun Freeman, DE, Georgia Tech.--Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAPBlue Jays Jerseys 2020 . Each of Houstons starters scored in double figures as the Rockets improved to 2-0 against the Spurs this season, with both victories coming on the road. They also moved within 3 1/2 games of San Antonio (22-7) for the lead the Southwest Division. Custom Toronto Blue Jays Jerseys .com) - The Edmonton Oilers and Vancouver Canucks both take aim at their first wins of the season on Saturday, as the Canucks open their home slate at Rogers Arena. https://www.cheapbluejays.com/ . A lawyer for MLB, Matthew Menchel, confirmed Wednesday the league dropped its case against Biogenesis of America, its owner Anthony Bosch and several other individuals. The lawsuit had accused Biogenesis and Bosch of conspiring with players to violate their contracts by providing them with banned performance-enhancing substances. Cheap Blue Jays Jerseys .S. Open champion Justin Rose birdied the first hole with a blind shot he hit to a foot of the pin, and he stayed in front Tuesday until he completed a 4-under 67 for a two-shot lead over Jason Dufner in PGA Grand Slam of Golf. Toronto Blue Jays Pro Shop BOZEMAN, Mont. -- Brady Oliveira ran 22 times for 171 yards and two touchdowns, including a key touchdown late in the fourth quarter in North Dakotas 17-15 win over Montana State on Saturday.Oliverias 60-yard gallop gave the Fighting Hawks a 17-9 lead with 2:27 to play. MSU rallied with a 3-yard touchdown run by Chad Newell, but Newell failed to score on the two-point conversion attempt after a pass interference call against UND moved the ball to the one.MSU (2-2, 0-1 Big Sky) recovered the onside kick, but Tyler Bruggman threw his third interception three plays later.MSU, which came into the game leading the nation in turnover ratios, turned the ball over five times to just one for UND (2-2, 1-0).That was the entire difference in the game. Period. MSU head coach Jeff Choate said of the turnovers. Cannot win a game like that. Thats a really tough one.MSU had two chances to win the game with a field goal, but couldnt get the ball into UND territory on either drive.I probably thought that game was over two or three times, UND safety Cole Reyes said. Its probably one of the funnest games Ive ever been in. Im spent but its fun to win a game like that.Reid Taubenheim kicked a 22-yard field goal late in the third quarter to put UND ahead for good at 10-9.Neither team could reach the end zone in the first half until UNDs Oliveira scored from two yards with just 59 secondds remaining following a fumble by MSUs Chad Newell.dddddddddddd MSU had scored on field goals of 26 and 31 yards by Gabe Peppenger earlier.Following the touchdown Newell, a senior captain, left the game with an apparent leg injury, but returned in the second half. He ran for 68 yards on nine carries prior to the injury, but limited to just 32 yards in the second half finishing with 18 carries for 100 yards.THE TAKEAWAY:Montana State struggled offensively for the fourth straight game, but got a spark from true freshman receiver Kevin Kassis, who had 4 catches for 90 yards. MSU will need more players to emerge on offense if it expects to stay in the league race.North Dakota has seen all four of its games decided by four points or less and have now won the last two after falling to Stony Brook and FBS Bowling Green. Experience in close games will likely go a long way in what appears to be a balanced Big Sky Conference.UP NEXT: Montana State travels to Sacramento State for a conference game against the Hornets (0-1, 1-3), who lost 42-34 to Idaho State.North Dakota hosts Cal Poly in a conference game. Cal Poly upset Montana 42-41 at home and also sits at 1-0 in the Big Sky.Online: The APs college football page http://collegefootball.ap.org ' ' '