HOUSTON -- Coach Tom Herman has spent all offseason downplaying the importance of Houstons opener against No. 3 Oklahoma.The high-profile matchup at NRG Stadium, the home of the NFLs Texans, on Saturday wont decide a conference championship nor will it pave the way to a spot in the College Football Playoff for the winner.Just going in with the mindset that its just another game that we will be prepared for, said Cougars cornerback Brandon Wilson, toeing the company line.So, yes, there is still almost a whole season to play and the opener only counts for one. All the cliches apply. But a victory by 15th-ranked Houston unquestionably opens up a world of playoff possibilities for the much-hyped Cougars, the American Athletic Conference and maybe the Group of Five conferences in general. A loss by the Cougars and they can focus on defending that league title.The Cougars capped a 13-1 season with a 38-24 victory against Florida State in the Peach Bowl in January. The buzz in Houston for the Coogs hasnt been this high since the late 1980s and early `90s. Back then it was star quarterbacks Andre Ware and David Klingler run-and-shooting their way into the record books.That era ended abruptly. Houston started the 1991 season ranked No. 12, and went into its second game of the season against No. 2 Miami ranked 10th. Instead of a breakthrough, Klingler and the Cougars got buried 40-10 by the Hurricanes.Houstons preseason ranking this year is its best since `91, but the Cougars are trying to hold on to the underdog intensity they had last year when they werent even favored to win their division.Weve tried to keep that chip on our shoulder. That kind of made us who we are, tight end Tyler McCloskey said.What will it take for Houston or any Group of Five team to reach the playoff? The playoff has only been around for two years and there hasnt been a test case yet for the selection committee. An undefeated record is probably a good start. At least one big nonconference win will be important because the quality wins the committee looks for are tough to accumulate outside Power Five leagues.A big season by the Cougars has the potential to be the story of the playoff race when the rankings start coming out in early November. Thats why of all the compelling matchups in a great first weekend of the season, the stakes are highest in Houston.Things to know about the third meeting between Oklahoma and Houston:HEISMAN WATCHTrying to follow in the footsteps of Ware, Houstons only Heisman Trophy winner, is Greg Ward Jr. He was one of two FBS quarterbacks to pass for more than 2,000 yards and run for more than 1,000 last season. He accounted for 38 touchdowns.The biggest thing he does is take advantage of blitzing teams or D-ends running up field. Hes just going to step up and try to get down field or get a scramble drill going, Oklahoma cornerback Dakota Austin said.Defending Big 12 champion and playoff semifinalist Oklahoma has its own Heisman contender quarterback in Baker Mayfield, who passed for 3,700 yards and 36 touchdowns last year and finished fourth in the Heisman voting.Both give you trouble scrambling around with their legs, Sooner coach Bob Stoops said of Mayfield and Ward. Just talented players, I think, is the number one thing you can say about them both.GO-TO RECEIVERSBoth teams enter the season looking for new No. 1 receivers to emerge after the departures of Sterling Shepard from Oklahoma and Demarcus Ayers at Houston. Expect the Sooners to get tight end Mark Andrews more involved after he caught seven touchdowns as a redshirt freshman. Penn State transfer Geno Lewis steps into a starting role at wide receiver. The Cougars will be looking for some inexperienced players to emerge and Chance Allen, who had 56 catches and 752 yards last season, to take a bigger role.FRESHMENHouston landed one of the best defensive line recruits in the country this year in Ed Oliver. The freshman is expected to make an immediate impact. With Oklahoma retooling at linebacker, freshman Caleb Kelly will likely see some time and Stoops said Mykel Jones will be part of the receiver rotation.EXPANSIONHouston is in the process of trying to gain an invitation to the Big 12. The conference has narrowed down the field of expansion candidates to 11, according to a person with direct knowledge of the situation. One game wont be a deciding factor, but Houston fans would certainly like to see their team prove it belongs in the Power Five conference.