NEWS » for the team, thats when well do it.YER OU

The popular refrain is that Oklahoma has nothing to play for after losing two of its first three games.Sooners coach Bob Stoops isnt the least bit interested in advancing that theory.Stoops feels winning the Big 12 title would rate as a big accomplishment and Oklahoma begins its hunt for the conference crown when it visits No. 21 TCU on Saturday (5 p.m. ET, FOX) at Fort Worth, Texas.Weve won a lot of championships around here with a couple losses, said Stoops, who has won or shared nine conference titles since becoming coach in 1999. Keep fighting, keep improving. The better teams improve through the year and thats what we have to do. We have to keep improving this week to next week.The Horned Frogs (2-1, 1-0) also find themselves in must-win mode if they want to have a chance at becoming part of the College Football Playoff discussion.TCU suffered a home loss to Arkansas earlier this season and there isnt any remaining wiggle room.Horned Frogs coach Gary Patterson has been selling his team on the importance of the Big 12 title since the nonconference loss to the Razorbacks and his message only increased this week.There is also the matter of starting a new home venue winning streak. TCU had won 14 straight at home prior to the Arkansas loss.One of the things you cant take for granted, the home crowd can give you emotion, but it cant be your emotion, Patterson said. Thats one thing as a young football team youve got to learn. You can feed off of it, but you already have to have it.The Horned Frogs certainly are proficient on offense again this season -- averaging 42.8 points per game -- and junior quarterback Kenny Hill has led the way.The Texas A&M transfer has been a solid passer by completing 66.1 percent of his throws for 1,487 yards and six touchdowns. He has topped 400 yards passing in two of his four games for TCU.Hill also has been a potent force in the running game with 166 yards and six touchdowns. His rushing yards are second behind junior Kyle Hicks (314).Another SEC transfer, junior John Diarse, has also made an impact. The former LSU wideout caught six passes for a career-high 139 yards in last Fridays victory over SMU, including a 75-yard catch-and-run touchdown.He has caught 16 passes already this season after totaling 28 in two seasons at LSU.Diarse has been in big ballgames at LSU, and he transferred here because he wanted to catch more balls, Patterson said. The bottom line is hes done a great job.The Sooners have also been productive offensively while averaging 35.3 points. Junior quarterback Baker Mayfield has passed for 793 yards and seven touchdowns against two interceptions.Mayfield sees the potential to do more individually. Hes also got the same view as Stoops when hearing all the naysayers pontificating about how Oklahoma has nothing to play for.I mean, we can still end up playing in a New Years Day bowl in one of the big-time bowl games, Mayfield said. Its not discouraging at all. If you can go end up and play in something like the Rose Bowl or the Orange Bowl again -- I mean, I know the playoffs are in Atlanta and Arizona -- but other than that, yeah, one of the other big-time bowl games is obviously a big accomplishment that we can go do.The Sooners have been suspect on defense and are one of seven teams nationally without an interception. Oklahoma is allowing 31.7 points and was drilled for 33 and 45 points in losses to Houston and Ohio State, respectively.TCUs defense just got its first two interceptions of the campaign in the 33-3 rout of SMU. The Horned Frogs have allowed just 23 points over their last two games and getting torched for 82 over their first two.Sophomore outside linebacker Ty Summers leads TCU with 39 tackles after recording a combined 29 over the past two games.Oklahoma leads the series 10-5 and has won five of the six previous matchups in Fort Worth.The Sooners won 30-29 at home last season and led by 17 points in the fourth quarter before the Horned Frogs staged a rally.Wholesale Red Sox Jerseys . -- James Young couldnt wait to apply those tweaks to his jump shot, and the first one he made against UT Arlington told him it could be a good night. Steven Wright Red Sox Jersey . "I dont know that were close," said general manager Alex Anthopoulos. "I just think, right now, the acquisition cost just doesnt work for us right now. I dont know if I can quantify how far off or things like that that they might be but I would say we continue to have dialogue. https://www.cheapredsox.com/1411z-david-ortiz-jersey-red-sox.html . The team also announced Tuesday that the Braves will wear a commemorative patch on the right sleeve during the season. The patch, shaped like home plate, carries the number 715, Aarons autograph and a "40th Anniversary" banner. Rick Porcello Jersey . The Vikings announced Thursday that Priefer will be one of seven holdovers from the previous staff, along with offensive line coach Jeff Davidson, wide receivers coach George Stewart and others. Norv Turner will mark his 30th year of coaching in the NFL as the offensive co-ordinator, as widely reported for weeks, and George Edwards will be the defensive co-ordinator. Ian Kinsler Jersey . 