Did the BCS get it right?

By Staff     Nov 30, 2008

It’s official: Oklahoma will be the South representative to face Missouri in the Big 12 Championship game next Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.

Since Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech finished the season 7-1 in Big 12 play, a tiebreaker was needed to determine which team represents the South. The tiebreaker came to whichever team finished the regular season with the best BCS ranking.

The No. 2 Sooners leapfrogged No. 3 Texas in the BCS rankings, in large part because of their consecutive impressive showings against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, giving them the South’s berth in the conference title game. Here’s how the latest BCS rankings look:

For a full listing of the BCS rankings, click here.

So my question to you is: Did the BCS get it right?

My answer, in short, is yes. Oklahoma is the only team this year to beat Oklahoma State in Stillwater. They won by 20. Oklahoma’s also the only team this year to beat Texas Tech. That margin? 44 points.

The Sooners have the most impressive non-conference slate as well, with victories over Cincinnati and TCU. Cincinnati (10-2), ranked No. 13 in the BCS, is heading to a BCS bowl after winning the Big East. TCU, at No. 11 in the BCS, is also 10-2 on the year.

Texas could still play in the BCS Championship game. The obvious scenario would be to have Missouri beat Oklahoma next week.

What if No. 4 Florida defeats No. 1 Alabama next week, though, in the SEC Championship game? The Longhorns could get leapfrogged again in this scenario, this time by Florida.

Only time will tell, but for now, the BCS has spoken. And it likes Oklahoma over Texas.

Now onto the Big 12 Conference Week 14 awards:

Performer of the week: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas

The Jayhawks’ sophomore receiver produced 310 all-purpose yards in the 40-37 victory over Missouri on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. Briscoe caught nine passes for 115 yards and a score, and also returned seven kicks for 195 yards. It’s particularly impressive when you consider KU was dead last in the nation much of the year in kickoff returns. Briscoe’s 28-yard return average gave the Jayhawks a short field much of the afternoon.

Most significant win of the week: Oklahoma 61, Oklahoma State 41

The victory moved Oklahoma ahead of Texas in the BCS standings and put the Sooners into the Big 12 Championship game next week against Missouri. One more victory and Oklahoma plays for the BCS Championship.

Biggest surprise of the week: The foot of Nebraska’s Alex Henery

With 1:43 left in Friday’s game against Colorado, Huskers coach Bo Pelini turned to Henery with Nebraska trailing, 31-30. The feat: Henery drilled a school-record 57-yard field goal that proved to be the game-winning points in NU’s 40-31 victory over Colorado. The sophomore booted four field goals for Nebraska in the victory.

We’ll continue this entry with the Sorrentino Scale. The number that follows in parentheses is what place the team was ranked last week.

That’s all for now, friends. As always, discuss.

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