CFI RANKINGS: #3 OKLAHOMA SOONERS

2007 RECORD: 11-3; BIG 12: 6-2
Lost Fiesta Bowl vs. West Virginia 48-28
LOCATION: Norman, Oklahoma
STADIUM: Oklahoma Memorial Stadium (82,112)
HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops
OVERALL: 97-22 (9 seasons)
AT OKLAHOMA: 97-22 (9 seasons)


The talk in Norman and around the country about the Sooners surrounds OU’s inability to win a BCS game of late. Last season was their fourth straight BCS Bowl loss (they were favored in three of those games) and the second by at least 20 points. Of course, getting to those games means that the Sooners have fared extremely well in the regular season and in Big 12 play. In fact, since 2000, OU has won five Big 12 Titles and reached 11 wins in seven of eight seasons. Whatever your standards…it’s hard not to be happy with that.


WHEN THE SOONERS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Kevin Wilson (7th Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 8
KEY LOSSES: Malcolm Kelly, Allen Patrick, Joe John Finley

The Sooners return all five starters along the offensive line, which should bring smiles to everyone in Norman. While Malcolm Kelly decided to leave early, the fact that the left side of the line, OT Phil Loadholt & OG Duke Robinson, returned may wind up being more significant. Both clear 330 pounds and move well—when they are motivated it can be a long day for defenders. Standing behind the line is sophomore Sam Bradford, who is coming off a record setting season freshman season. He has a good arm and is accurate—when he gets on a roll, this offense can be unstoppable. Even without the aforementioned Kelly, Bradford will have plenty of weapons at his disposal. Senior Juaquin Iglesias is among the most dangerous players in the nation after the catch with his speed and shifty open field moves, while slot man Manuel Johnson provides another option that can run. Two more veterans, Quentin Chaney and Adron Tennell, provide length and the ability to go up and get the football. At tight end, Jermaine Gresham may actually be their toughest cover, while Brody Eldridge is more of a blocker. When OU decides to take to the ground, Las Vegas native DeMarco Murray, a Reggie Bush-esque runner, will make opponents miss using his quickness and breakaway speed. Chris Brown is the perfect complement to Murray—he excels between the tackles and in short yardage situations.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) TE Jermaine Gresham (JR), 2) OG DeMarco Murray (SO)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS THE BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINATOR: Brent Venables (10th Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 6
KEY LOSSES: Reggie Smith, Curtis Lofton, Marcus Walker, D.J. Wolfe, Lewis Baker

The Sooners are loaded up front. It begins at defensive tackle, where highly touted recruits junior DeMarcus Granger and sophomore Gerald McCoy both return and figure to take a step closer to fulfilling their potential to dominate. Pushing them and providing depth are Cory Bennett and Adrian Taylor. Coming from the edge, Auston English is so quick you’d think he knows the snap count, as he consistently keeps offensive tackles on their heels. As long as he remains healthy, he figures to be the Big 12’s most dominant pass rusher. Manning the middle is junior MIKE Ryan Reynolds who showed glimpses last season after suffering through injuries in the early part of his career. Former safety Keenan Clayton adds speed to the second level of the defense. In the defensive backfield they have an excellent blend at safety, where SS Nic Harris checks in ten pounds heavier than Clayton and is one of the hardest hitting safeties in the nation. Joining him is FS Lendy Holmes, whose experience as a former corner will allow him to provide support in pass coverage. That coverage will be needed—the Sooners are breaking in two new starters at cornerback. No one doubts the talent Brian Jackson and Dominque Franks possess, but the duo is unproven.

TOP PROSPECTS: 1) DT Gerald McCoy (SO), 2) DT DeMarcus Granger (JR)

THE SCHEDULE

The out of conference schedule is challenging enough. The Sooners take on a 2007 bowl team in Cincinnati, visit the Washington Huskies, and host TCU, one of the top “mid-major” programs in country. Those are all solid teams, but all games the Sooners should win fairly handily. The conference schedule is not an easy one, but again features games the Sooners are “supposed” to win—they play the ‘Horns on the second Saturday of October and the Red Raiders from Texas Tech come calling in November. Those two contests should decide the fate of the Big 12 South. Missouri is off the schedule, but Kansas is back, as are the rival Cornhuskers. The two games that anyone who watches the Sooners will be most concerned about are their trips to College Station and Stillwater, two places OU always seems to struggle, regardless of the talent discrepancy.

PIVOTAL POINT

The Back Seven: This group could be vulnerable against the pass. One starting corner, Jackson, hasn’t started a game at the college level and the other, Franks, has started only one. At safety, Holmes has experience (19 career starts) but mostly at corner, while Harris’ strength is playing near the line of scrimmage, not as a last line of defense. They have even less experience at linebacker, where they will break in two new starters alongside Reynolds who is the veteran of the unit with his seven career starts. If they were playing in the old run-oriented Big 8 this might not be a problem…but they don’t, so it is. The Big 12 is pass-happy and the Sooners will have to square off against the likes of Colt McCoy, Todd Reesing, Josh Freeman, Joe Ganz, Stephen McGee, Graham Harrell and Zac Robinson. In other words, they have to defend over 20,000 yards and nearly 200 touchdowns in conference play alone.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

OU has the ideal blend of raw talent, experience and favorable schedule to make a run at Bob Stoops’ second BCS Championship as the Sooners’ headman. Yes, their vulnerability plays into the strength of their conference foes, but they get five games to get ready before they have to face any of the quarterbacks mentioned above. By that time they should be ready and should be favored in every game. While everyone is focusing on the OSU-USC winner and which school will represent the SEC in the championship game this season, the Sooners could sneak past everyone and make it all the way to Miami, the site of their last national championship.

Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

USA TODAY COACHES POLL

The top 25 teams in the USA Today college football coaches' poll, with first-place votes in parentheses, 2007 records, points based on 25 points for a first-place vote, through one point for a 25th-place vote and previous ranking:

No. Team 07 Record Points Previous
1. Georgia (22) 11-2 1,438 3
2. USC (14) 11-2 1,430 2
3. Ohio State (14) 11-2 1,392 4
4. Oklahoma (3) 11-3 1,329 8
5. Florida (5) 9-4 1,293 16
6. LSU (3) 12-2 1,163 1
7. Missouri 12-2 1,143 5
8. West Virginia 11-2 1,008 6
9. Clemson 9-4 999 22
10. Texas 10-3 979 10
11. Auburn 9-4 888 T14
12. Wisconsin 9-4 747 21
13. Kansas 12-1 714 7
14. Texas Tech 9-4 644 23
15. Virginia Tech 11-3 568 9
16. Arizona State 10-3 560 13
17. BYU 11-2 547 T14
18. Tennessee 10-4 506 12
19. Illinois 9-4 422 18
20. Oregon 9-4 399 24
21. South Florida 9-4 350 NR
22. Penn State 9-4 313 25
23. Wake Forest 9-4 203 NR
24. Michigan 9-4 112 19
25. Fresno State 9-4 91 NR

Others receiving votes: Alabama 83; South Carolina 64; Utah 60; Florida State 53; Rutgers 53; Boston College 47; California 41; Pittsburgh 34; Boise State 25; Oregon State 23; Nebraska 17; Cincinnati 13; Virginia 12; Connecticut 9; Michigan State 9; Mississippi State 6; Kentucky 5; Notre Dame 5; TCU 5; Maryland 4; North Carolina 3; Texas A&M 3; UCLA 3; Central Florida 2; Georgia Tech 2; Louisville 2; Arizona 1; Colorado 1; Oklahoma State 1; Tulsa 1.

Patrick's career day leads Oklahoma to 49-17 Bedlam win

By JEFF LATZKE
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - Allen Patrick returned to form just in time for the postseason, running for a career-best 202 yards and two touchdowns as No. 10 Oklahoma wrapped up a spot in the Big 12 championship game with a 49-17 win Saturday against Oklahoma State.

Patrick, who had four 100-yard rushing games after Adrian Peterson broke his collarbone last season, passed the century mark for the first time since September and also caught a touchdown pass in easily his best game of the season.

The Sooners (10-2, 6-2 Big 12) had been all but assured of playing in their fifth Big 12 title game in the past six seasons even with a loss, but a Bedlam blowout left no doubt.

Sam Bradford returned after sustaining a concussion in Oklahoma's 34-27 loss at Texas Tech last week to break the NCAA freshman record for touchdown passes in a season. He had four scoring passes, including two to tight end Joe Jon Finley, to give him 32 this year. Nevada's David Neill (1998) and Texas' Colt McCoy (2006) held the old record with 29.

The Sooners were playing without leading rusher DeMarco Murray (knee), but that didn't stop them from pummeling their in-state rival with a constant ground attack. Oklahoma went with the rush on 28 of its 35 first-half plays, and Patrick carried most of the load a week after a fumble on his first carry led to Bradford getting hurt while making the tackle.

Patrick went for more than 100 yards for the first time in eight games, clearing the mark early in the second quarter with a 32-yard run around the left end that set up Chris Brown's 3-yard touchdown push to make it 21-7.

By that point, Patrick had already been in the end zone twice on an 11-yard scoring pass from Bradford and a 5-yard TD run.

The Sooners then came up with a huge goal-line stand, stuffing Oklahoma State (6-6, 4-4) on four straight rush attempts from the 1-yard line. On fourth down, three Sooners converged on quarterback Zac Robinson just shy of the goal line to jar the ball loose, and safety D.J. Wolfe scooped it up to end the threat.

Patrick ran on each of the next four plays to pick up 31 yards, and Oklahoma cashed in on Bradford's 2-yard touchdown pass to Joe Jon Finley for a 28-7 lead.

Finley also caught a 12-yard TD pass from Bradford, and Patrick's 2-yard run in the fourth quarter extended the lead to 42-17.

Bradford finished with 150 yards on 11-for-15 passing with one interception, which set up one of the Cowboys' two touchdowns on the day.

Dantrell Savage scored them both, catching a 16-yard pass from Robinson and rushing in from 6 yards out. He ran for 112 yards for his ninth straight 100-yard game.

Pregame warmups brought a glimmer of hope for Oklahoma State, as leading receiver Adarius Bowman jogged around and went through drills a week after coach Mike Gundy announced he'd be out for the rest of the regular season. Bowman was in uniform and had his helmet on, but didn't play in the game.

The result was Robinson's least productive passing day since he took over as the starter in the third game of the season. He completed 8 of 20 passes for 105 yards before being replaced by backup Bobby Reid in the fourth quarter.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

Oklahoma, Kansas, Missouri all in national title picture

By R.B. FALLSTROM
AP Sports Writer

COLUMBIA, Mo. (AP) - The Big 12 is going to play a huge role in the race for the national title.

The conference has three of the top six teams in the country with Oklahoma, unbeaten Kansas and Missouri heading into the final three weeks of the regular season.

Barring upsets - which might be a stretch this season - No. 3 Oklahoma will to meet the winner of Kansas and Missouri's game Nov. 24 at Kansas City in the Big 12 championship game Dec. 1 in San Antonio.

