OU, Missouri looking for same things heading into game

Missouri receiver Will Franklin, left, says Saturday’s game is one the Tigers would like to make a statement in. Associated Press

Oklahoma at Missouri
11 a.m. Saturday
Where: Faurot Field, Columbia, Mo.
TV: KOCO-5 (Cox 8).
Radio: KRXO-FM 107.7, KOKC-AM 1520.

Making a statement?
Oklahoma and Missouri have much to prove in their meeting Saturday. What’s at stake:

If OU wins… the Sooners shrug off recent road struggles and the impact of losing RB Adrian Peterson. They also reaffirm their status as one of the Big 12’s powerbrokers, making a run at finishing 10-2 seem quite doable. Combined with Texas’ win at Nebraska last week, they make the South 2-0 in the league’s major matchups with the North.

If OU loses… the Big 12 no longer looks like a two-headed monster of OU and Texas. The program slips back to the pack for now in the Big 12, behind Texas, Missouri and possibly Nebraska. Concerns about this team’s road toughness continue, with three more trips yet to come down the stretch.

If Missouri wins… it could be just the kind of win needed to place the Tigers among the Big 12’s elite. Coach Gary Pinkel will have engineered the program’s best start in decades. And the future is bright, with quarterback Chase Daniel a sophomore.

If Missouri loses… they look like the same old Mizzou, decent yet a team that wilts when the spotlight shines brightest. And they limp into next week’s North showdown at Nebraska.

Stoops’ statements
The Sooners have found themselves in statement games before under Bob Stoops, often producing positives. Major moments:

1999 vs. Texas A&M (W, 51-6): The Sooners rolled for their first big win over a Big 12 South power.

2000 vs. Texas (W, 63-14), at Kansas State (W, 41-31), vs. Nebraska (W, 31-14): They called it Red October, after the Sooners swept all three games and returned to college football’s perch.

2000 vs. Florida State (W, 13-2): The game was Jan. 3, 2001, in the Orange Bowl, but it capped the 2000 season by crowning the Sooners with their seventh national championship.

2001-04 vs. Texas (W, 14-3; W, 35-24; W, 65-13; W, 12-0): OU kept pounding home the point that it ruled the Big 12.

2003 vs. Kansas State (L, 35-7): After rolling unbeaten into the Big 12 title game, drawing notice as the best team in college football — ever — the Sooners were proven mortal.

2004 vs. Southern Cal (L, 55-19): Played Jan. 4, 2005, in the Orange Bowl, the Sooners dropped their second straight national title game and did so embarrassingly.

2005 vs. TCU (L, 17-10): Not billed as a big game, but it made the statement that it would be a season of struggle.

2005 vs. Texas (L, 45-12): OU’s hold on the Red River Shootout — and the Big 12 — was over.

2006 vs. Texas (L, 28-10): Lost an even matchup with Texas making all the plays the Sooners used to.

By John Helsley