NORMAN — It’s hard to believe a 38-point victory at Texas A&M;’s Kyle Field could be met with a collective yawn, but that was the case for Oklahoma Sunday.
The Sooners (9-1, 5-1 Big 12) moved up one spot in the latest BCS rankings to No. 5. The only reason OU moved at all was a shake up in front of it in the polls. Iowa upset Penn State, knocking it from third to eighth.
The Sooners didn’t budge in either of the BCS rankings’ poll components. If fact, they were passed in both the USA Today coaches poll and the Harris interactive poll. Florida jumped OU in the coaches poll to move from fifth to third. Texas jumped two spots from sixth to fourth in the Harris Interactive poll
The only good news for the Sooners is their computer ranking climbed from ninth to a tie for fifth Sunday.
Alabama is consensus No. 1 and Texas Tech is No. 2 in all polls.
OU can strengthen its case for a move up in its next game. The Sooners, who are off this week, host the Red Raiders Nov. 22.
Where OU stood following the 66-28 victory over Texas A&M; wasn’t a big concern Saturday. The victory was its fourth in a row and third straight by more than 30 points.
“I feel like we’re in a great position right now,” said OU quarterback Sam Bradford, who celebrated his 21st birthday by throwing for four touchdowns and 320 yards. “We’ve still got a lot of our goals in front of us. This week off, it’s going to be a big part in how we finish the season. We need to go ahead and get a jump on the two teams we’re playing down the road.”
The offweek seemed to be more important to a team that’s picked up some critical injuries over the last month and would like to recuperate.
Defensive ends Auston English and Alan Davis have knee sprains. Wide receiver Manny Johnson (elbow) and tight end Brody Eldridge (ankle) have played little over the last three games.
“We’re really banged up,” OU coach Bob Stoops said. “I think it’s obvious we’re playing without some of our best players and still playing well. This will allow some of those guys to heal up and the rest can kind of rest up a little bit.”
The fact the Sooners haven’t been at full strength gives the impression that they’re still getting better late into the season. Despite being without several starters on both sides of the ball, they have scored at least 58 points in their last three games. The performance against Texas A&M; was the defense’s best since conference play began.
OU held the Aggies to 278 total yards Saturday and only 26 on the ground.
“When we play with some discipline, it works really well,” said defensive coordinator Brent Venables who got to celebrate the victory one day after his wife, Julie, gave birth to a daughter, the couple’s third child.
The Sooners still gave up 28 points, marking the fifth straight game OU’s allowed at least four touchdowns. Only two, however, were on the defense. Kickoff returns set up the other two.
“There’s some things we need to clean up and stuff we can get better at, but I do believe we took a big step forward as a defense,” middle linebacker Austin Box said.
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