The winner of that game could make a good case to be playing for the national title on Jan. 7 in New Orleans, though the chances of that actually happening are iffy at best.

Kansas is the only unbeaten team left among the six conferences with an automatic bid to the BCS following top-ranked Ohio State's 28-21 upset loss at home against Illinois, and is 10-0 for the first time since 1899. The Jayhawks have the Big 12's stingiest defense and have not committed a turnover in three games.

``It's awesome, it's unbelievable,'' said quarterback Todd Reesing, who has gone five games without an interception. ``To be at this point in the season and be undefeated is beyond out wildest dreams''

Oklahoma is 9-1 after freshman DeMarco Murray's four-touchdown showing in a 52-21 victory over Baylor. The Sooners stumbled in a loss to Colorado in their conference opener, but have been steadily climbing back into the race since then. The Sooners face Texas Tech at home on Saturday and face rival Oklahoma State the next week. One victory in their next two will be good enough to get the Sooners into the Big 12 title game. They need to be perfect to have a shot at the national title.

Redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford has led Oklahoma with 28 touchdown passes and only five interceptions. He threw for 353 yards on Saturday, 11 yards off his career high, for three touchdowns.

``Sam was exceptional again,'' coach Bob Stoops said. ``Those deep balls could not have been any better.''

Turnovers were disastrous to Missouri in a 41-31 loss at Oklahoma on Oct. 13, and quarterback Chase Daniel burns for another shot. The Tigers (9-1) have nine victories for the first time since 1969, knocking Nebraska and Texas Tech out of the rankings with impressive blowouts, and their 40-34 victory over Illinois in the opener adds luster to their resume.

Both Missouri and Kansas stared down adversity on Saturday, rebuilding once-comfortable leads that had been shaved to five points. Kansas scored the last 10 points in a 43-28 victory at Oklahoma State.

``The fans were on their feet and the place was getting noisy, and the kids just kept their poise,'' Kansas coach Mark Mangino said. ``They don't panic.''

Texas A&M twice cut the gap to five, forcing Missouri to answer twice. The Tigers scored nine points in the final 3:44 of a 40-26 victory, the big play on Jeremy Maclin's 12-yard touchdown catch.

``This is what champions are made of,'' Daniel said. ``It was something special.''

Before the Jayhawks and Tigers meet in an unexpected showdown, both have work to do.

``We're not caught up in polls and all that stuff,'' Mangino said. ``Our team is 10-0 right now because we have taken care of the task at hand.''

Kansas plays at home against Iowa State next week while Missouri is at Kansas State, where the Tigers have not won since 1989. Missouri had two November losses in each of coach Gary Pinkel's first six seasons.

``You want to play your best football in November,'' Pinkel said. ``Kansas State will be another barrier. Someone said we haven't won there in like 97 years.

``My big thing is just keeping players focused on what we have to do to play our best game.''

Source: ncaasports.com; Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

Tight end Gresham's role growing in No. 4 Oklahoma's offense

By JEFF LATZKE
AP Sports Writer
NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Jermaine Gresham had to learn to help Oklahoma run before he could fully show off his skills in the passing game.

It should come as no surprise that Gresham turned into one of the top targets for the No. 4 Sooners (8-1, 4-1), considering his reputation as one of the most skilled basketball and football players in the state coming out of Ardmore High School.

Head coach Bob Stoops called the 6-foot-6 sophomore the most physically talented tight end he's ever coached. "Nothing like that guy. Just the power and strength he has is amazing. The speed he has is amazing," Stoops said. "We can run our gassers,
our conditioning drills, out there over and over and the guy never gets tired. There's a lot to him, for sure, and he's got great hands."

Gresham's abilities are quickly filling up the stat sheet. He tied fellow tight end Trent Smith's school record by catching four touchdown passes against Texas A&M last week, and he now leads the team with 10 receiving TDs. The school record for a season is 15 by Mark Clayton.

Stoops agreed without hesitation when asked whether Gresham's physical talent would make him comparable to Adrian Peterson, but at the tight end position. Peterson set the NCAA freshman rushing record with 1,925 yards and finish second in the Heisman Trophy balloting in 2004, then set the NFL single-game record with 296 yards rushing for the Minnesota Vikings last week.

When he was at Oklahoma, coaches bragged similarly that Peterson was always leading the post-practice sprinting sessions.

"I know that's saying a lot, but in that regard, his abilities and his endurance and his speed, everything together for a tight end, he's one of those type of guys," Stoops said.

All that talent wasn't getting showcased much of his freshman season, though, as Gresham's struggles to pick up the team's blocking schemes cost him playing time and he compounded matters by developing fumbling problems when he did get on the field.

"There was just a time a year ago as a young player with high expectations and unbelievable talent, he was still a receiver learning to be a tight end," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said.

Gresham progressed with blocking through spring and fall practices, but even a few weeks ago Wilson said it was clear when opponents saw him on the field, they were preparing for the Sooners to throw the football. It finally clicked in Oklahoma's 62-21 win at Tulsa in Week 4, when Wilson came away impressed with Gresham's commitment to blocking.

"To be a complete player, to put you on the field, you need to do everything and not go in and being the passing tight end," Gresham said. "Being a complete player throws the defense off."

Two of Gresham's four touchdowns against the Aggies came with Oklahoma operating out of a formation with three tight ends bunched on one end of the line. It's a recipe in deception aimed at opposing defenses.

"You get three big guys 250 pounds-plus on the same side and you've got to respect the run," said tight end Joe Jon Finley, who lines up alongside Gresham and Brody Eldridge in the set. "But with the athleticism of the three tight ends ... in there we're able to spread it out a little bit too."

