DALLAS -- Oklahoma already has a record nine Big 12 championships, and last season took the league into the College Football Playoff for the first time.While the smallest Power Five conference could soon be expanding, the Sooners and Bob Stoops -- now the longest-tenured FBS coach -- seem to have everything in place to push for another playoff run out of the 10-team league.Since their last national title in 2000, the Sooners made another BCS Championship Game in 2008 and last season played in the Orange Bowl, losing the CFP semifinal to Clemson after the Big 12 was snubbed for the first four-team playoff in 2014.I dont reflect back much on it, Stoop said of the national title in his second season at Oklahoma. I look forward and try and continue to improve, and be a more powerful team is what Im constantly preaching.Big 12 leaders have to decide whether to add two, four or no teams. Even without expansion, the league is restoring its championship game in 2017, with a likely split into divisions again. For now, the Big 12 remains the only Power Five conference with a round-robin league schedule.Weve been in five different conferences, and weve done it about every way that you can, said TCU coach Gary Patterson, whose Horned Frogs go into their fifth Big 12 season. I dont think theres any tougher way of playing it as when you have to play everybody.THE FAVORITESBaker Mayfield is back for his second season as Oklahomas quarterback, with the option for another year after this in Norman for the former Texas Tech walk-on freshman starter thanks to a Big 12 rule change about in-league transfers. The Sooners also have the running duo of bruising Samaje Perine and explosive Joe Mixon.Oklahoma State, TCU and Baylor all also won at least 10 games last season.Healthy quarterback Mason Rudolph is among a wealth of returners for the Cowboys. Dual-threat quarterback Trevone Boykin is gone, but TCU has 13 starters back from last season, plus six other starters who had season-ending injuries a year ago.Baylor, the nations best offense the last three seasons, still has plenty of talent. But the Bears lack depth in transition after the offseason dismissal of coach Art Briles following allegations that the program didnt properly handle sexual assault allegations against some players.TOP PLAYERSBaker Mayfield, QB, Oklahoma. A legitimate Heisman Trophy candidate who threw for 3,700 yards and accounted for 43 touchdowns (36 passing, seven rushing) with only seven interceptions.Malik Jefferson, LB, Texas. While starting every game as a true freshman and recording 61 tackles, Jefferson also became a key leader.Patrick Mahomes, QB, Texas Tech. The dual-threat quarterback, the national leader with 393 total yards per game, is now a one-sport athlete. He got his first full offseason focusing solely on football after giving up baseball.Samaje Perine, RB, Oklahoma. Quiet off the field, the junior already has 3,062 yards and 37 TDs in two seasons, just 1,056 yards shy of Billy Sims school record.Seth Russell, QB, Baylor. The top-rated FBS passer when he suffered a season-ending neck injury seven games into last season, Russell is healthy but has no proven backup.Josh Carraway, DE, TCU. Already one of the leagues top pass-rushers (nine sacks), and with help with the return of fellow end James McFarland from injury.James Washington, WR, Oklahoma State. A deep-ball threat who can outleap defenders, his 10 TD catches averaged 49 yards.NEW FACESIowa State coach Matt Campbell. At 36, Campbell is the youngest head coach of a Power Five school after four full seasons as Toledos coach. The Cyclones have one winning record the past 10 seasons.Baylor coach Jim Grobe. The former Wake Forest coach came out of semi-retirement for a one-year deal as acting head coach.TCU quarterback Kenny Hill. After initially thrilling Texas A&M when succeeding Heisman Trophy winner Johnny Manziel, Hill gets a fresh start near home.Texas offensive coordinator Sterlin Gilbert. Gilbert brings a philosophy to be fast and physical, have fun and score points after initially balking at the job.ON THE HOT SEAT- Dana Holgorsen, West Virginia. The Mountaineers came into the Big 12 after sharing consecutive Big East titles, and a 10-3 debut season for Holgorsen. They are 26-25 since, 15-21 in league games.- Charlie Strong, Texas. The Longhorns havent had three consecutive losing seasons since 1954-56. If they match that, Strong (11-14 so far) could be three-and-out in Austin.PICKOklahoma repeats as league champion. Cheap Custom Raiders Jersey . The All-Pro lineman got the leg bent under him while trying to make a tackle during the first half of a 22-20 overtime loss at Miami on Thursday night. The medical staff initially thought hed torn the ligament, and the test a day later in Cincinnati confirmed it. Clelin Ferrell Jersey Large . Jeff Green scored 13 points and Kris Humphries 12 for the Celtics, who nearly blew an 18-point, second-half lead. Sullingers 20-20 was the first by a Celtics player since Kevin Garnetts first game in Boston in 2007. Garnett was dealt -- along with Paul Pierce -- to Brooklyn during the off-season. http://www.customraidersjersey.com/ . Canada is now down to its 22-player limit, although but players wont be registered until Christmas Day. Changes could still be made as a result of a suspension or injury. Wholesale Custom Raiders Shirts . -- New England Revolution goalkeeper Matt Reis is retiring after a 16-year career to become the goalie coach for the Los Angeles Galaxy. Custom Raiders T-shirts . The Court of Arbitration for Sport ruling "puts an end to my dreams of being a top player," the 27-year-old Troicki said in a statement. "I worked my entire life for it, and it has been taken away from me in one afternoon by a doctor I didnt know," said Troicki, whose ranking peaked at No.NEW YORK -- Derek Jeter was feeling nostalgic. He homered for a big