By John Shinn
In 2003 and 2004, the computer was Oklahoma’s staunchest ally when it came to the Bowl Championship Series rankings. It became clear Sunday that won’t be the case this season.
The Sooners came in at No. 5 in this season’s first BCS rankings. It’s a nice debut for a 6-1 team. But it would have been higher if the machines were not involved.
OU is No. 4 in the human polls that comprise two-thirds of the formula that concocts the BCS standings. The other third is made up of the average ranking from six computer polls.
That data puts the Sooners at No. 11.
Ohio State, South Florida, Boston College and LSU rank ahead of the Sooners in the initial BCS rankings. The teams ranked Nos.1 and 2 at the end of the regular season will play Jan. 7 in New Orleans for the national championship.
Not that anyone involved with Sooner football is thinking that far into the future.
“There's nothing to talk about,” OU coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. “It's way too early in the year. We're just halfway through. It's not for me to talk about. It doesn't matter right now. What matters is beating Iowa State. Everything changes from week to week. You just do your job and try and win.”
Good philosophy and well advised, considering the way Top 25 teams have been dropping like leaves after the first frost.
The Sooners know that as well as anyone. Their loss to Colorado Sept. 29 is one of 31 losses through the first seven weeks by teams ranked in the Top 25 this season.
“We’ve been kept aware of the way things can change from week to week,” safety D.J. Wolfe said. “We’ve seen it, heard about it and read it.”
The chances of playing for a national championship increase greatly with every victory. Since the loss to Colorado, five teams that were ranked ahead of the Sooners have lost.
But OU’s computer problems aren’t going away anytime soon. The only way it can move up is through winning and other team’s misfortunes.
The reason is strength of schedule.
It was the component that allowed the Sooners to advance to the BCS title game in 2003 and 2004 ahead of teams with identical won-loss records.
In 2003, the Sooners got a title shot because its strength of schedule put it ahead of USC. The same rationale put OU in and left Auburn out in 2004.
This year, however, OU’s schedule doesn’t pack that kind of punch.
Of the Sooners’ first six opponents, only two — Texas and Missouri — are ranked by the BCS. The only remaining game against a team ranked is against No. 24 Texas Tech Nov. 17.
Then there’s the problem of the Sooners’ previous opponents. North Texas (1-5), Miami (4-3), Utah State (0-6), Tulsa (4-2), Colorado (4-3), Texas (5-2) and Missouri (5-1) are a combined 23-22.
LSU’s first seven foes are a combined 29-19 and four of the Tigers’ six wins have come against ranked teams.
The Sooners aren’t worried about the numbers.
“It doesn’t help us to pay attention,” defensive tackle DeMarcus Granger said. “If we’re losing, we’re not going to a BCS bowl game anyway. At the end, they’ll do the bowl bids and then we’ll find out where we rank.”
As far as the BCS is considered, it’s No. 5. But as anyone who’s paid attention to college football this season can attest, things can change from week-to-week.
John Shinn
366-3536
jshinn@normantranscript.com