The formation became even more difficult to defend when Gresham started using his 262-pound frame to deliver punishing blocks, and when Eldridge proved he was more than a blocker by catching a few passes.

"It's very unique and really became a big staple for us a year ago when we understood what quality players all those guys were. It gives you a lot of options running the ball and throwing it because they do both really well," Stoops said.

"They're good strong blockers, you can get multiple sets with them and then you can release them and they have the ability, the way they run, to get deep. It gives you a lot of versatility."

In typical form, Gresham credited his coaches for helping him add 25 pounds to his frame, for putting him in position to make those touchdown catches and even for driving him to improve himself.

"Sometimes I'd be like, 'Wow, why are you doing this to me?'" Gresham said. "But in the long run, hopefully it will pay off."

Source: A.P. Wire; Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

No. 5 Sooners pound Texas A&M 42-14

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Jermaine Gresham matched a school record by catching four of Sam Bradford's five touchdown passes, and No. 5 Oklahoma took sole possession of first place in the Big 12 South with a 42-14 win against Texas A&M on Saturday night.

Gresham, a sophomore tight end, equaled the record for TD receptions in a game set by Trent Smith in 2001 against Kansas on a 13-yard pass by Bradford in the front corner of the end zone late in the third quarter. That put Oklahoma up 35-0 on its way to another rout of the Aggies (6-4, 3-3 Big 12) in Norman.

Four years after Oklahoma (8-1, 5-1) handed the Aggies (6-4, 3-3) their most lopsided loss ever in a 77-0 blowout, Bradford tied the school record for touchdown passes set by 2000 Heisman Trophy runner-up Josh Heupel and matched three times by 2004 Heisman Trophy winner Jason White.

Bradford and Gresham hooked up twice, from 3 and 13 yards, before the Aggies even completed a pass and Oklahoma led 14-0 early in the second quarter. Bradford found tailback Chris Brown out of the backfield for a 14-yard score late in the first half, and then added TD passes of 38 and 13 yards to Gresham.

Bradford finished with 284 yards on 21-for-30 passing, and Gresham had five catches for a career-best 80 yards.

With tailback Michael Goodson, one of the three key parts of Texas A&M's triple-option offense, held out of the first half despite being apparently healthy, the Aggies couldn't get going. They managed only four first downs and 63 total yards in the opening half and missed out on their own chance to jump to the top of the Big 12 South standings.

A win would have allowed Texas A&M to tie Texas for first place and avenge a 17-16 loss last season in which the Sooners passed the Aggies in the standings on their way to the conference championship. Instead, Oklahoma moved past Oklahoma State, which lost to the Longhorns 38-35 earlier in the day.

Texas A&M finally got on the board when Stephen McGee scrambled and found Martellus Bennett in the back of the end zone for a 23-yard touchdown reception with 12:36 remaining. Bennett, also a tight end, set a school record of his own by catching a pass in his 27th consecutive game. Terrence Murphy, the school's all-time receiving leader, held the old record with 26.

After Bennett's touchdown, Oklahoma drained more than 8 minutes off the clock before DeMarco Murray skied in for a 2-yard TD run. The Aggies were held to about half of their 239.4-yard rushing average, which ranked ninth in the nation, and were outgained on the ground 191-128.

Texas A&M was still only the second team to reach triple digits against Oklahoma's third-ranked run defense.

The Sooners lost Big 12 sacks leader Auston English, who limped off the field early in the second quarter and did not return, but that didn't help the Aggies get a passing game going.

McGee ended up 15-for-28 for 164 yards, including 63 on a drive for a meaningless touchdown with 43 seconds left, and he also was the Aggies' top rusher with 71 yards on 16 carries.

Texas A&M has lost the first two games in a stretch of four straight games against ranked opponents. Their final two games are at No. 9 Missouri next week and at home against No. 14 Texas on Nov. 23.

Courtesy: NCAAFootball.com; Photo Credit: Oklahoma University

Oklahoma's Harris nominated for FedEx Orange Bowl Courage Award

DALLAS (FWAA) – Oklahoma's Nic Harris has been nominated for the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award, to be announced at the end of the 2007 season. Harris, a junior free safety, grew up with an unstable home life, but has taken a leadership and mentoring role with area schoolchildren.

Born to young parents who were unable to care for him, Harris shuttled from house to house throughout his childhood in Alexandria, La. "I didn't have a bed to really call my own for a good part of my life," Harris told The Oklahoman of Oklahoma City.

But Harris didn't survive. He thrived. Now, he is president of Bridge Builders, a minority community service organization that participates in several projects in the Norman/Oklahoma City area. He has worked with Toys for Tots as well as other programs, but enjoys mentoring kids the most.

An idle mind is the worst thing a child can have," Harris said. "I feel as easy as the Lord gave it to you, He'll take it way. You should always give back to the community. I'm not personally able to give back to the community of Alexandria, La., but I'm just going to try to make an impact in the area I'm in."

Harris is on track to earn a degree in physical therapy. He has started every game at free safety for the Sooners. He ranks second on the team with 51 tackles and two interceptions.

For the second straight year, the Football Writers Association of America and the FedEx Orange Bowl will announce a weekly nominee each Wednesday during the season. A blue-ribbon panel will determine the winner from all of the nominees. The winner of the FedEx Orange Bowl-FWAA Courage Award will be announced in December and be presented with the trophy.

Stoops keeps Sooners focused on struggling Iowa State

By LUKE MEREDITH
AP Sports Writer

DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - If Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has any opinions about the Sooners being ranked fifth in this week's Bowl Championship Series standings, he's keeping them to himself.

