While dazzling quarterback Greg Ward Jr. has gotten the lions share of the attention during Houstons rise to prominence, the sixth-ranked Cougars have dominated this season behind one of the nations top defenses.That unit, led by linebacker Steven Taylor and freshman lineman Ed Oliver, has capitalized on turnovers and kept opponents out of the end zone.Houston (3-0) ranks 11th nationally in total defense (257.7 yards a game), 13th in scoring (13 points a game) and first against the run (38.3 yards). The Cougars returned two interceptions for touchdowns during the fourth quarter of a 40-16 win at Cincinnati last week. Houston limited Oklahoma to 70 rushing yards and Cincinnati to 30.Second-year coach Tom Herman, an offensive wizard who remains on everyones short list for prominent vacancies after the season, credits defensive coordinator Todd Orlando, who left Utah State in 2015 to join the Houston staff.I knew what kinds of defenses kept me up at night as an offensive coordinator, so I knew I wanted to run that kind of defense, said Herman, whose team is heavily favored in a nonconference game at Texas State on Saturday.Taylor, a senior, produced nine tackles, including two sacks, and returned an interception 74 yards for a touchdown at Cincinnati. Herman said the three-man defensive line creates situations for Taylor to excel.Steve gets to reap the benefits of the dirty work that those guys do, Herman said.Oliver, a five-star recruit from Houston, already has a reputation for energetic, relentless pursuit of ball carriers.He opens a lot of gaps for me, Taylor said. He is a blessing to the team.First-year Texas State coach Everett Withers noticed something unexpected while watching Houston defeat Oklahoma 33-23.I thought they physically beat Oklahoma, Withers said.Some things to look for when the Cougars and Bobcats kick off Saturday:ROUGH STRETCH: Houston is the highest-ranked Texas State opponent since the Bobcats moved to the Bowl Subdivision in 2012. This game comes a week after Texas State lost 42-3 at No. 17 Arkansas. Texas State received a reported $1 million for the game at Arkansas. Withers has others reasons as well for facing good teams.I think there is a lot of value in playing top-quality opponents, Withers said. You learn more about your team when you play teams that are elite. I dont necessarily like playing them back to back.WARD WATCH: Ward suffered an injury to his right shoulder in the season opener against Oklahoma. He sat out the next game, against Lamar, and then accounted for 399 yards and ran for two fourth-quarter touchdowns at Cincinnati. He received treatment on the sideline during the game. Herman said Ward would receive treatment and evaluations during the week.Hes one of the best competitors Ive ever been around, and hes taken a lot of big hits, Herman said.DEPTH CHART: Through three games, Texas State has used more than 30 freshmen and sophomores on offense, defense and special teams. Withers said he encourages his staff to take chances with younger players.Ive challenged every one of our assistants coaches; Ive challenged myself to get them on the field, Withers said. I keep asking, `Who you saving?BIG CROWD: Houston is expected to attract one of the top four crowds at Bobcat Stadium since the facility was expanded to a listed capacity of 30,000 for Texas States arrival in FBS. The top three: Texas Tech in 2012 (33,006), Navy in 2014 (32,007) and Southern Miss in 2015 (27,250).HERMAN, THE EARLY YEARS: Herman was an offensive graduate assistant at Texas in 1999-2000 when Withers was coaching the Longhorns defensive backs. They also worked together at Ohio State.He was one of those guys you knew was going to be a really good coach, Withers said. You could tell when guys are sharp, understand the game, understand how to build relationships with the players. Replica NCAA Jerseys .4 million title. Ryan Riess emerged with the title after a session in which he started behind, but used expert skill to gather the chips to his side amid the unpredictability of no-limit Texas Hold em. Riess put his final opponent Jay Farber all-in with an Ace-King. NCAA Jerseys Outlet . Westbrook has missed 27 games since having a procedure on Dec. 27 to deal with swelling in his injured