Chilly night. Sloppy game. Hairy moments for the home team.
Not pretty, but effective.
An Oklahoma football team that hasn't caught many breaks in the last calendar year finally found some blessings, courtesy of other college campi. Then the Sooners made their own.
OU beat Texas Tech 34-24 in a game that, despite the bloated score, ranks as a defensive masterpiece in the Stoops era. The Sooners pitched a second-half shutout, dang hard to do against Mike Leach's 22nd-century tricks.
Such stinginess was needed considering OU committed four turnovers and counted on fourth-string tailback Chris Brown. These defenders have put this team on their collarbones since Adrian Peterson broke his, and now the Sooners can lift their eyes to lofty hills.
The BCS.
That's right. BCS.
First, Georgia spanked Auburn and Mike Stoops did Brother Bob a solid with Arizona's upset of California, brightening the dim hopes of a power bowl for the Sooners.
Then Kansas State pulled another Manhattan Miracle with a stunner over Texas, and now not even a Big 12 title is out of OU's reach.
"There's a lot of possibilities," Bob Stoops said with a matter-of-factness that belies the fire raging within. "If things work out, they work out.
"We've been through a lot. I love the way our team's competing. We made it hard today. We gotta take care of the ball. That just appalls me. But I love the character."
The character is good. The defense is better.
OU held Tech to 107 yards in the second half, and don't be misled by the Red Raiders' 24 points. One touchdown came on a 54-yard interception return. Another TD came off an 18-yard drive following a fumbled kickoff return.
That's a big-time performance against Tech, which with its constant passing lengthens the game and stretches the defense.
"Defense really responded in a great way, and they needed to," Stoops said. "But we're capable of it. We can run in space, we can cover, we're disciplined in what we do."
And the Sooners hold themselves to a high standard. OU routinely has held down Tech during the high-scoring Leach era: 13 points allowed in 2000, 2001 and 2004; 15 allowed in 2002. This one goes right on the same shelf, yet the Sooners weren't gloating.
"We played OK," said linebacker Rufus Alexander.
Said end Calvin Thibodeaux, "At the half, we felt like we were at fault for the (24-17) deficit."
That's kooky talk, but whatever trips their trigger. If this defense still hungers to improve, that's nothing but good news for the Sooners and bad news for even the nation's best teams.
Because that's exactly who OU might see come January.
The Bowl Championship Series isn't close to being clear yet, but count the Sooners among the contenders.
OU came into Saturday probably seventh in the pecking order for the BCS' four at-large spots. But OU moved up perhaps a couple of spots.
Here are the seven candidates:
• The Michigan-Ohio State loser; they play next Saturday.
• The California-Southern Cal loser; they, too, play next Saturday.
• A No. 2 team from the Southeastern Conference.
• Notre Dame.
• The Rutgers-West Virginia loser; they play Dec. 2.
• Boise State.
• Oklahoma.
The Michigan-Ohio State loser will get a BCS berth, so it's really six contenders for three spots. If the Sooners win out, and they will playing defense like this, that's 10-2, and OU can sell the return of franchise tailback Adrian Peterson and the bogus loss at Oregon.
Boise State's close call with San Jose State on Saturday could cost the Broncos precious BCS status. The USC-Cal loser looks less appealing after Saturday. The SEC lost a contender with Auburn. Who knows? Stranger things have happened than the Sooners invited to Miami or New Orleans or even Glendale, Ariz., and a possible rematch with Texas.
If the Longhorns get there. OU's Big 12 title hopes remained alive thanks to Kansas State's upset, and while it's unlikely Texas A&M can upset Texas on Nov. 24 (Dennis Franchione remains the Aggie coach), the 'Horns suddenly are without quarterback Colt McCoy, injured severely against KSU.
Truth is, OU right now might be the Big 12's best team, not even counting the McCoy factor. The Longhorns were better in early October, but the way this Sooner defense is playing, isn't Oklahoma the Big 12's cream?
Granted, OU got some help from Tech. The Sooners were bailed out by untimely Red Raider penalties. Tech missed two field goals, including a 28-yarder with 9:18 left that would have tied the game at 27.
But play defense like this, and you've earned all your stripes. Play defense like this, and a not-so-pretty night turns very, very effective.
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