``There is nothing to talk about,'' Stoops said. ``It doesn't mean anything right now.''

What Stoops lacked in eloquence, he made up for in accuracy.

The upsets that have swept the nation have reinforced the notion that midseason rankings are essentially meaningless. But upheaval has been a good thing for No. 4 Oklahoma, which is back in the national title hunt just three weeks after suffering an upset of its own.

The Sooners (6-1, 2-1 Big 12) lost 27-24 at Colorado on Sept. 29 but have recovered nicely with wins over No. 19 Texas and No. 15 Missouri. They have moved back behind unbeatens Ohio State and Boston College in the AP Top 25 poll.

Now Oklahoma wants to avoid another letdown when it visits Iowa State (1-6, 0-3) on Saturday.

``We look to have a different outcome than last time,'' Sooners strong safety D.J. Wolfe said. ``We have to go into it with the mentality that we can't be beaten and we're going to play our game.''

Stoops, ever the perfectionist, sees mistakes that he'd like cleaned up soon. But Oklahoma's win over the Tigers was encouraging for a number of reasons.

The Sooners scored three touchdowns in the fourth quarter, forced Missouri into four turnovers and went 10-for-14 on third downs. Oklahoma also held Missouri's spread attack to a season-low 31 points.

``Defensively, I felt we played a really good game. Against a team who has been as productive as they (Missouri) have been, to force them to four turnovers, one for a touchdown and two that set up touchdowns in the red zone, is awfully positive,'' Stoops said.

Oklahoma's defense has been bolstered by the emergence of junior linebacker Curtis Lofton and sophomore defensive end Auston English, both of whom were overshadowed by a roster full of stars entering the season.

Lofton had 18 tackles and a fumble return for a touchdown against the Tigers, earning conference defensive player of the week honors. English, back from a redshirt season, has a team-high 7.5 sacks and was a major force against Missouri, picking up a career-high nine tackles.

``He was physical, he tackled well and he covered well,'' Stoops said. ``Auston English was equally impressive. He had an incredible night with his pressure.''

It's hard to imagine that Iowa State could replicate Colorado's effort against the Sooners. The Cyclones, under first-year coach Gene Chizik, haven't even shown they can compete with the rest of the Big 12.

Last week, Iowa State allowed the game-winning score on Texas' first play from scrimmage en route to a 56-3 home loss, its worst in 20 years and its 10th defeat in 11 conference games dating back to last season.

Iowa State is seeking to avoid the first 11-loss season in school history. It's been outscored 133-37 in Big 12 play.

``I'm sure confidence is something we have to be very aware of and concerned about, obviously. But the bottom line is that every week they are resilient. They come back and work, and they go into every game trying to play hard,'' Chizik said.

To help keep his team focused on the Cyclones, who enter the game as 30-point underdogs, Stoops printed a list of upsets in college football this year and handed it to his players. It was a much longer list than usual, and, of course, it included his own team's loss to Colorado.

History says the Sooners have little to worry about, however. Oklahoma is 66-5-2 against its former Big Eight rival and has won 19 straight in Ames dating back to 1960.

But in a year turned upside down by upsets, Stoops believes his players need all the reminders they can get.

``It was eye-opening,'' senior running back Jacob Gutierrez said of Stoops' list. ``It is a great lesson to learn, to know going into a game that it is not a ranked team but the way things are going and the way football is these days you can lose to anyone.''

Source: ncaasports.com; Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

No. 6 Oklahoma hands No. 11 Missouri first loss

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) -- Chris Brown ran for three second-half touchdowns, Curtis Lofton returned a fumble for a touchdown and No. 6 Oklahoma knocked No. 11 Missouri from the ranks of the unbeaten with a 41-31 victory Saturday night.

Brown put the Sooners (6-1, 2-1 Big 12) ahead to stay with his 1-yard touchdown run with 12:26 remaining, and Lofton scooped up a botched handoff and returned it 15 yards for a score 46 seconds later as Oklahoma kept the Tigers from entering the national title picture.

Brown, who finished with 67 yards on 13 carries, sealed the win with a 23-yard TD run with 2:39 remaining.

Missouri (5-1, 1-1) had lost 16 straight games in Norman dating back to 1966, but put up fight in this one.

Quarterback Chase Daniel, who ranks third in the nation in total offense with a 380-yard average, was more of a setup man for the Tigers after throwing for a career-high 401 yards the previous week in a 41-6 win against Nebraska. He delivered key blocks on both touchdown runs by NCAA all-purpose yardage leader Jeremy Maclin, and then pitched the ball to Jimmy Jackson on a 4-yard option run that put Missouri up 24-23 late in the third quarter.

After that, Brown and Oklahoma's running game - which had totaled only 40 yards in the first three quarters - took over.

Brown finished the ensuing drive with three rushes for 23 yards and the go-ahead score.

Daniel botched a handoff to Maclin on Missouri's second play from scrimmage, and it resulted in disaster for the Tigers, looking for their fifth 6-0 start in school history.

Missouri's next drive fizzled after a 5-yard loss on a reverse and the second sack of the game by Auston English - the Big 12's sack leader - and Daniel threw his second interception of the game to wash away any remaining hope.

Daniel still threw for more than 300 yards for the eighth time in his last nine games. He finished with 361 yards on 37-for-47 passing with his only touchdown coming on a 5-yard toss to Martin Rucker with 12 seconds remaining.

The Tigers, who'd had at least 195 yards rushing in their previous four games, managed only 57 with starting running back Tony Temple sidelined by a sprained ankle.

