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The main event

Heisman dreams & BCS hopes on the line LM Otero/Associated Press file/ Mike Simons/Tulsa World file

 
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer
Published: 11/22/2008  2:25 AM
Last Modified: 11/22/2008  3:30 AM

Stakes are high as OU, Tech face off in South showdown



NORMAN — College football fans have watched and enjoyed the preliminary bouts.

When Texas' Colt McCoy outdueled Oklahoma's Sam Bradford in the Cotton Bowl, it was called the best game of the season to that point.

Three weeks ago, when Texas Tech's Graham Harrell one-upped McCoy's comeback with a miracle rally of his own, the "best game of the year" tag was re-awarded to that classic in Lubbock.

Saturday night, it's another heavyweight quarterback showdown, and this one could unite all the belts.

It's Bradford versus Harrell, and much, if not all, is at stake.

If Tech wins, the Red Raiders clinch the Big 12 Conference's South Division and a spot in the league title game on Dec. 6 in Kansas City.

If OU wins, the Sooners — a seven-point favorite — lay claim to a share of the Big 12 South crown and, with a potential boost from a possible road victory next week in Stillwater, could break a likely three-way tie with Tech and Texas for the championship game berth.

The winner Saturday would be heavily favored to win at Arrowhead Stadium and get the Big 12's automatic BCS berth. This season, that could mean a spot in the BCS national title game.

Tech is 10-0 for the first time in 70 years and has the nation's longest winning streak at 12 games.

The two-time defending Big 12 champion Sooners (9-1) are 59-2 at home under coach Bob Stoops and have an NCAA-leading 23-game home winning streak.

And, the nationally televised clash at Owen Field could ultimately decide the top quarterback in the Big 12 — and maybe even the nation. Simply put, to the winner between Bradford and Harrell could go the 2008 Heisman Trophy.

"Oh," Texas coach Mack Brown said of the matchup, "it's a great one."

Who's the best?

"You've got me on the spot there," OU coach Bob Stoops said.

"But I've got to say of course, Sam Bradford is, to me, statistically and everything we've asked him to do — yards per attempt, all of that — clearly above everyone else.

"We wouldn't have any other guy, but I'm sure other teams would say the same thing about their guys."

Harrell is atypically good — even by Texas Tech standards. He ranks seventh nationally in passer efficiency, third in touchdown passes, third in completion percentage and leads major-college passers in completions, attempts and yards, averaging 407.7 yards per game.

Kliff Kingsbury, B.J. Symons, Sonny Cumbie and Cody Hodges averaged nearly 4,500 yards and 37 touchdowns during the previous eight seasons in Lubbock, but Harrell, a senior and three-year starter, should surpass those averages on Saturday. His 4,077 yards and 36 TDs this year make him far and away Tech's career leader in both categories (14,759 yards and 125 TDs).

Stoops said Harrell's experience in Tech's system elevates him above the others.

"You almost feel like he can go back there blindfolded and know where all his guys are, having done it so much," Stoops said.

Kansas coach Mark Mangino most admires Harrell's poise.

"You can see when he's sitting in the pocket," Mangino said, "he looks like he's in control all the time."

Bradford, likewise, is remarkably good — even by OU standards. After leading the nation in passer efficiency as a freshman, he ranks second this season. He's third in passing yards per game, fourth in total offense and leads major-college football with 38 touchdowns.

Josh Heupel and Jason White are the yardsticks by which OU quarterbacks are now measured, and Bradford has, in many ways, surpassed both. This season the sophomore, in his second year as a starter, broke Heupel's OU single-game yardage record (468), is challenging White's single-season TD record (40) and could soon pass Heupel's single-season yardage mark (3,850).

He's tied the school record of five TD passes in a game — six times — and already owns the NCAA mark for TD passes during a freshman and sophomore season (74 so far; the old mark was 55). By season's end, he could break White's career marks for yards (7,922; he needs only 1,396) and TD passes (81, he has 74).

OU defensive coordinator Brent Venables figures Bradford and Harrell are both so good, they would be interchangeable in the other's system.

"They're very similar," Venables said. "I think they've both got maturity beyond their years, poise, accuracy and confidence in what they're doing."

NO. 2 TEXAS TECH AT NO. 5 OU



7 p.m. Saturday Owen Field, Norman

TV: KTUL-8

Radio: KMOD fm97.5, KTBZ am1430

Weather: It won’t be windy or wet, but it will be cold, with a game-time temperature in the upper 40s.

Records: Texas Tech 10-0, 6-0 Big 12; OU 9-1, 5-1 Big 12

Last meeting: 2008, Tech, 34-27.

Series: OU leads 11-4



John E. Hoover 581-8384
john.hoover@tulsaworld.com
By JOHN E. HOOVER World Sports Writer

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3 comments have been made for this team so far. Tell us what you think below!
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Arbythree, (11/22/2008 12:50:12 PM)
Let' get it right this time SOONERS. Blow Tech away and head to Stillwater and put a little hurt on the Cowboys.
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GrannyTazzy, Tulsa (11/22/2008 11:00:15 PM)
Way to go OU. Congratulations on a great win.
Report Comment
marlin, (11/23/2008 7:41:59 AM)
Congrats to OU for a great win but I can just see all the rednecks digging through their closets this morning breaking out all their OU gear.
It was bad enough yesterday with their Boomer Sooner Cellphones going off, today they'll be singing along with it. I guess the bright side to this is they haven't came out with Boomer Sooner Truck Horns yet.
 

 
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