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Big Time

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy (left) OSU quarterback Zac Robinson (right). DARYL WILSON/Tulsa World

 
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer
Published: 10/25/2008  2:05 AM
Last Modified: 10/25/2008  2:43 AM

OSU-Texas showdown biggest game for Cowboys since 1984 Bedlam



In that it has such tremendous significance for both teams, the Oklahoma State-Texas collision qualifies as one of the two most important games in Cowboy football history.

Entering the 1984 Bedlam battle at Norman, OSU and Oklahoma were on the short list of national-title contestants.

The Cowboys were 9-1 and No. 3 in the Associated Press poll.

The Sooners were 8-1-1 and ranked No. 2.

OU prevailed 24-14.

OSU was a national-championship contender that day, and OSU is a surprising national contender now.

Armed with their first 7-0 record since 1945 and with their most talent since 1984-88, the Cowboys head to top-ranked Texas in Saturday's 2:30 p.m., ABC-televised Big 12 game.

Texas expects a crowd of about 98,000 at Royal-Memorial Stadium.

The national ramifications are obvious. The winner would remain undefeated and at or near the top of the Bowl Championship Series standings, along with sustaining at least a share of the Big 12 South lead.

"You just let the cards fall in place," OSU coach Mike Gundy said. "If you continue to win the right games, you put yourself in position for where you want to be."

The Cowboys are No. 7 in the AP Top 25 and No. 6 in the BCS standings. In all polls and standings, Texas is No. 1.

When facing No. 1 opponents, OSU is 0-7. On Saturday, Texas — having beaten OU by 10 points and Missouri by 25 — is favored by two touchdowns.

Until seizing the position two weeks ago, Texas had not held an AP regular-season No. 1 ranking since 1984. At Texas, even the most prominent game is a routine matter.

"Every week, people want to give us their best shot," Longhorn nose tackle Roy Miller said. "At the same time, this is a (Texas) team that wants to give everybody our best shot. I guess it kind of balances out."

Never before has a Top 10-ranked OSU team been matched with a No. 1-ranked opponent. This is all pretty big stuff for a Cowboy program that had not been in the Top 10 since 1988.

"Now that you said it, I kind of got chills," OSU quarterback Zac Robinson said. "But we approach games all the same. If you try to make a game bigger than it is, guys might try to do too much. We're just grateful for the challenge."

Unbeaten Texas is fueled by Heisman Trophy-candidate quarterback Colt McCoy and by a defense that ranks No. 2 nationally against the run.

The Cowboys succeed with a defense that forces turnovers and a balanced offense. They lead the Big 12 and rank fifth nationally in rushing, and they have an elite pass-catching playmaker in wide receiver Dez Bryant (11 receiving TDs, 18.0 yards per catch).

Texas coach Mack Brown addresses his concerns with the Robinson-Kendall Hunter option game and with Bryant's knack for big plays: "When you crowd the line of scrimmage enough and bring enough people up (to defend against the run), they'll throw the ball over your head and get jump balls with Dez Bryant, who's as good a receiver as there is in the country."

Brown says he also fears the OSU return game, both on punts (Bryant) and kickoffs (Perrish Cox).

"Oklahoma State has the best kicking game in the league, year in and year out," Brown said. "(Cowboy special-teams coach) Joe DeForest does a great job — not a good job, a great job. I'm really, really concerned about that."

But before anyone completely dismisses the idea of an OSU victory, consider this: In this decade, Texas has lost to unranked teams at home three times, including Kansas State last year.

NO. 1 AND TOP 10



The Cowboys are winless in seven previous meetings with No. 1-ranked opponents. A review:

Nov. 1, 2003: at No. 1 OU 52, No. 14 OSU 9

Nov. 25, 2000: No. 1 OU 12, at OSU 7

Oct. 5, 1991: at No. 1 Miami (Fla.) 40, OSU 3

Nov. 7, 1987: at No. 1 OU 29, No. 12 OSU 10

Oct. 8, 1983: No. 1 Nebraska 14, at OSU 10

Nov. 30, 1974: at No. 1 OU 44, OSU 13

Oct. 23, 1971: at No. 1 Nebraska 41, OSU 13

The OSU-Texas game will be the sixth time that OSU has been involved in a game in which both teams had a Top 10 national ranking. A review of the previous five:

Oct. 15, 1988: at No. 7 Nebraska 63, No. 10 OSU 42.

Oct. 12, 1985: No. 9 Nebraska 34, at No. 5 OSU 24.

Dec. 28, 1984: No. 9 OSU 21, No. 7 South Carolina 14 (Gator Bowl).

Nov. 24, 1984: at No. 2 Oklahoma 24, No. 3 OSU 14.

Oct. 6, 1984: at No. 8 Nebraska 17, No. 9 OSU 3.



Bill Haisten 581-8397
bill.haisten@tulsaworld.com
By BILL HAISTEN World Sports Writer

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thinksmart 1st, sand springs (10/25/2008 8:07:11 AM)
all your stats don't mean nothing when they get broken. OSU will play out the season against rank teams #3 mizz, #1 TEX, #4 OU, #6 TEX TECH, You gotta love the BIG 12 this could be the year that OSU kicks the monkey off their back about being 2nd best to other BIG 12 teams. this sat, next sat, and the saturday after that will tell. If OSU plays smart football every week they got a better chance to win than there oppontent.
 

 
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