OU coach Bob Stoops said Monday that he's still uncertain whether running back Adrian Peterson might return for Saturday's Big 12 Championship.
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"Not definitive, but right now, highly unlikely," Stoops said after Monday's practice. "We're not anticipating that."
Peterson hasn't played since breaking his collarbone Oct. 14 against Iowa State.
He had hoped to return last week against Oklahoma State, but was denied when a bone scan did not show sufficient healing.
Stoops declined to reveal whether a subsequent scan had been performed and offered no timetable for word on his status, which means speculation on one of the week's compelling story lines will continue at least another day.
"I don't have it for you right now," Stoops said.
• BCS dreams: With a win over Nebraska Saturday, the Sooners can clinch a spot in the Fiesta Bowl.
While reaching a BCS bowl is quite a reward for a team that once stood 3-2, some Sooners can't help wondering if they might be in BCS championship contention if not for the controversial loss at Oregon.
Turn around that loss, and OU is likely among the top 11-1 teams in the country and drawing consideration to face Ohio State for the national championship.
"It's definitely hard not to think about it," Sooners quarterback Paul Thompson said. "After every game, it's something that kind of haunts you a little bit. It would be interesting to see where we'd be right now if the game had been called correctly.
"It's kind of upsetting when you look at what we've done in our schedule and where we could be right now."
• Stoops a finalist: Stoops has been named one of nine finalists for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award, voted by the Football Writers Association of America.
The Sooners have overcome several obstacles, including losing Peterson, to win seven straight anda spot in the conference title game.
Stoops won the award in 2000 when OU went 13-0, finished No. 1 and also took the FWAA's Grantland Rice Trophy, symbolic of the national championship.
Other finalists includeArkansas' Houston Nutt, Rutgers' Greg Schiano, Wake Forest's Jim Grobe, Houston's Art Briles, Hawaii's June Jones, Michigan's Lloyd Carr, BYU's Bronco Mendenhall and Boise State's Chris Petersen.
The winner will be announced and honored at a reception Jan. 5 in Glendale, Ariz., in conjunction with the BCS title game.
• Trader Zac:Cornhuskers quarterback Zac Taylor grew up in Norman, the son of former Sooner defensive back Sherwood Taylor.
So he understands the history of OU-Nebraska.
"The games I remember more than anything else were the OU-Nebraska games when I was a little kid," Taylor said. "Those are the most vivid memories I have.
"Back then, I was an Oklahoma fan cheering against Nebraska. Now it's the other way around."
By John Helsley
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