Norman, Okla. ? Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops has never been a fan of style points, but coming down the stretch that could be just what the No. 6 Sooners need to achieve their championship goals.
Having lost earlier this season to Texas, Oklahoma (8-1, 4-1) is dependent on the BCS rankings to move not only into the national championship picture, but perhaps also to advance to the Big 12 championship game.
The Sooners need to win their final three games against Texas A&M, No. 2 Texas Tech and No. 8 Oklahoma State to give themselves a chance for a third straight conference crown, and they could be dependent on a tiebreaker to get that far.
If it’s a two-way tie, the winner of the regular-season game goes to the Big 12 championship. But if there’s a three-way tie among all the Big 12 South’s powers, it could come down to which team’s rated the highest in the BCS rankings.
With everyone so close, just winning may not make a strong enough case.
“Style points, they really do matter, especially when you have one loss,” defensive end Alan Davis said Tuesday.
The most prevalent criticism of the Sooners’ recent performances has been aimed at the defense, which allowed 30 or more points in three straight games for only the second time in school history before beating Nebraska, 62-28, on Saturday.
Even after that lopsided win, Oklahoma dropped from No. 4 to No. 6 in both The Associated Press’ poll and the BCS rankings – dropping behind Texas Tech after its win against previously top-ranked Texas and also Florida, which routed then-No. 8 Georgia, 49-10.
That performance by the Gators was apparently more impressive than Oklahoma taking a 35-0 first-quarter lead on Nebraska before letting off the accelerator.
“How many style points do you need? You have 62 points, you have 58 points,” Stoops said, recounting the Sooners’ point totals from their last two games. “There’s still a respect for the game.
Stoops acknowledges the BCS standings are probably the fairest way to break a three-way tie in the Big 12 South race, since the teams would end up with the same records in conference and divisional play. Plus, it only makes sense for the team with the best chance at the national championship also get a shot at the conference title.
“When you’re in a tough division, and the way this has all gone all year, heck, you’ve got to fight and be at your best each week and whatever is going to happen will happen,” Stoops said.”There’s no sense in worrying about it. It’s not going to do you much good.”
