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Gameday: Instant analysis
Published: 10/8/2011 11:38 PM
Last Modified: 10/10/2011 6:40 PM

Here are four things we learned about the college football world Saturday:

1. Repeat after me... Oklahoma is a legitimate national title contender
The Sooners may not win the second BCS title of the Bob Stoops era, but Oklahoma should at least be in the conversation. Sure, that defense has some soft spots and those special teams are suspect. Still, when OU goes all out it can demolish an opponent with plenty of Division I talent. The pass rush and speed demonstrated by the defense Saturday against Texas was impressive. And Landry Jones was probably the best player on the field. If the Sooners avoid turnovers and letdowns, Bedlam could be pretty special.

2. Maybe it was best Oklahoma State wasn't on TV
You know you play in a bad conference when... the sixth-ranked team in the country can't get on television. But Saturday's romp over Kansas would have needed a 'R' rating. How do you know when you're becoming a nationally elite program? When you peel the wrapper off the cupcake on your plate, devour it in one bite and save room for the main courses later in the season. Saturday's win over Kansas may not have said much about this year's Cowboys, but it shows the overall program is moving in the right direction. And I hear the black helmets and black jerseys looked good -- not that you would have known unless you were in attendance.

3. OK, so Texas isn't back yet
I think most people understood this, but it was very apparent on the floor of the Cotton Bowl on Saturday. Texas' quarterbacks wilted under the intense OU pressure, it's secondary had no answer for OU's receivers, and the Longhorns were generally overwhelmed. While the ABC/ESPN announce team talked a lot about Texas' youth, Bob Stoops happily pointed out postgame that OU has won Red River before despite relying heavily on young players. Texas returns 16 starters next year. By then we'll know if the Longhorns' current issues are those of experience or talent.

4. The race is on... for third place
The Big 12 is wide open -- at least if you're talking about the last eight spots in the standings. Baring turnovers or letdowns, Oklahoma and Oklahoma State should comfortably finish first and second. But things are uncertain after that. Baylor, Kansas State, Texas and Texas A&M should all battle for what's left. Kansas State appears to be the biggest remaining challenge left for OU and OSU after posting consecutive wins over Miami, Baylor and Missouri.

Reader Comments

4 Total

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Learn About Our Comment Policy

Razor1911 (last year)

A bad conference?! You're letting your Aggie (Texas variety) roots show through there, fella... Just because your alma mater is bailing doesn't mean it's a bad conference... Have you seen how many Big 12 teams are ranked? Did you see the Big 12's OOC record - with some marquis wins in that? I thought journalists - especially the editors - were supposed to hide their personal biases...

mgpeters (last year)

I meant it as a joke, but at the same time you can't have a great league when teams are leaving right and left -- not to mention being turned down by the Pac-12 is the only reason Oklahoma and Oklahoma State are still around.
The league is still very strong on the football field, but not so much in the boardroom.

115627 (last year)

"not that you would have known unless you where in attendance."

And this was written by the sports editor ? Hmmm - who edits the editor ?

mgpeters (last year)

I'm voting for you. But the job does require you bring me ice cream three days a week.

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The Editor's Desk

Tulsa World Sports Editor Michael Peters has nearly 20 years of daily newspaper experience. A 1993 graduate of Texas A&M, he worked at papers in Bryan-College Station, Texas, Beaumont, Texas, and Galveston, Texas, before joining the Houston Chronicle as High School Sports Editor in 2008. While in Houston, he coordinated coverage of the 2008 Texas Class 5A state football championships and the 2011 NCAA Men's Final Four.

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