Sam Bradford completed 24-of-34 passes for 266 yards and two touchdowns for Oklahoma, which won its 15th straight home game. He hooked up with Juaquin Iglesias on a 4-yard play-action toss in the middle of the end zone to tie it at 7 and later found tight end Jermaine Gresham beyond the Missouri defense for a 30-yard score down the left hash for a 17-7 lead.

A series of turnovers then turned momentum back and forth through the second half.

Missouri was driving for a potential tying score when Maclin lined up at quarterback instead of Daniel and rolled to his right before throwing an interception to Reggie Smith. Oklahoma responded with a 56-yard drive and extended its lead to 23-10 on Brown's first TD run from 4 yards. Garrett Hartley bounced the extra-point try off the left upright.

That left the door open for Missouri to take the lead when Iglesias fumbled for the second time while returning a kickoff following Maclin's second touchdown run.

Jackson converted that takeaway into a score and Jeff Wolfert's extra point gave the Tigers a brief lead.

Source: ncaasports; Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

No. 6 Sooners have revived title hopes after rivalry win

By JEFF LATZKE
AP Sports Writer

DALLAS (AP) - Consider the Sooners revived.

Only a week after a second-half breakdown seemed to rob of Oklahoma of its lofty goals for the season, the Sooners (5-1, 1-1 Big 12) are one giant step closer to washing the bad taste of that 27-24 loss to Colorado out of their mouths. v ``It's still there, but we know that we've got a lot that we've got to do to erase that,'' tight end Jermaine Gresham said after catching two touchdown passes in the Sooners' 28-21 win over Texas on Saturday.

Even as it trails Texas A&M (5-1, 2-0) by a game in the Big 12 standings, the South Division title still arguably runs through Norman. Oklahoma and Texas have combined to win the past eight Big 12 South titles, and the Aggies must come to Norman in three weeks to stay in first place.

And beyond that, the Sooners are back alive in the national championship picture after losses by Southern California, Wisconsin and Florida bumped them up to No. 6 in The Associated Press rankings and No. 5 in the other two polls in a college football season that has been turned on its head the past two weeks.

The key for Oklahoma was avoiding back-to-back losses in a Red River Rivalry game that was more like a double-elimination playoff game.

``We knew that was a must-win game,'' Gresham said.

Quarterback Sam Bradford rebounded after the first shaky performance of his young career, when he threw two tipped interceptions in the second half at Colorado the previous week. The redshirt freshman seemed unfazed by the big-game atmosphere of the rivalry played at the Cotton Bowl.

``He did a great job out there, the way he presented himself,'' receiver Juaquin Iglesias said. ``I know my first OU-Texas game, I didn't act nearly as he did. It was going too fast for me out there.

``He stood in the pocket for us, he made a lot of plays for us and he's been doing what he's been doing since he started.''

Surviving Texas wasn't the only hurdle for Bradford and the Sooners, though. Next up is a home game against No. 11 Missouri, which obliterated then-No. 25 Nebraska 41-6 on Saturday in its Big 12 opener.

``They look like they've got a great team - a really, really good team,'' Oklahoma defensive coordinator Brent Venables said.

The game will feature Bradford, the nation's top-rated passer, and Missouri's Chase Daniel, who ranks third in the nation with an average of 380 yards of total offense per game.

Venables said the key would be changing up defensive looks against Missouri's spread, no-huddle approach and limiting the Tigers' ability to run the ball.

``If they have success running the ball, we won't be able to stop the pass, I promise you,'' Venables said.

Coach Bob Stoops said tailback Allen Patrick, who sat out much of the second half against Texas, was not seriously injured and instead was suffering from cramps. Patrick ran 35 times for 157 yards last year in a 26-10 win against Missouri.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

No. 10 Oklahoma holds off No. 19 Texas, 28-21

DALLAS (AP) -- A couple bad quarters wasn't about to rattle Oklahoma freshman Sam Bradford - and neither were the Texas Longhorns.

Facing a tough foe in a hostile setting, Bradford looked as at ease as he did in his record-setting first few games against overmatched opponents, throwing for three touchdowns and hardly making a mistake to steer No. 10 Oklahoma past No. 19 Texas 28-21 in their annual grudge match Saturday.

Bradford was 21-of-32 for 244 yards with plenty of poise and patience, helping the Sooners (5-1, 1-1 Big 12) rebound from a second-half meltdown against Colorado and end a two-game losing streak against the Longhorns (4-2, 0-2).

Because both teams were coming off losses, the stakes of this 102nd meeting were a little different than usual. National title hopes were secondary to survival in the conference race. Oklahoma left with both a leg up in the Big 12 South and the satisfaction of dropping Texas to 0-2 in conference play for the first time since 1956, the year before Darrell Royal arrived.

The Longhorns - who were ranked seventh before a 20-point loss to Kansas State last weekend - could be in jeopardy of ending a 114-week stint in the AP poll, the longest in the country.

The Sooners have to be thinking they're in for a long stay in the poll considering Bradford is only six games into what may be a special career.

His first 4 1/2 games were so close to flawless that he came in as the nation's most efficient quarterback even after going 1-of-8 in the second half against Colorado, when OU saw a 24-7 lead turn into a 27-24 loss.

Questions about whether he'd be shaken by that outing or this atmosphere were answered midway through the first quarter, when he called an audible on third-and-14 from his own 12, on the end of the field where Texas fans are loudest, and threw a 14-yard completion.

Bradford added throws of 40 and 41 yards that drive and capped it with a 2-yard touchdown pass to Jermaine Gresham for an early lead. His other two TD throws came on drives that followed tying touchdowns by the Longhorns, including a 94-yard drive capped by a 35-yarder to Malcolm Kelly on a third down - again, right into a sea of burnt orange.

