front rowCeltics: F Al Horford missed his

NORMAN, Okla. -- There will be more at stake than usual for Texas coach Charlie Strong and Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops at this years showdown game Saturday in Dallas.Both schools have traditionally ranked among college footballs top programs , but they are off to disappointing starts by their standards and their fans are not happy.The bottom line is were both 2-2 going into this game, Stoops said. So both of us, its critical for both of us in how we move forward. Other than that, I dont pay attention to any of that.Texas athletic director Mike Perrin told a reporter after Saturdays 49-31 loss to Oklahoma State: We need to evaluate what happened here. A Longhorns spokesman, John Bianco, later said Perrins comments were about the coaching staff needing to evaluate the game and the issues the team had on the field.Strong said Monday that he has taken over as defensive coordinator, and now-former defensive coordinator Vance Bedford will help with the secondary.We have a lot of talent on defense, Strong said. Its unacceptable, the way we played. What Ive decided to do is run the defense and call the defense.Stoops said the change will have some effect on No. 20 Oklahomas preparation for the game.It will be something to consider, what they might do differently, he said. Sometimes you can only change so much, but I really believe overall, with all we see through the year, our guys are used to seeing a lot.Strong has been under intense scrutiny since taking over at Texas. The Longhorns showed promise at times last season with wins over Oklahoma and Baylor, but they also lost to Iowa State, Texas Tech and West Virginia. Texas opened this season with a promising win over Notre Dame, but the heat is on Strong after losses to California and Oklahoma State during which the Longhorns allowed 50 and 49 points, respectively.Strong has a 13-16 record at Texas and a 9-10 mark in Big 12 play. He said Perrin hasnt assured him that his job is safe.I dont need it, he said. At the end of the day, we have eight games. Lets go win these games. Everything else will take care of itself. I havent jumped off the stadium yet.Strong has told his players not to worry about speculation that his job is in danger.`You just go play and let me handle everything else, Strong said he told his team. It doesnt matter to me anymore. Whats gonna be said is gonna be said.Texas defensive tackle Chris Nelson said the players should be taking the heat instead of Strong.We cant put this on the coaches; were the ones on the field playing, he said. We are very aware of that (pressure). Hes a great coach. We are going to play hard regardless.Some fans and boosters were disappointed after early losses to Houston and Ohio State knocked the Sooners out of the national title picture, but Oklahoma bounced back and beat No. 21 TCU 52-46 last Saturday and has since returned to the Top 25. That took a little heat off for now, but a loss to Texas, Oklahomas biggest rival, would get things stirred up again.Stoops said his players arent worried about outside noise.You think these guys are sitting there watching TV all day, reading everything you guys are reading, he said. Theyre in class all day. And then we see them, theyre in football. You have no idea how little of that we see or hear.---Freelancer Mark Rosner in Austin, Texas, contributed to this report.---Follow Cliff Brunt on Twitter (at)CliffBruntAP Justin Reid Texans Jersey . 8 Iowa State on Saturday, sending the Cyclones to their third consecutive loss. The Longhorns (14-4, 3-2) got their biggest win of the season with their third in the row in the Big 12. J.J. Watt Womens Jersey . -- Teemu Selanne scored the first goal of his 22nd NHL season, and the Anaheim Ducks extended the best start in franchise history with their fifth straight victory, 3-2 over the Calgary Flames on Wednesday night. http://www.texansrookiestore.com/Texans-Andre-Johnson-Jersey/ . 24 Baylor in a Big 12 clash between teams trending in opposite directions. Andrew Wiggins made 10-of-12 from the foul line and scored 17 for Kansas (14-4, 5-0 Big 12), which capped a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents unscathed. Deshaun Watson Texans Jersey . It was hard for Luck to pull off another comeback, or even get into the end zone, while standing on the sideline. Rivers threw a 22-yard touchdown pass to rookie Keenan Allen and Nick Novak kicked four field goals to give the Chargers a 19-9 victory against the Colts on Monday night. Max Scharping Jersey . LOUIS -- Cardinals cleanup hitter Allen Craig says hes recovered from a foot injury and ready to be put on St. BOSTON -- Klay Thompson scored 28 points, Kevin Durant had 23 points and 10 rebounds against the team he spurned this summer and the Golden State Warriors scored 18 points in a row in the third quarter to pull away and beat the Boston Celtics 104-88 on Friday night.Stephen Curry had just 16 points -- his second-fewest of the season -- while sitting out much of the fourth quarter as the Warriors cruised to their sixth straight victory. Zaza Pachulia had 12 rebounds and Draymond Green had eight rebounds and eight assists for Golden State in its only visit to Boston this season.Avery Bradley had 17 points and 10 rebounds for Boston and Isaiah Thomas scored a season-low 18.Thomas hit a 3-pointer early in the third quarter to make it a 10-point game, but the Warriors scored the next 18 points. They made it 86-57 at the end of the third and opened a 30-point lead in the fourth before Boston chipped it down to 11 in the final 90 seconds.But Curry, who had re-entered the game midway through the fourth as the Celtics threatened to come back, hit a 3-pointer, Jaylen Brown missed one for Boston, and then Curry added a finger roll to clinch it.Curry shot 7 for 20 in all, making just 2 of 10 attempts from 3-point range. It was the second time this season he has been held under 20 points.Boston challenged the Warriors last season while they were on their way to a record-breaking 73-9 regular season. After losing in double overtime in Boston, the Celtics beat the Warriors on April 1 to hand them their first home loss of the season.ddddddddddddTIP-INSWarriors: Golden State had 30 or more assists for the sixth straight game and the eighth time this season. ... Durant took out referee Lauren Holtkamp and a TV cameraman under the basket late in the third quarter and nearly wound up in the lap of a woman sitting in the front rowCeltics: F Al Horford missed his ninth straight game with a concussion, but he sat on the bench during the game. Jae Crowder missed his eighth straight game with a sprained left ankle. Coach Brad Stevens said they would both join the team on the flight to Detroit after the game. ... Rookie Jaylen Brown was called for a technical in the second quarter for an unnatural act when he kicked his leg out and catching Andre Iguodala between the legs.UNWELCOMEDurant was greeted with a loud jeer before the game by a Celtics crowd that wasnt happy he chose to go to Golden State as a free agent over the summer. Celtics management brought along Patriots quarterback Tom Brady to the meeting in the Hamptons but were unable to land the biggest free agent to move this summer.UP NEXTWarriors: Visit the Milwaukee Bucks on Saturday for the third game of a four-game trip.Celtics: Visit the Pistons on Saturday. Boston leads Detroit by a half-game in the Eastern Conference standings. ' ' '