hit. He took part in Hideki Matsuis retirement ceremony. Then he watched Alfonso Soriano running up the first base line with his arms held out wide, flashing that electric grin. "A lot of great memories here with Sori," he said, "and it was almost like old times." The newly reacquainted duo created another memory Sunday. Jeter connected on the first pitch he saw to give the Yankees a jolt in his return from the disabled list and Soriano made the captain a winner with a game-ending single that lifted New York over the Tampa Bay Rays 6-5 Sunday to avoid a three-game sweep. Playing with Jeter for the first time since being re-acquired by New York from the Cubs on Friday, Soriano homered among his first four hits with the Yankees and drove in three runs. "I remember from 2001 to 2003, nothing changed," Soriano said. "We get old but, more important, he loves the game, I love the game." The 37-year-old Soriano and the 39-year-old Jeter were teammate from 1999 until Soriano was traded to Texas for Alex Rodriguez after the 2003 season, but they hadnt played together this season because Jeter was still out with a strained quadriceps. The Yankees lost Sorianos first two games and he was 0 for 8. But Jeter was activated from the DL for the second time this month and homered against Matt Moore in the first, sending a drive to right-centre that ended the Yankees nine-game homerless drought. He went 2 for 4 and scored twice. "Hes a movie, thats what he is," manager Joe Girardi said. Soriano gave it a happy ending. Brett Gardner drew a leadoff walk from Jake McGee (2-3) in the ninth. McGee then switched belts on his uniform before facing Jeter, threw a wild pitch and received a visit from manager Joe Maddon. The decision: walk Jeter intentionally. "I dont want to name the manufacturer right now, dont want to cause any kind of disgrace or concern there, but I dont think Ive ever seen that," Maddon said of McGees belt, which broke at a crucial moment in the game. After Robinson Cano struck out, Soriano hit a sharp bouncer up the middle for the win. He was mobbed by his teammates and doused with a liquid during a postgame interview. Mariano Rivera (2-2), the Yankees fourth reliever, got three groundball outs in the ninth. Rookie Wil Myers homered twice and drove in four runs against beleaguered Yankees starter Phil Hughes and Kelly Johnson had an RBI double, but the AL East leaders lost for only the fourth time in 25 games. Ichiro Suzuki had four hits and drove in a run on fellow Japanese star Matsuis bobblehead day. Matsui signed his retirement papers in an on-field ceremony before the game in front of the third sellout at Yankee Stadium this season, with Jeter standing alongside him. "This is Matsuis day," Jeter said, "so everyone needs to focus on him." Jeters homer was the Yankees first long ball by a right-hander since June 25, and his presence appeared to give the team aan immediate lift.dddddddddddd "Just wave the magic wand," Andy Pettitte said. "It was cool." After he homered and gave a quick wave of his cap from the dugout steps, Cano singled and Soriano followed with his first hit with New York in nine at-bats. Vernon Wells had a sacrifice fly and Suzuki had RBI single to make it 3-0. Jeter started at shortstop for the first time this year. He was the designated hitter on July 11 when he returned from rehabbing the ankle he first broke during the opener of the AL championship series in October. He was sent right back to the disabled list when he strained his right quad running out a grounder. The Yankees won just four of 12 during his most recent absence. "Hes the face of the organization," Soriano said. "When hes on the field we can feel the energy." Jeters take: "It was fun -- Im tired. I worked hard to try to get back on the field." Johnson, who drove in the run in Tampa Bays 1-0 win Saturday, pulled Tampa within two on a double in the second and Tampa took the lead in the third. Evan Longoria and James Loney singled with one out, then Myers laced a shot to deep left for a 4-3 edge. But in the bottom half, Jeter opened the inning by lining a single that glanced off Johnsons glove behind second base. Girardi was concerned Jeter would overdo it on the bases, but the 13-time All-Star only needed another easy jog to score his second run. Soriano sent him into a trot, eking a homer over the right-field wall just out of the reach of a leaping Myers. "If I had one more step, I feel like I could catch that ball," Myers said. Myers put another ball of his own out of everyones reach in the fifth, an opposite-field shot to right for the first multihomer game of his career. Plagued by home runs throughout his career, Hughes has allowed 20 this season. Often mentioned in trade rumours, Hughes yielded five runs and nine hits in four-plus innings and left to a vociferous Bronx cheer. He was lifted after walking Matt Joyce in the fifth, and the New York bullpen shut down the Rays the rest of the way. Preston Claiborne, Boone Logan, David Robertson and Rivera combined on five innings of one-hit ball. Moores six-start winning streak ended when he was lifted after five innings with the score tied at 5. Moore allowed five runs and eight hits. NOTES: Myers has a nine-game hitting streak. ... Yankees RHP David Phelps (forearm strain) said he will make his second rehab start Tuesday, for Double-A Trenton. ... Injured INF 3B Jayson Nix (strained right hamstring) should be activated when the Yankees visit the Dodgers on Tuesday. ... Rays INF Ben Zobrist was given the day off. ... Yankees OF Curtis Granderson (broken left pinkie), who could rejoin the team next weekend, was hitless in four at-bats, including two strikeouts, in his fourth game with Class A Tampa. He is 2 for 13 overall. ... A-Rod arrived at the Yankees complex in Tampa, Fla., around 5 p.m. and took BP and fielded grounders on the grass after the Tampa Yankees game. ' ' '