---Follow Ralph D. Russo at www.Twitter.com/ralphDrussoAP Clearance Adidas NHL Jerseys . -- Derrick Rose shook off poor shooting early to hit clutch shots late and Carlos Boozer had 20 points and 13 rebounds to lead the Chicago Bulls to a 104-95 preseason victory over the Oklahoma City Thunder on Wednesday night. Discount Adidas NHL Jerseys . Fellow centre Pavel Datsyuk remains out because of a concussion. Zetterberg has 11 goals and 19 assists for a team-high 30 points, and Datsyuk has a team-high 12 goals and 11 assists. http://www.nhljerseys.us/ . Sgt. Eric ONeal says most of the arrests at Monday nights game were for public drunkenness, though one person was taken into custody on suspicion of trying to steal a seat from the stadium. Adidas NHL Jerseys Outlet . In taking its goal tally to 99 in all competitions already this season, City delivered another demonstration of its lethal firepower at Etihad Stadium to set up a fourth-round match at home to another second-tier team -- Watford. Authentic Adidas NHL Jerseys . -- The St. Johns IceCaps weathered a wild first period with the help of goaltender Jussi Olkinuora, before finding offensive inroads in the second. MIAMI -- Clayton Kershaw spent the bulk of the evening in the dugout, wearing a blue Dodgers jacket, chatting with teammates and chomping down on a wad of pink bubble gum.He didnt win his comeback game.Still, the NL West leaders were happy just to have their ace back.Sidelined since June 26 with a mild disk herniation, Kershaw started and pitched three innings in the Los Angeles Dodgers 4-1 loss to the Miami Marlins on Friday night.You try to look at the positives, I guess, said Kershaw, who reported no physical problems afterward. I got to pitch again. Thats always fun.Kershaw was more than outdueled by Marlins ace Jose Fernandez (14-8), who tossed seven shutout innings and tied a career high by striking out 14.Dodgers manager Dave Roberts was thrilled afterward.For Clayton to be back on the mound, I think thats a win for us, Roberts said. Fernandez was good, but the No. 1 thing was Clayton got out of this feeling pretty well. We didnt expect him to be in midseason form anyway.Kershaw (11-3) threw 66 pitches, 46 for strikes. He gave up two runs and five hits, struck out five and walked none, his ERA rising just a bit from 1.79 to 1.89. He allowed a home run to J.T. Realmuto in the first, and an RBI single to Chris Johnson -- off the glove of leaping second baseman Chase Utley -- in the second.We did a pretty good job of making him pitch, said Marlins manager Don Mattingly, the former Dodgers skipper.Kershaw wasnt overjoyed with the outing, the three-time Cy Young Award winner and 2014 NL MVP shrugging off notions that it was essentially a rehab or spring start to get his arm ready for the stretch run.Its not spring training for anybody else so its not for me, either, he said. Weve got to beat the Giants. Weve got to win this division. Im thankful for what the guys did while I was gone. They played unbelievable. Theyre still playing unbelievable. I want to be a part of that.Miami improved to 5-0 against the Dodgers this season.Yasmani Grandal hit his 25th homer in the ninth for the Dodgers, who tried to rally against Fernando Rodney before A.J. Ramos came in and closed it out for his 33rd save.ddddddddddddFernandez was simply dominant, improving to 4-0 all-time against the Dodgers and 28-2 at Marlins Park. There have been 12 games in the majors this season when a pitcher has struck out 14 or more, and no one else has more than one of them.His 102nd and last pitch -- one that fanned Yasiel Puig for No. 14 -- hit 98 mph.It seems like thats all I do lately. I cant pass 14, Fernandez said.Kershaw gave up some hard-hit balls, but the most important element of the outing for the Dodgers lefty was this: When tested physically, he passed.Fernandez lined a low offering right back up the middle in the second inning, sending Kershaw spinning 180 degrees and leaving him looking at second base with his left leg outstretched like a hockey goalie making a pad save. And in the third, Kershaw pounced off the mound to field Yelichs nubber, then spun to make the throw to first and fell back somewhat awkwardly.Neither instance seemed to bother him.We all held our breath a little bit, Roberts said.THE DONMattingly is the third skipper in the last half-century to start 5-0 against the Dodgers -- the team he managed from 2011-15. He joined Jack McKeon (with the Padres in 1988) and Sparky Anderson (with the Reds in 1970).CELEBRATING PERFECTIONIt was the 51st anniversary of the only Dodgers perfect game, Sandy Koufaxs 1-0 gem against the Chicago Cubs. Dennis Martinez -- who pitched a perfect game for Montreal at Dodger Stadium in 1991 -- threw out one of Fridays ceremonial first pitches.TRAINERS ROOMDodgers: OF Andre Ethier (broken right leg) could make his season debut this weekend. ... Kershaw will start at Yankee Stadium on Wednesday, back in his regular spot in the rotation.Marlins: OF Giancarlo Stanton, limited to pinch-hitting duty, struck out with the bases loaded to end the fifth.UP NEXTThe series continues Saturday with LHP Rich Hill (11-3, 1.94 ERA; 8-0 in his last 10 starts) going for the Dodgers against RHP Tom Koehler (9-10, 3.87). Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Cheap Adidas Hockey Jerseys Wholesale Nike Baseball Jerseys Wholesale Jerseys From China Wholesale Jerseys China Wholesale NFL Jerseys China Cheap Nike NFL Jerseys Free Shipping Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys Authentic Cheap NHL Jerseys Canada Cheap Nike MLB Jerseys Cheap Soccer Jerseys China NCAA Jerseys Cheap Nike NHL Jerseys China Wholesale Jerseys China Cheap Jerseys Store Cheap Football Jerseys Store Wholesale Soccer Jerseys Jerseys NCAA China Jerseys NFL Cheap Cheap Nike NBA Jerseys ' ' '