Defending champion Clemson entered the season as the overwhelming preseason No. 1, and without losing a game or superstar quarterback Trevor Lawrence or any of their other standouts, the Tigers find themselves No. 5 in the first College Football Playoff ranking.

As improbable as that might have seemed back in August, the selection committee made a resounding statement with its first selections on Tuesday: The Tigers are not only being held to a higher standard than everyone else, but they are also being punished for playing in the ACC.

Specifically, they are being punished for a one-point win over North Carolina.

It is obvious when you compare the résumés of Clemson and No. 3 Alabama. Neither the Tigers nor the Crimson Tide have beaten a team ranked in the top 25. They share the same "best" win: Texas A&M. Clemson has beaten more Power 5 teams than Alabama has. Clemson has beaten more teams with winning records than Alabama has. Clemson's opponents have a better overall win percentage than Alabama's.

What is very clearly holding Clemson back is a closer-than-expected 21-20 road win against North Carolina, which currently has a losing record. The Tigers have been in several other close games against ACC opponents in years when they made the College Football Playoff, and it didn't seem to hurt them as much (last year's 27-23 win over Syracuse, for example). The difference this season is what appears to be overwhelming agreement that the ACC is the worst among the Power 5 conferences.

It doesn't help that No. 19 Wake Forest is the only other ranked ACC team. It doesn't help that Syracuse has had a dreadful season one year after winning 10 games. It doesn't help that Florida State and Miami are average at best.

Nothing, it seems, helps Clemson: Not a better schedule than Alabama's to this point. Not a win margin of 29.4 points (that includes the one-point win over North Carolina). Not seven games in which it has scored 40 or more points. Not a 24-game winning streak or its title as defending champion. Not even the advanced metrics, such as FPI and SP+, which both rate Clemson higher than Penn State.

The selection committee has made clear that it will judge each team based on this season and this season alone. Clemson is not going to get some sort of pass for winning the national title last season, even if the Tigers are the first defending champs to be outside the top four in the initial rankings. But the committee also has emphasized the "eye test," and the thought was that overall schedule strength would be one among many factors it considers.

Since a lousy first quarter against Louisville on Oct. 19, Clemson has outscored its opponents 160-31. Two of its past three wins have come against ACC teams with winning records. Lawrence has not thrown an interception in his past seven quarters, and the Clemson offense seems to have hit its groove. And oh, by the way, the starters have played a complete game twice this season.

After the North Carolina victory, Clemson coach Dabo Swinney defended his program, saying, "It's not easy to win. I know we're supposed to destroy everybody, like nobody else has scholarships, nobody else has coaches. It doesn't work that way. We're just normal people. There's nothing special about us. We're not perfect. We don't coach perfect. Unfortunately, we don't play perfect every down, every game, but we found a way to win an ugly game."

The truth is nobody wants to see Clemson win an ugly game against competition others deem unworthy. There appears to be little that Clemson could have done to avoid this scenario, except beat North Carolina by 30. But even then, you have to wonder whether the Tigers would be any higher than they are now, given the expectation level relative to that of the competition. Having their starters play every snap in every game likely would not have made a difference.

During his weekly news conference on Tuesday, Swinney questioned why Alabama always gets the benefit of the doubt for beating up on its conference opponents, but Clemson does not.

"It is just the same ol' spin," he said.

He added that he wasn't sure if he would even watch to see where his team was ranked.

"It just doesn't matter," Swinney said. "If we're 2, 3, 4, 15 -- it just doesn't matter. It's not worth the brain cells. We just go to work and try to have a good Wednesday practice."

Granted, all of this will change once LSU and Alabama play this weekend. Penn State has a tough game on Saturday at undefeated Minnesota, and then the Nittany Lions face No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 23 in Columbus.

If Clemson wins out, the Tigers are almost assuredly in. But these rankings reveal that there is no margin for error for the defending champs. It is hard to envision a scenario in which they can overcome a loss, the way they did in their 2016 championship season, unless there is absolute chaos down the stretch.

No matter what Swinney says, Clemson needs to be perfect. But even then, there will be questions about how good this team is if it does, indeed, make it back to the playoff.

OKLAHOMA CITY -- In a powerful pregame moment Tuesday, the Oklahoma City Thunder presented custom city-edition jerseys to the families of the 168 people killed in the 1995 Alfred P. Murrah bombing.

Following a short video presentation, the families took the floor moments before tipoff and held up jerseys displaying No. 95 and the name of their loved one on the back.

