Oklahoma’s five-game winning streak couldn’t come at a better time. Saturday night’s 34-24 victory over Texas Tech came on a night when three top 10 teams lost.
Many believed the Sooners were poised to make a big move in the polls and, more importantly, the BCS standings.
Well, OU did move up Sunday, climbing to No. 16 in the latest Associated Press Top 25. But the win did nothing for it as far as the BCS is concerned.
The Sooners (8-2, 5-1 Big 12) remained at No. 17, getting no bump from the shuffle caused by Saturday’s upset losses by Texas, Auburn and California.
In fact, the losing tandem came to rest right above the Sooners. The Longhorns are 13th, Tigers 14th and Bears 15th.
OU coach Bob Stoops gave a reason the Sooners have been slow to gain in the polls.
“It’s obvious why we haven’t because of where the Oregon situation was,” he said, referring to the Sooners’ controversial loss to the Ducks. “That’s what started it all.”
The Sooners were ranked No. 15 when a blown call on the field, and in the replay booth, cost them the game. Many believed pollsters would take that into account and consider them a one-loss team.
That hasn’t happened.
Over the last five games, OU has only been able to make slight gains in the polls. It has climbed only five spots over the last five weeks.
The Sooners have been to BCS bowls four times the last seven seasons. Stoops believes if the Sooners are deserving they’ll find a way to reach one.
He hasn’t made it an issue with his team.
“There’s a lot of possibilities,” he said. “My whole focus with them is that you shouldn’t need a carrot out there to be excited to compete and play. My whole deal all year has been keep improving, keep getting better, enjoy practicing, know you’re getting better, and let’s do our part and win. And be as good as we can be and if things work out, they’ll work out.”
A door to getting into the BCS opened Saturday night. Texas lost to Kansas State, dropping it into a tie with the Sooners for first place in the Big 12 South.
The Longhorns still own the tiebreaker over OU and can secure a berth in the Big 12 title game with a victory over Texas A&M; Nov. 24.
OU has no control over what happens in that game. But the only way to remain in the discussion is to keep winning.
Two regular-season games remain. The Sooners face Baylor (4-7, 3-4) Saturday and Oklahoma State (6-4, 3-3) Nov. 25. Both games are on the road.
Two wins coupled with another Texas misstep would put the Sooners in line for a conference title and BCS bowl.
A lot can still happen before those bids are announced in December. Winning is the only way any team can strengthen its case.
“The more you win, and a lot of times you hear a lot of people have a lot to say about it,” Stoops said. “You still have so much to finish and things keep changing. Sure, the more you win, the more that happens.”
John Shinn366-3536jshinn@normantranscript.com
OU Sports
No moving up
Sooners stay put in BCS rankings
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