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Sooners still hunting for title

 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 10/15/2008  2:06 AM
Last Modified: 10/15/2008  2:55 AM

 NORMAN — Oklahoma starts the second half of the college football season exactly where it began the first half: ranked No. 4.

The Sooners climbed to No. 1 after just four games, so they know it is possible again.

"It didn't hurt us too bad, thank God," OU senior Nic Harris said. "Now that we have that off our back, that bull's-eye of being No. 1, now we can just play ball. We don't have the added pressure."

OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday that his players "absolutely" know Saturday's loss to Texas didn't knock them out of the national title hunt.

"These guys pay attention as everyone does," Stoops said. "This isn't any revelation. Look at last year. Look at every year lately. It's hard to go undefeated. Heck, the national champion (LSU), who would have ever thought they would have two losses? I never thought that would happen and it did."

Oklahoma — 5-1 ahead of this week's game against No. 16 Kansas — is ranked fourth in the Harris Poll and sixth in the coaches poll, two of the three components used in the Bowl Championship Series standings. The third element — an average of six computer rankings — has OU just outside the top 10, although those numbers don't become official until the BCS standings are released Sunday.

For now, the Sooners are focused on correcting the things that got them beat by Texas.

Said Harris, "You still have a sick taste in your mouth because of the loss."



John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com

Breaking down the contenders

The Bowl Championship Series standings will be revealed next Monday. Halfway through the college football season, World Sports Writer John E. Hoover breaks down the field in pursuit of a spot in the BCS national championship game (ranked in order of this week's AP Top 25):

1. Texas


Record: 6-0
Ranking avg.: 1
Computer avg.: 1
They're in: The Longhorns defeated a No. 1 (OU) and have a chance to build on that resume because they play in arguably the nation's toughest conference. They sit atop both the human polls and the computer rankings, and thus control their own destiny.
They're out: That nation's-toughest-conference thing still includes games against No. 11 Missouri this week, undefeated No. 8 Oklahoma State and No. 7 Texas Tech and, potentially, a presumably difficult showdown with the Big 12 North champion.



2. Alabama


Record: 6-0
Ranking avg.: 2
Computer avg.: 2
They're in: The Crimson Tide slammed then-No. 9 Clemson, Arkansas and then-No. 3 Georgia all on the road. No team has a better resume. Again, Alabama is doing it against arguably college football's toughest conference.
They're out: Can 'Bama keep up this pace? The Tide still needs to win at Tennessee and at LSU, then finishes the regular season with a rivalry game against Auburn. If they survive that gauntlet, the SEC East winner awaits in the conference title game.

3. Penn State


Record: 7-0
Ranking avg.: 3
Computer avg.: 5.6
They're in: No team has stayed within two touchdowns, and that includes road wins over ranked Illinois and Wisconsin teams. Impressive wins at Purdue and at Wisconsin have the Nittany Lions rolling like it's 1986. And there is no conference title game.
They're out: A softening Big Ten schedule will keep voters and computers unimpressed. No. 12 Ohio State in Columbus, Ohio, is the biggest road block remaining, and finishing with No. 20 Michigan State won't exactly be easy.

4. Oklahoma


Record: 5-1
Ranking avg.: 5
Computer avg.: 11
They're in: If the Sooners can run the table against upcoming opponents No. 16 Kansas, No. 7 Texas Tech and No. 8 Oklahoma State, then win the Big 12 title game, voters won't be swayed by an October loss in a rivalry game against top-five Texas.
They're out: The Sooners haven't run the football since returning from Washington, and Kansas' defense is stout. Both Tech and OSU can score with anyone, so how does OU cope with such explosive offenses without heart-and-soul leader Ryan Reynolds?

5. Florida


Record: 5-1
Ranking avg.: 6.5
Computer avg.: 14.7
They're in: The Gators have played championship defense almost every week, and their QB play is second to none. Winning out against this kind of schedule and the SEC title game will lift the Gators. Beating LSU by 30 goes a long way.
They're out: A loss to middling Mississippi in September will hurt, but not as bad as computer rankings currently in the 20s. That can be fixed by winning, but rugged tests at No. 10 Georgia and No. 22 Vanderbilt await the next two weeks.

6. USC


Record: 5-1
Ranking avg.: 4.5
Computer avg.: 8.3
They're in: The Trojans' fast start — 52-7 at Virginia, 35-3 over then-No. 5 Ohio State — and 44-10 over then-No. 23 Oregon — nearly make up for losing at Oregon State. An increasingly weakening Pac-10 should mean a clear road.
They're out: The Pac-10 is so weak that voters and computers will grade USC down no matter how many style points the Trojans score. No. 25 Cal is the only high-quality opponent left, and SC must avoid stumbles against rivals Notre Dame and UCLA.