"It was amazing. Just 10 out of 10, bro," Thunder center Steven Adams said. "Just something unbelievably special."

The Thunder's city jersey is a collaboration between the Thunder, Nike and the Oklahoma City National Memorial. The uniform features plenty of symbolism, including the gold coloring representing the "Gates of Time" from the memorial (9:01 and 9:03), a picture of the Survivor Tree on the belt (a 90-year-old American elm that survived the blast and now stands at the heart of the memorial) and a number of other subtle nods.

"You know for a lot of guys on our team, some of them weren't even born then," Chris Paul said. "And for me, I was 10 years old and I remember that. I remember being at school. It's tough. And then playing here my first two years knowing how much that event impacted the city. My grandparents and parents were here for the last home game, and I sent them over to the memorial. For my grandparents and parents to get a chance to experience that, it's very emotional."

Tuesday marked 168 days until the 25th anniversary of the bombing, which happened on April 19, 1995. Prior to Sept. 11, it was the deadliest domestic terror attack in United States history, killing 168 and injuring at least 680 more.

The Oklahoma City National Memorial and Museum is only a few blocks from Chesapeake Energy Arena and features 168 empty chairs facing a shallow reflecting pool.

"The memorial does a really great job of paying respect to those who lost their lives. They're not forgotten," Adams said. "And the Thunder does a great job of keeping them alive in that way, if that makes sense. It was touching, mate."

The Thunder have been closely aligned with the Oklahoma City National Memorial since arriving in OKC, with each new team employee, including players, taking a tour of the museum to learn of the significance of the event to the identity of the city. Thunder general manager Sam Presti serves on the memorial's executive committee.

"I think the team does a great job of making sure every player goes over and sees that and understand what they're playing for when they're here," Paul said.

The Thunder will wear the city edition uniform for the first time on Jan. 9 against the Houston Rockets.

Chelsea coach Frank Lampard called his side's heart-thumping 4-4 Champions League draw against Ajax on Tuesday a "mad one" that ranked alongside some of the greatest matches he contested as a player for the London side.

"Today was just a mad one. I don't think there's too many you can compare it to in my day," Lampard, who is Chelsea's all-time top goal-scorer and won the Champions League with the Blues in 2012, told reporters after the match.

"I've had some mad nights over the years, and some great nights. For everything that it was tonight, and for the spectacle that it was, it's certainly right up there."

Chelsea came from 4-1 down to their Dutch visitors after 55 minutes to rescue a draw, helped by two red cards that reduced Ajax to nine men for the last 20 minutes.

The Blues then thought they had gone 5-4 ahead, only for captain Cesar Azpilicueta's strike to be ruled out by the Video-Assisted Referee for handball.

"Take VAR out of it and the red cards etcetera, what I have to think about is us and the spirit that we showed, and the character is something that I loved and our fans loved," Lampard said. "We need to tighten up for sure, but with that spirit we can go places.

"I can't explain the game. The madness of the game, we are here for entertainment I suppose and anyone who watched that has to say what a game of football. Respect to Ajax, what a spectacle."

The result left both teams and Valencia, who beat bottom side Lille 4-1, on seven points at the top of the Group H standings in the battle for places in the last 16.

Reece James, who scored the equaliser for the hosts, was every bit as surprised as his manager with the result despite coming up short in the quest for all three points.

"It was a crazy game," the 19-year-old James told BT Sport. "They were hard to break down and we took advantage of them going down to nine men, it was a shame we couldn't win."

"Scoring a goal is a bonus. The manager told me to come on and liven the boys up, we had chances to win it but from where we were at halftime it's a good result."

Information from Reuters was used in this report.

Pep Guardiola, prepping for Manchester City's Champions League test at Atalanta on Wednesday, while also undoubtedly plotting for the weekend's titanic showdown at Anfield, will have seen a familiar and unwelcome sight.

Just under an hour into Liverpool's 2-1 home victory over Genk on Tuesday, Alex Oxlade-Chamberlain collected Mohamed Salah's fleet-footed lay-off and swivelled before driving a shot into the bottom corner.

That goal, his fourth in the last three starts, was the winner and crowned a dynamic performance that served as a throwback of the midfielder's best form prior to sustaining multiple ligament damage in April 2018.

That robust, ball-carrying and line-breaking version of "Ox" is one Guardiola knows well and will not want to see in Jurgen Klopp's starting XI on Sunday. After all, the player's last two goals for Liverpool prior to his lengthy sideline spell came during inspired displays against City.

