The Huskies’ NCAA-record 90-game winning streak ended Thursday night with a loss to Stanford. Their nearly three-year hold on the top ranking ended Monday when they were overtaken by Baylor and dropped to No. 2 in The Associated Press poll. Connecticut had been the top team for a record 51 straight weeks, beginning Feb. 18, 2008.

If you want an idea of just how good this Jets team has turned into after back-to-back road playoff wins over Peyton Manning’s Colts and Tom Brady’s Patriots, let the only man to ever lead the Jets to a Super Bowl championship tell you.

After the final whistle blew in Baylor’s Wednesday night Texas Bowl matchup with Illinois, coach Art Briles tried as hard as he could to appreciate the progress his team made this season.

Despite facing a Gonzaga team that lost its leading scorer for much of Saturday’s game, No. 9 ranked Baylor fell to the unranked Bulldogs, 68-64. Freshman Perry Jones III’s team-high 19 points led the Bears, who were beat in the post and could not maintain an offensive rhythm.

Before speaking at Sunday’s press conference, a smiling head coach Art Briles slapped himself. He offered an explanation to the media in attendance, but there was more understanding among the reporters and camera operators than confusion.

It has been a momentary breath of fresh air for the Bears since their last regular season game on Nov. 20, but this year the breath is shorter than it has been in 16 seasons as they look to down the Fighting Illini Dec. 29 in the Texas Bowl.

A look back at the Bears’ 7-5 campaign

In 3 weeks, Baylor will head down to Houston, Texas, to face the Illinois Illini in the fifth Texas Bowl held at Reliant Stadium.