If for some reason you weren't watching Saturday night's game between Oklahoma and Texas Tech, you missed a clinic by one of college football's longtime powers. With the pundits expecting a see-saw battle between a pair of great offenses, Oklahoma's defense put a wrench in the works, stopping the Red Raiders offense cold early and often. Meanwhile, the Sooners' offense simply rolled in the first half like they have all year, taking a 42-7 halftime lead on the way to a euphoric 65-21 victory.
Those 65 points were achieved in just over three quarters of work, as Oklahoma's final touchdown came a minute into the fourth quarter. After that the reserves came in, threatening to cross the 70-point mark several times before a raucous and festive Norman crowd.
This was one of those monster blowouts people will remember for a long time. Oklahoma's been on the other side of a few of them, but tonight it was their chance to put on a show. With No. 1 Alabama idle and Florida bashing lowly Citadel, tonight's showing could make things very interesting when the next round of polls come out. The Sooners are guaranteed to gain some first-place votes, and perhaps jump any combination of those ahead of them: Alabama, Florida and Texas.
Meanwhile, Texas Tech is in for a hard, hard fall. Graham Harrell's Heisman Trophy hopes are dead. Their victory over Texas will likely be questioned, if not outright ignored. Coach Mike Leach will get teased a bit after a tremendous season built on erasing old demons.
Texas Tech's offense was perceived as a gimmick until it took down Oklahoma last year and Texas this year. But life isn't fair and, right or wrong, this big of a defeat right at the peak of their success -- at No. 2 in the rankings -- is disastrous for their public perception. College football is nothing if not about perception.
Oklahoma's demons aren't erased, either. They have a history of disappointing bowl defeats under coach Bob Stoops and smart voters will be cautious when it comes time to make that final decision about who to place in the BCS Championship game. Oklahoma must still face rival Oklahoma State in the Bedlam series and could win the Big 12 Championship game if they win the conference tiebreaker.
For one night though, none of that matters. Like the fans in Cincinnati tossing oranges on the field, folks in Norman are feeling good about themselves and their team tonight. The stadium energy was as good as I've ever seen for Oklahoma, taking on a party feel in the chill of November. Rock on.
Comments (Page 1 of 1)
I really don't think people thought Tech's offense was a gimmick last year when they BEAT Oklahoma. Turn your teams around.
Wow, I guess USC (who had no game this week) must be celebrating and claiming they should be given a crack at the title.
........When USC plays the schedule that the SEC teams play year after year, then they can earn it instead of have it handed to them!
What does USC have to do with any of this?
If OU jumps Alabama, that will be one hell of a crock of sh*t if I've ever seen one. Beating the number 2 team in the country (which I've said was overrated from the get go) is no reason to place it above number 1. Any good offense will put up Sooners type numbers when their quarterback has all day to make a decision. Congratulations for Oklahoma, but this win is more telling about Tech, than it is about Oklahoma. Ever since Texas, all I could hear about was Tech's vaunted defense. Now if that defense was so good, then why the hell did they give Bradford all day to throw and let two guys just run up the middle? I can't wait for Florida to take care of business. BTW Big 12 South, I wouldn't go overlooking Mizzou just yet.
The post above me was brought to you in part by a complete retard.
Alabama is more overrated than Tech. The top 4 teams are OU, Texas, USC and Florida
Alabama more overrated than Tech??? What crack pipe are you smoking? 'Bama is still undefeated, Bama didn't get blown out by a lower ranking team...and how do you put OU above Texas when Texas whipped their @ss handidly? And don't give me any crock about bad play calling. I said it all along that tech was suspect and OU proved it...but that doesn't make OU the best team in the country all of a sudden...and USC above Florida....get a life dude...Florida will wipe the floor with either Tech, OU, Texas or Mizzou. But first we'll take care of State and then 'Bama.
Oklahoma and Nebraska have long histories of "running up the scores".. "Quality points"? I don't think so. College football is becoming a joke thanks to the drive to become #1. Beating an opponent is great, humiliating them is just wrong. Lack of class is more like it.
OU should not jump Texas The Longhorns beat OU on a neutral field. Ou should be ranked 3rd. You can not jump a team that has beat you.
Well Well look at who came out on the losing end if not TT. You beat Texas on your own field and im sure you all TT fans thought you were going thru the season unbeaten........NOT!!! Thankx to Oklahoma, your undeafeated season came to a halt. As much as we TEXAS FANS cant stand Oklahoma we sure do have to "THANK YOU" for a job well done. Now we all have to just wait and see who actually goes to the Big 12 Championship game and hopefully the BCS Title game. GO TEXAS....ALL THE WAY!!! and one more thing for you all Texas Tech fans.......BOO HOO BOO HOO.
D Wilson; that means Texas can not be ranked ahead of Texas Tech; by your own logic.Too much koolaid in Austin
D Wilson; by your (ahem) logic, Texas may not be ranked in front of Tech.
There's no real logic to any of this. For every logical point you make defending a team, a logical point can be made that shoots down your point...and you're back to Square 1.
The fact is, there is no fair way to determine the Big 12 South champion. The two teams that don't make it will have legitimate beefs.
Are you serious? Running up the score? OU was playing a team that on any other night can score faster than any other team in the nation. You do not get ahead and then just slow down for a team like that. Those of you that think texas beat OU handily...again, seriously??? If I remember correctly the final touchdown came towards the end of the game. A game which OU led most of the way. Yeah, texas came back for the win, but I don't think that they beat us "handily." Beating Tech by 44 is beating a team ""handily."