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One aspect of Oklahoma's football team that rarely gets attention is its depth, but the performances of a few backups in Saturday night's 24-3 win over Colorado showed the Sooners are strong beyond their starters.

Backup tailback Allen Patrick rushed for 110 yards in place of an injured Adrian Peterson.

With starting strong safety Reggie Smith hobbled by a bruised knee, Nic Harris stepped in and played one of his best games of the season.

Sophomore linebacker Curtis Lofton made his first career start in place of Demarrio Pleasant and was lauded by coaches.

True freshman Trent Williams filled in well when starting right tackle Branndon Braxton suffered a broken leg in the third quarter.

"When guys get their opportunities, they need to step up and play well," coach Bob Stoops said. "They've got to step in and play like we expect them to. And we've had guys do it."

• Smith on Lombardi list: Missouri defensive end Brian Smith is one of two Big 12 players named as semifinalists for the Lombardi Award honoring the nation's best college lineman or linebacker.

Also on the list, which was announced Wednesday, was Texas offensive tackle Justin Blaylock.

Smith is tied for seventh nationally with 7.5 sacks and is closing in on the Big 12 career mark of 34 sacks, held by Texas Tech's Aaron Hunt. Smith has 31.5 career sacks.

• Hop on the bus: OU fans heading to Columbia, Mo., for Saturday's game can avoid traffic before and after the game by using the Columbia Transit System's Spirit Bus, which offers shuttle service to and from Faurot Field.

The shuttles travel through downtown Columbia, and have a route through several motels.

Cost is $1 each way from downtown and $2 each way from a motel.

Pick-up times for the shuttles are available at each motel.

For further information, contact the Columbia Transit System at (573) 874-7282 or visit www.GoColumbiaMo.com.