By John Shinn
When Oklahoma lost two of its first three games, it dropped out of both the Associated Press Top 25 and the USAToday coaches poll for the first time since 1999. Getting back, apparently, is as tough as staying in.
The Sooners (6-3, 5-1 Big 12) have won four straight games. Their losses have come to No. 2 Texas, No. 12 UCLA and No. 15 TCU. Those teams are a combined 27-2.
Although, a trio of quality losses isn’t buying any sympathy from the voters.
“We’re not getting any respect anywhere,” quarterback Rhett Bomar said.
He has a point.
Currently, there are three three-loss teams — No. 17 Michigan, No. 20 Florida and No. 25 Wisconsin — ahead of the Sooners in this week’s rankings.
The Wolverines and Badgers have both lost to unranked teams. Only the Gators have managed to keep their setbacks within the realm of the ranked.
Does the Sooners’ standing come as a surprise?
“No,” fullback J.D. Runnels said. “I just don’t think the media likes us too much, especially after the last two years making it as far as we have and not fulfilling their dreams of what we were supposed to be. It works in weird ways.”
Two years ago, the Sooners were still No. 1 in the BCS after losing handily to Kansas State in the Big 12 Championship game. They went on to lose 21-14 to LSU at the Sugar Bowl. Last season, an early deficit snowballed against Southern California at the Orange Bowl.
But OU can do a lot to change its status at 11 a.m. Saturday when it faces No. 21 Texas Tech (8-2, 5-2) at SBC Jones Stadium in Lubbock.
The Sooners’ losses may not look too bad, but they’re missing a victory over a ranked team.
The teams OU piled up its four-game winning streak against — Kansas, Baylor, Nebraska or Texas A&M; — are hardly worldbeaters. OU was favored to win three of the four and was only a slight underdog to Nebraska.
That won’t be the case against the Red Raiders, who have opened as a touchdown favorite to win the game.
The Sooners know a victory would change many perceptions.
“I think it would help push us over the edge and put us back in the top 25,” Runnels said. “It’s one of those things that we realize, if we keep doing what we’ve been doing, things like that will come.”
A lot more than a return to rankings could come, too. The victory would lift the Sooners to 6-1 in the Big 12 with only a Nov. 26 meeting with Oklahoma State remaining.
The Longhorns have ruled the Big 12 ever since knocking off the Sooners Oct. 8. Winning out eliminates all doubt as to who’s second in command.
“Every game is huge because we’re planning on winning out and going to a really good bowl and finish with a nice respectable record,” Bomar said. “After the way we started, we want to come on strong at the end.”
Beating the Red Raiders and the Cowboys to finish the season would likely put OU in the Cotton Bowl. Not a bad trip for the Sooners and their fans.
As far as changing the perception of his team, OU coach Bob Stoops has no concerns.
“I think every game gives you more and more opportunity for that,” he said. “If it does, it does. If it doesn’t, it doesn’t. Winning’s all that matters.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