That score, which turned out to be the game-winner, came with 10:42 left. It also came shortly after his first incompletion since the second quarter, a string of 12 straight.

DeMarco Murray took over for injured starter Allen Patrick and had a 65-yard touchdown run, which he got to celebrate on the sideline with former OU star Adrian Peterson, visiting during the Minnesota Vikings' bye week. Murray finished with 128 yards.

Kelly caught five passes for 105 yards and Juaquin Iglesias had 99 yards on six catches. Gresham caught two TD passes.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy, the redshirt freshman who won last year's game, continued his sophomore slump.

McCoy, who showed signs of a concussion while getting battered last week, played this game with his throwing arm bandaged from mid-forearm to biceps. While his body held up, this just wasn't his day. He couldn't even get officials to throw a flag when he was thrown down from his blind side on a play that had been whistled dead.

McCoy was 19-of-26 for 324 yards, but four of his incompletions - and his lone interception - came in the fourth quarter. The pickoff on what might've been a tying drive went through the hands of running back Jamaal Charles, who also lost a fumble inside the Oklahoma 5 in the third quarter.

Jermichael Finley caught four passes for 149 yards, with gains of 55 and 58 yards that set up Texas' first two touchdowns. Jordan Shipley had the first and Finley got the second, which put the Longhorns ahead 14-7.

Charles ran for 79 yards and Vondrell McGee went 1 yard for the Longhorns' final score.

Source: ncaafootball.com; Photo Credit: OU Athletics Department

Oklahoma's Bradford to make Red River Rivalry debut

By JEFF LATZKE
AP Sports Writer

NORMAN, Okla. (AP) - On a Red River Rivalry Saturday, the Cotton Bowl is a rowdy mix of friends and foes.

Fans pound on the team bus as it winds through the state fairgrounds, then show their allegiances by wearing Oklahoma crimson and Texas burnt orange in a stadium split down the middle.

Some quarterbacks have used the rivalry game, always played in early October, as their first chance to be a hero. Jason White, destined for a Heisman Trophy two years later, came on in relief to guide Oklahoma to a 14-3 win in 2001. Colt McCoy, a redshirt freshman, threw for two second-half scores last year to notch his first big win for the Longhorns.

Other debuts haven't gone so well. Rhett Bomar had only 94 yards passing in 2005. A year earlier, Vince Young had only 86 yards passing in a shutout loss.

Next up is Oklahoma redshirt freshman Sam Bradford.

The nation's top-rated passer, Bradford was nearly flawless in his first four games. He set the school record with 22 straight completions, then came within one of tying his own mark a week later. He threw 10 touchdown passes before his first interception, won his first career start, beat Miami and came out on top in his first road game.

Then he lost his first Big 12 Conference game.

``I guess come Saturday we'll find out how he's ready,'' Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. ``He's a great competitor. He played a lot of sports. He typically came to play in great situations, but this is a different one. Until you play in it, you don't know.''

The atmosphere in Dallas was enough to make former Oklahoma fullback J.D. Runnels throw up. It was intriguing enough that linebacker Lewis Baker put on 10 pounds, eating constantly throughout the week, so coaches would let him play in the game two years ago.

Quarterbacks coach Josh Heupel, who went 1-1 in the rivalry, is trying to get Bradford prepared for what he'll be feeling.

``I think you can't allow it to get the best of you. Certainly, it's an electric atmosphere. It's a big football game. It's a championship-type atmosphere,'' Heupel said. ``Is there a lot of emotion that goes into that? Yeah. Do you have to find a way to settle yourself down once that ball's kicked off that tee? Yeah, you do.''

It's hard to tell what Bradford, who threw two interceptions in last week's 27-24 loss at Colorado, is thinking as the game approaches. He's the only starting quarterback for a top 15 team that is never allowed to talk to reporters outside of game day, including two other freshmen in that fraternity.

``I think if he was talking to you today, he wouldn't be very happy about his performance on Saturday, and he'd be worried about playing a lot better on (this) Saturday,'' Heupel said.

McCoy, who also was a redshirt freshman for his debut last year, said the hardest part for him was getting through the week leading up to the game.

``I think the most important thing is handling the emotion of a big game, a big rivalry like that,'' McCoy said. ``I can remember how tough it was just to go in there and play.''

Heupel, who lost his 1999 rivalry debut 38-28 after his two first-quarter TD passes put the Sooners up 17-0, added: ``Everyone on campus talks about it. You've got to let that go out the window.''

Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops, who called Bradford the least of the Sooners' problems at Colorado, believes his young quarterback is ready.

``He just has a very good, strong demeanor about him - just being calm, being together, not getting rattled,'' Stoops said. ``He just continues to compete. He acts very mature that way.''

Whether that's enough will be determined Saturday afternoon.

``There's been freshmen quarterbacks rattled in this game before - two years ago comes to mind,'' said Texas defensive tackle Derek Lokey, referring to Bomar's performance. ``But to predict whether or not it's going to happen to him? Colt was a freshman last year and came out and played great. You never know what's going to happen.''

Source: ncaafootball.com

THE CFI TOP 25 COUNTDOWN: #4 OKLAHOMA SOONERS

BY DANIEL MOGOLLON
CO-FOUNDER
COLLEGE FOOTBALL INSIDERS





2006 RECORD: 11-3; BIG 12: 7-1
Lost Fiesta Bowl vs. Boise St. 43-42 (OT)
LOCATION: Norman, Oklahoma
STADIUM: Memorial (82,112)
HEAD COACH: Bob Stoops
OVERALL: 86-19 (8 seasons)
AT OKLAHOMA: 86-19 (8 seasons)

Last season the Sooners won their fourth Big 12 Title in the last seven seasons, as Bob Stoops found a way to win despite losing his quarterback Rhett Bomar just a few weeks before the season started, as well as all everything tailback Adrian Peterson for the stretch run. As much as any program, the Sooners are about a team effort, which is why year in and year out they are among the top contenders to make a BCS Bowl, if not make a run for the title (three BCS Championship appearances under Stoops).