right knee — the third operation on the knee in nine months. https://www.chinajerseysncaa.us/ .ca looks back at the stories and moments that made the year memorable. Cheap Football NCAA Jerseys . And follow TSN.ca right through Deadline Day for all the updates. From Pierre LeBrun While Anaheim GM Bob Murray said earlier this season he was not going to trade Jonas Hiller despite the fact hes an unrestricted free agent on July 1, some sources have told TSN Hockey Insider Pierre LeBrun that Murray might be willing to move another goalie. Fake NCAA Jerseys . Dallas hasnt ruled out the star quarterback for Sunday nights game against Philadelphia, but all signs point to Romos back injury pushing Kyle Orton into the starting role after two years of limited play as the backup. Surely Ortons name isnt the first that comes to mind for fans wanting a change after years of damaging interceptions, fumbles or, most infamously, the field goal flub when Romo dropped the snap on a kick that could have won his first playoff game in 2006. LOS ANGELES -- Last season, Chimezie Metu got a lot of playing time for Southern California without having much experience.All those minutes are starting to pay off for him as a sophomore.Metu had 15 points and 11 rebounds to help the Trojans rally over the final 8:49 to beat Omaha 82-72 Sunday after trailing most of the game.Im trying to play as hard as possible, Metu said. This year we dont have as many great rebounders on our team as we did last year.Shaqquan Aaron scored 15 points, DeAnthony Melton had 13 points and nine rebounds, and Jordan McLaughlin added 12 points for the Trojans (2-0).We knew it would be a tough second game for us as we adjust to our lineups and rotations, especially with (Bennie) Boatwright being injured, USC coach Andy Enfield said. Our players played an excellent second half defensively that helped us win the game.Marcus Tyus scored a career-high 33 points and TreShawn Thurman had 20 points and 14 rebounds for the Mavericks (1-1), who were trying to beat a Pac-12 team for the first time.What we had trouble with was Marcus Tyus, Enfield said. It didnt matter whether we were man or zone, he made shots.The Mavs led by six early in the second half when the Trojans got loose for three consecutive dunks, two by Metu and one from DeAnthony Melton to tie the game 49-all.We were just trying to get on the run and get a lot of stops, Metu said, and it was turning into some points for us. We were just looking for some energy, some kind of spark.Aarons 3-pointer tied the game for the last time at 53-all. From there, USC closed the game on a 31-19 run.BIG PICTUREOmaha: Picked to finish fourth in the Summit League, the Mavs will go ass Tra-Deon Hollins and Thurman go.dddddddddddd Hollins led the nation in steals (127) and steals per game (3.9) as a junior last season, when he averaged 12.5 points. The Mavs have a tough nonconference schedule, with road games at Kansas State, Iowa, No. 24 Iowa State and Pittsburgh.USC: The Trojans protected their home court, where they are in the midst of playing five of six games.OUCHAaron raced in for a fast break layup with 1:33 to go in the first half and went off the back of Omahas Mitch Hahn, sending him crashing to the floor at the base of the basket support. He walked off on his own and had his right wrist wrapped before returning in the second half.If anything it kind of hyped him up even more, Melton said. When he gets mad, he really gets rolling. Its fun watching him play.BACK WITH A BANGTyus played just his second game since Feb. 7, 2015, at Denver, where he sustained a season-ending knee injury. He was 3 of 11 and scored nine points in the Mavs win over UCSB on Saturday.Against the Trojans, he was 11 of 18 from the floor, hit six 3-pointers and went 5 of 7 from the free throw line in 35 minutes.Its an amazing feeling to get a career high, he said. Ive been away for so long. My teammates just kept telling me if youre open, shoot. I got a confidence boost after my first couple of shots went in.UP NEXTOmaha: The Mavs visit Kansas State on Tuesday to finish off three road games in four days to open the season.USC: Visit Texas A&M on Friday in just the teams second-ever meeting. USC won 26-18 on Dec. 18, 1936. ' ' '