Bob McCarty Writes

Bob Stoops’ fifth-ranked Oklahoma Sooners delivered the #2 Texas Tech Red Raiders football program its worst defeat ever — that’s right, EVER! — a 65-21 drubbing Saturday night at The Gaylord Family Memorial Stadium in Norman.*  More importantly, however, the boys in Crimson ‘n’ Cream sent a strongly-worded message to the rest of the college football nation: “We’re back and ready to contend for another national title.”

The road to the Sooners’ eighth national title runs through Stillwater, Okla., and Kansas City.

On Nov. 29, the Sooners walk into Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater to face the #12 Oklahoma State Cowboys. If Dallas Morning News sportswriter Tim Cowlishaw proves accurate, a win over Oklahoma State next week should give Sooners the nod over the #3 Texas Longhorns in the battle for the Big 12 South title and a shot at the Big 12 Championship.  The opponent, the #13 Missouri Tigers, is a team the Sooners defeated twice during the 2007 season and against whom they will be a heavy favorite in the Dec. 6 matchup at Arrowhead Stadium.

Assuming the Sooners win against the Cowboys, earn a berth in the conference title game and defeat the Tigers, the next stop will be Miami’s Orange Bowl, site of the BCS National Championship Jan. 8.  Though tonight’s release of the new BCS standings might change things dramatically, the opponent in the national title game is likely to be one of two teams — #1 Alabama Crimson Tide or #4 Florida Gators — from the decidedly-weak Southeast Conference.

*Rankings shown above reflect last week’s BCS rankings.

[Editor's Note: Regular readers of this blog know that I'm both a lifelong fan of the Oklahoma Sooners and a fan of the Oklahoma State Cowboys.  It's important to know, however, that I became a Cowboys fan only after attending and graduating from the school located 45 minutes north-northeast of Norman.  Whenever the Cowboys have a shot at the national championship, I will ride with them.  Until then, I'm riding the Sooner Schooner -- even if it passes through Stillwater -- all the way to Miami.]

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UPDATE 11/23/08 2:42 P.M. CDT:  According to the USA TODAY Coaches Poll released today, Oklahoma is now ranked #2 in the nation behind Alabama.

UPDATE 11/24/08 9:14 A.M. CDT:  In an article at NewsOk.com, sportswriter Jake Trotter writes:  It’s close.  But Oklahoma appears to have the edge over Texas in the BCS, even though the Longhorns stayed ahead of the Sooners in this week’s standings.