- Liverpool Player Ratings: Oxlade-Chamberlain 8/10, Gomez 6

The first -- ghosting past Fernandinho before guiding an early rocket beyond Ederson into the bottom corner -- was a highlight in the 4-3 league win at Anfield in Jan. 2018, which ended the visitors' 22-match unbeaten run in the Premier League.

The 26-year-old produced more of the same in Liverpool's 3-0 home victory in the Champions League quarterfinal first-leg, which was the club's first game since Philippe Coutinho's move to Barcelona.

Ox took the Brazilian's spot in the starting 11 and also inherited the status of City's slayer-in-chief, thundering in an almighty hit from 25 yards out with no City player closing him down.

He was electric in the high-pressured reverse fixture at the Etihad too, driving Liverpool forward in possession and ultimately into the semifinals.

In those matches against City, Klopp plumped for the "Fab Four" in attack, playing the England international as a supporting act to Sadio Mane, Roberto Firmino and Salah.

However, that 2017-18 edition of Liverpool was powered by their offensive might and they have since been successful by adopting a steely approach with more surety throughout the squad. They no longer need to blitz their way to wins with a stronger spine and greater game management.

Meetings with Man City have taken on a heightened importance with the Merseysiders manoeuvring closer to a league title, missing out to their intense adversaries by a point last season.

The goalless draw at Anfield last season was tetchy and risk averse in a departure from the breathless encounters between England and Europe's pre-eminent forces.

It will be interesting to note then whether Klopp sticks to his big-game trio of Fabinho, Jordan Henderson and Georginio Wijnaldum in the centre of the park on Sunday, or twists towards giving City an Oxlade-Chamberlain-shaped nightmare to contend with.

Against Genk, the German said he "wanted to have Ox in-between the lines, to turn, to create problems for them and space for us," which worked to Liverpool's advantage as it has done in the past against Guardiola's exceptional side.

During the player's previous two starts -- in the 4-1 victory away at Genk and the barely believable 5-5 Carabao Cup draw with Arsenal at Anfield which Liverpool won on penalties -- he produced typically stunning goals, but his all-round game was still lacking.

"I was not near my own personal level of where I want to be," Oxlade-Chamberlain admitted after the shootout triumph against his former club.

"I put in a good shift and run a lot. I watch the boys on a weekend and I know what it is about here -- you have got to be at a really high, physical level to go and put in a performances like that. I need to keep pushing myself."

Oxlade-Chamberlain did just that on Tuesday night, delivering a luminary showing in a fluid role. His versatility saw him operate on the left, right, as a false nine and attacking central midfielder.

The dynamo possesses a different skill-set -- his threat from outside the box, strength in the dribble, ability to power past or commit markers -- to the rest of Klopp's more disciplined options to operate in front of Fabinho. With teams intent on stifling the creative influence of Liverpool's full-backs, his expertise in conjuring decisive moments out of minimal opportunities would be an asset.

Naby Keita, who will also be hoping to force his way into the manager's thoughts for the biggest game of Liverpool's season thus far, impressed against Genk too, but is still searching for consistency.

If Klopp does break convention and switches things up in midfield, the wisdom at present is that Ox will be the beneficiary.

Given Guardiola's jibes against the league leaders -- six points separate the sides -- he already seems on edge ahead of the top-of-the-table tussle and the prospect of a recharged Oxlade-Chamberlain running at City is unlikely to put him at ease.

A Las Vegas casino is suing Evander Kane, claiming the San Jose Sharks forward failed to pay back $500,000 in gambling markers given to him in April.

According to the Las Vegas Review-Journal, The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas filed the lawsuit against Kane on Monday, saying he took out eight separate credits that totaled $500,000 in mid-April.

Markers are special credits that allow gamblers, if qualified, to more easily receive access to large amounts of money on the spot.

Kane and the Sharks were in Las Vegas when he allegedly used the markers, as San Jose played the Golden Knights in the first round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

The 28-year-old Kane is in the second year of a seven-year, $49 million deal he inked with the Sharks. The NHL team did not immediately respond to the Review-Journal's request for comment.

The first College Football Playoff ranking of the season has Ohio State debuting at No. 1 and defending national champion Clemson on the outside looking in at No. 5. It's Ohio State's first No. 1 ranking ever in the CFP Era (since 2014).

The Buckeyes are followed by No. 2 LSU and No. 3 Alabama, who have been ranked either first or second in the AP Poll for the last four weeks and will face each other in a blockbuster matchup on Saturday in Tuscaloosa.