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.MIAMI -- Miami Marlins left-hander Adam Conley set three alarm clocks Wednesday morning to ensure he arose in plenty of time for his 12:10 p.m. start.The Marlins bats woke up too.Mired in a team slump less than 24 hours earlier, the Marlins totaled 16 hits and took the rubber game of their series against Philadelphia, 11-1.The Marlins totaled three runs in the first, including Giancarlo Stantons two-run homer.Scoring early was big, Conley said. The game is at noon. Nobody is accustomed to that, nobody can prepare for that too much. So for them to put up three in the first inning set the tone, and I was able to maintain the momentum throughout the game.Conley (7-5) pitched around eight hits and three walks to throw 6 2/3 scoreless innings.He awoke at 6:30 -- hence the alarm clocks.Never less than three, he said. Because its easy at 6:30 to turn it off, and then you wake up at 9:30. I would rather get less sleep and have a regular pregame routine and preparation.The Marlins ended a 24-inning scoreless streak Tuesday, and started fast against Philadelphia rookie Zach Eflin (3-4). J.T. Realmuto led off the first inning with a double, Martin Prado singled, Christian Yelich hit an RBI groundout and Stanton followed with his 22nd homer.Prado credited a crowd of 32,403, the Marlins largest since April. It was heavy on youth groups.The kids were loud, so they gave us a boost, Prado said. That first inning set up the whole game.Eflin, who threw a three-hit shutout against the Pirates in his last start, allowed seven runs in five-plus innings.I was leaving pitches up in the zone, he said. I didnt do my job.Dee Gordon, the 2015 NL batting and stolen base champion, should give Miamis lineup a further lift when he returns Thursday after serving an 80-game suspension for a positive drug test.Don Kelly, who began the game 1 for 22 this season, went 3 for 5 with two triples, two RBI and two runs scored. That raised his average from .045 to .148.That was fun, he said. This game is tough when youre struggling.Even Conley joined the hit parade. He had his first career sacrifice fly and a run-scoring single for his first two RBI of the year.Conley improved to 3-0 in ffive starts this month with an ERA of 1.dddddddddddd82. In five career starts against Philadelphia, hes 2-1 with an ERA of 1.42.The Phillies were one out from their second consecutive shutout loss when Cesar Hernandez doubled home a run.Realmuto, Prado and Marcell Ozuna had three hits apiece for the Marlins, who totaled seven extra-base hits and rewarded manager Don Mattinglys faith. During their slump he had said he wasnt worried.I lie a little bit now and then, he said with a smile. Nah, youre going to have sequences in the season where youre not going to look good offensively. We know we have talent and guys that are working hard, and we know thats not going to continue.SUZUKI UPDATEMarlins fourth outfielder Ichiro Suzuki did not play and remained three hits shy of 3,000. He has started only one of six games on the homestand.Well play what we think is the best lineup and move forward, Mattingly said. Its a little uncomfortable when you get this close with Ich, because you dont want to put him in there to try to do this. Youd like to see it at home, but I dont want to force it just to do that. If its a good matchup and guy needs a day off and its a good thing for the team, thats when well do it.YER OUTPhillies bench coach Larry Bowa was ejected in fourth inning by home plate umpire Pat Hoberg.TRAINERS ROOMMarlins: 1B Justin Bour (ankle) will work out with the team Thursday and then go on a rehab assignment. Closer A.J. Ramos (finger) was feeling better and may be available Thursday. RHP Tom Koehler (pectoral) was also feeling better and is expected to make his next start.Phillies: OF Peter Bourjos (right shoulder) sat out, and his status is day to day.UP NEXTPhillies: RHP Aaron Nola (5-9, 4.75) tries for his first victory since June 5 when Philadelphia opens a four-game series at Atlanta against RHP Matt Wisler (4-10, 4.92).Marlins: RHP Jose Fernandez (12-4, 2.54) hopes to improve to 27-1 at home when Miami opens a four-game series against St. Louis and RHP Michael Wacha (5-7, 4.37). The Cardinals are 53-32 in Miami. ' ' '