WHEN THE SOONERS HAVE THE BALL

OFFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Kevin Wilson (7th Season)
OFFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 8
KEY LOSSES: Adrian Peterson, Paul Thompson, Chris Messner

Redshirt freshman Sam Bradford has taken the keys to the car from Coach Stoops and this is no jalopy, the Sooners offense is a sports car all the way. Wide receiver Malcolm Kelly is among the most underrated pass catchers in the nation, who could flourish with a top-flight pocket passer. Kelly brings size and speed -- two commodities the OU receivers have an abundance of. Juaquin Iglesias is the perfect compliment, great after the catch, with Manual Johnson a pure blazer and sophomore Adron Tennell (6’4”) coming on. As if that wasn’t enough, the Sooners are three deep in talented tight ends as well, with true sophomore Jermaine Gresham possessing boundless potential. They’re not done yet, as running back may be their deepest position, with senior Allen Patrick combining pure power and great straight line speed, joined by redshirt freshman DeMarco Murray, a playmaker in the mold of Reggie Bush. If running back is their deepest position, the offensive line is their most seasoned, as six players have starting experience during their OU careers, with possibly the most talented second string in America. Everything is there for Bradford to succeed or not screw it up depending on your perspective.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Malcolm Kelly (JR), 2) George Robinson (JR), 3) Jermaine Gresham (SO), 4) DeMarco Murray (FR), 5) Allen Patrick (SR), 6) Branndan Braxton (JR), 7) Joe Jon Finley (SR), 8) Brandon Walker (JR), 9) Juaquin Iglesias (JR), 10) Brody Eldridge (SO), 11) Phil Loadholt (JR), 12) Trent Williams (SO), 13) Garrett Hartley (SR)

WHEN THE OTHER TEAM HAS BALL

DEFENSIVE COORDINAROR: Brent Venables (9th Season)
DEFENSIVE STARTERS RETURNING: 7
KEY LOSSES: Rufus Alexander, Zack Latimer, CJ Ah You, Larry Birdine

The last line of defense for the Sooners could be the best in all the land, could be the best we have seen at OU, which is a major statement as the defensive backfield is always a point of emphasis for Coach Stoops, often the landing spot for some of the team’s top athletes. Former highly touted offensive recruits such as Lendy Holmes and D.J. Wolfe are now key cogs in the secondary. Their top talent is skilled cover man Reggie Smith who is just as capable of starting at safety, while hybrid Nic Harris -- part safety/part linebacker could be their most productive defender. I have not even mentioned All Big 12 performer Marcus Walker (CB) or free safety Darien Williams, who despite being high on many pre-season 2008 draft lists, is not assured of a starting job this season. The front seven will have to pick it up, they lack the experience but not the potential and it all begins inside. Sophomore DeMarcus Granger and redshirt freshman Gerald McCoy were considered the best at their position coming out of high school and the expectations are that JUCO Mike Reed will be able to step in and contribute after enrolling in the spring.

PRO PROSPECTS: 1) Reggie Smith (JR), 2) Marcus Walker (SR), 3) Nic Harris (JR), 4) Lendy Holmes (SR), 5) Gerald McCoy (FR), 6) DeMarcus Granger (FR), 7) Curtis Lofton (JR), 8) Steve Coleman (SR), 9) D.J. Wolfe (SR), 10) Darien Williams (SR), 11) Mike Reed (JR)

THE SCHEDULE

With instate rival Oklahoma St., out of conference foe Miami, up and coming Big 12 South opponent Texas A & M, as well as the dangerous Missouri Tigers from the North all coming to Norman this season, the Sooners could set themselves up for a fourth trip to the BCS Championship game in the last eight seasons. Therefore, the game of the year, the Red River Shootout, will be the game of the year and may end up as a de facto national semi-final as the Sooners could very well be a touchdown favorite or better in every other contest this season. After Boomer Sooner laid the boom on the Horns five straight years, Texas has Hooked ‘Em in the last two. Last season they showed they could still win the conference with a loss to UT, however in all likelihood a potential run at the National Title would be out of question.

PIVOTAL POINT

With the best defensive backfield in America and possibly the top offensive line, as well as the most dynamic special teams in all the land the only reason the Sooners are not ranked higher is the lack of a proven commodity at the quarterback position. Stoops has won his four conference titles with four different signal callers making him the Joe Gibbs of college football, nevertheless we cannot downplay the importance of the quarterback position. If Bradford does not make mistakes the Sooners will win ten games, if he can play like another freshman quarterback did in the Big 12 South last season, the Sooners might just win them all.

CFI FINAL ANALYSIS

Outside of Southern California, it is hard to find a more talented roster than Bob Stoops has assembled in Norman and if they had a proven leader under center there is little doubt they would be the number-two team in the country. If speed kills then they do not lack ammunition. Of course, they must also avoid the odd year jinx, as all of Stoops’ Big 12 Titles have come in even years (2000, 2002, 2004 and 2006). The Sooners found a way to win with a first year starter at quarterback in 2006 and they will do so again in 2007.

Check back tomorrow to see who is #3 in CFI’s Top 25 Countdown