Penn State rounds out the top four, leapfrogging Clemson -- who was ranked fourth in the AP Poll. The Nittany Lions, in the top four for the first time in school history, will face unbeaten No. 17 Minnesota on Saturday.

At No. 12, Baylor is the only other undefeated team in the CFP ranking.

No. 6 Georgia leads a pack of one loss teams, followed by No. 7 Oregon, No. 8 Utah and No. 9 Oklahoma.

No. 10 Florida, fresh off a close loss to Georgia, is the highest ranked two loss team and only the third to be ranked in the top 10 in the initial rankings. The Gators are followed closely by No. 11 Auburn.

No. 13 Wisconsin, No. 14 Michigan and No. 18 Iowa round things out for the Big Ten. Oklahoma State, who was not included in the AP Poll, comes in at No. 23 -- taking the place of San Diego State.

Notre Dame is ranked No. 15, followed by fellow 6-2 team Kansas State at No. 16.

No. 19 Wake Forest, included in the CFP ranking for the first time ever, joins Clemson as the only other ACC team represented.

There are five Group of 5 teams in the committee's initial ranking: No. 20 Cincinnati, No. 22 Boise State, No. 21 Memphis, No. 24 Navy and No. 25 SMU. That's the most in any week during the CFP Era.

The 13-member committee will produce four more sets of rankings each Tuesday before the ones that really count come out on selection Sunday, Dec. 8.

PLAYA VISTA, Calif. -- Kawhi Leonard will sit out his second game this season due to load management and miss a marquee matchup against reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo on Wednesday night when the LA Clippers face the Milwaukee Bucks.

Wednesday's game is the first of a back-to-back set for the Clippers at Staples Center. Leonard is expected to play against Portland on Thursday night.

The Clippers' official designation for Leonard's not playing is "injury/illness, load management (knee)," according to the NBA's injury report. This is the second time he will sit out a nationally televised game with that designation. The Clippers are in compliance with the NBA and have been in contact with the league in both cases, according to a league spokesperson.

Leonard did not play during the Clippers' 110-96 loss at Utah last Wednesday, which was televised nationally on ESPN. The Clippers-Bucks game will be aired on ESPN, and Thursday's game against the Blazers will be on TNT.

Leonard is averaging 29.3 points, 7.3 rebounds, 5.7 assists and 2.3 steals in six games this season.

Springboks captain Siya Kolisi says their World Cup triumph was "for all South Africans" who "make our wonderful country an even better place".

Kolisi became the first black South African captain to lift the William Webb Ellis Trophy when the Springboks beat England 32-12 on Saturday.

The returning squad members were greeted by thousands of fans when they landed in Johannesburg on Tuesday.

"We are tired but grateful, humbled and overawed. Thank you," said Kolisi.

"In Japan, we got a glimpse of the support back home, but this reception is something else - we can't begin to thank everyone for backing us throughout this journey."

The players arrived at OR Tambo International Airport on three different flights on Tuesday, with more to return on Wednesday.

"We did this for all South Africans - ordinary people who work tirelessly all day long to care for their families and friends and ultimately make our wonderful country an even better place," added Kolisi, 28.

"Winning the World Cup on foreign soil was very special and arriving home to this wonderful support is the cherry on top."

Most of the squad will now embark on a 'Champions Tour', visiting Durban, East London, Port Elizabeth and Cape Town after kicking off with a parade through Pretoria, Johannesburg and Soweto on Thursday.

"We brought the Webb Ellis Cup home for all South Africans and we really wish we could go everywhere to thank our supporters, but unfortunately logistics and time constraints doesn't allow for that to happen this time," said coach Rassie Erasmus.

"I would like to agree with Siya - the support here at the airport made all the hard work and sacrifices over the last two months worth it.

"Thank you to everyone who came out to greet us."

In the world of nitro drag racing, the Pedregon family has been one of the most successful. Two-time NHRA Funny Car champion Cruz Pedregon is used to racing in four second sprints at more than 300 mph, so it can be a bit tough to slow him down long enough to have a conversation!

Today, Cruz cruised on over to The Ralph Sheheen Show Presented by Lucas Oil to chat about his career and he tells us what it’s like to own his own race team as he chases further success in the sport.

Catch this week’s full episode on SPEEDSPORT.com or download the podcast on SoundCloud, iTunes, Stitcher, iHeart Radio or Spotify.