7. Texas Tech


Record: 6-0
Ranking avg.: 6
Computer avg.: 10.3
They're in: Record-setting QB Graham Harrell and WR Michael Crabtree make up the nation's best passing tandem, and as impressive wins against ranked opponents start to pile up, voters will be impressed more and more by all the gaudy numbers.
They're out: A remarkably weak nonconference schedule hurt, and an increasingly strong Big 12 schedule — games against No. 16 Kansas, No. 1 Texas, No. 8 OSU and No. 4 OU are on the horizon — will challenge a defense that lately has seemed unstable.

8. Oklahoma State


Record: 6-0
Ranking avg.: 10
Computer avg.: 4.3
They're in: Like Texas and Tech, the Cowboys might control their own destiny. OSU overcame a soft nonconference schedule by shocking then-No. 3 Missouri. Sweeping this schedule — at No. 1 Texas, at No. 7 Texas Tech, home against No. 4 Oklahoma — and winning the Big 12 title game is key.
They're out: Impressive computer rankings will climb as they navigate the schedule. But OSU, unranked just three weeks ago, started too far back. With such a slow poll start, just one loss unravels everything.

Rankings average includes only USA Today coaches poll and Harris Poll. Computer average discards high and low of five rankings; Wolfe rating will be announced on Oct. 19.
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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COMMENTS 
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7 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Report Comment
jazzy529, upper marlboro, md (10/15/2008 5:41:20 AM)
OU needs to re evaluate their defensive coaching staff. Someone can't see the forest because of the trees.
Report Comment
2curious, Tulsa, OK 74104 (10/15/2008 6:49:27 AM)
I agree, Jazzy.

Time for an attitude change in the Defensive offices. Coach Stoops has an incredible ability for hiring excellent offensive coordinators and coaches (Leach, Mangino, Long, Huepel and White). But besides his brother...can anyone name another good one on the defensive side of things? He's got to do some soul searching and realize loyalty can sometimes be a widow maker...
Report Comment
jb23, (10/15/2008 8:15:40 AM)
Now come on guys...you must not have listened to the post game show with Coach Merv Johnson...as he said, Coach Stoops is the Defensive Coach...He runs the Defense...It is the exact same defense he ran 9 years ago when Coach Mike was there. So, if anyone is to blame, blame the head man. But seriously, what do you want??? An udefeated season every year? National title contention every year? Give me a break!
Report Comment
Dad, Up North (10/15/2008 8:25:06 AM)
Remember the Blake days??? Give thanks for what we have. At least OU is there every year to contend for the Big 12 South, Big 12 Championship, and the National championship.
Report Comment
DACLUB, TULSA (10/15/2008 3:07:44 PM)
OU FANS NEVER SEEM TO REALIZE THAT FOOTBALL IS A SPORT PLAYED
AMONG YOUNG MEN. WINS ARE AN ACCOPMLISHMENT, NOT A BIRTHRIGHT.
Report Comment
Shepard, (10/17/2008 12:45:14 AM)
Can you guys help me with this possible end of season scenario by discussing it?

Texas is 12-0, Ranked 1 and on the way to the big 12 Championship
OU is 11-1, Ranked 2 (Cant go to the big 12 because they are not the South Champions). If Texas won the big 12 game, OU could still be 2 right? So could it be that we have twin brother Texas doing all the plowing for us and we get to eat the corn?
Report Comment
Shepard, (10/17/2008 12:46:11 AM)
"Selmon" have I seen such "Royal" criticism of a great coach. Sure, he needs to "Tinker" with the running game and there's a "Lott" that needs to be fixed on special teams, but sometimes you have to blame the players, not the "Boz". If you "Watts"ed that game, it "Sims" to me that OU was slicing up UT like a "Wilkinson" razor until the second half when "Reynolds" got hurt. OU is always in the "Hunt" for a National Championship every year, and "Stoops" is a great coach. The coordinators are a "Wiley" bunch and will find a "Way" to fix it all. Oklahomans are not a bunch of "Hicks" but we will drive miles and miles "Overstreet" to see our "Sooners". Anyone who jumps off the "Sooner Schooner" after one loss is a fair weather fan at best. They just need to go out there this week and "Pruitt" to themselves that they are still a great team even with a new Middle Line Backer. Mark it on your calendars, the "Sooners" bowl game will be a couple of weeks after the "White" Christmas. I'd bet a "Clayton" of "Jackson"s on that! So don't go getting all riled up and popping your blood "Vessels" this early. "Owens" you glad you read my post? You "Von Schamman" my popcorn?
 

 
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