Getting OU into BCS takes some calculating
Oklahoma at Baylor: Kickoff at 11 a.m. (FSN, Cox 37)

By George Schroeder

Published: November 18, 2006

WACO, Texas - All week, you've pondered the burning question: Will Joey Halzle play?

You didn't? Me, neither. And we're not alone. It's sure been hard to come up with a compelling concern for Baylor.

But while most people were looking ahead to Bedlam, I decided to take it three games at a time. I've been thinking bowls, not Bears.

That's right, BCS.

And so, in an effort to beat the boredom that should set in a few minutes after 11, let's fast-forward the Sooners all the way into the Bowl Championship Series. Here's the how-to manual — some assembly required.

This step is tricky. BCS means beating OSU. Whether that will happen is anybody's guess, considering the Cowboys' inhospitality when the Sooners visit.

But if OU can't accomplish this, the rest of the pieces won't fit.

A Texas A&M win next Friday over Texas would knock the 'Horns into second place in the Big 12 South ? and send OU to the Big 12 championship game.

This is highly unlikely, since Fran has maneuvered A&M into its typical November tailspin. But if the Aggies somehow pull it off, OU would play Nebraska for a Fiesta Bowl berth.

Unfortunately, the trip to Arizona would come with a booby prize ? Boise State.

The good news is, the Sooners might not need help from A&M. And the other BCS scenarios don't involve Boise.

OU is among a select group of teams with a shot at the Rose, Sugar or Orange bowls.

This is a tough assignment, since most Sooners probably still hear USC's band in their nightmares. But if the Trojans win out — starting tonight with Cal — they'll wind up in the BCS national title game.

And that would leave the Granddaddy of 'em All looking grumpily to fill a slot opposite the Ohio State-Michigan loser.

Available Rose Bowl candidates?

Notre Dame. Rutgers. West Virginia. A two-loss SEC team (not the league champion). Or OU. Not necessarily in that order.

Always a good course of action, but especially important right now.

Even with two losses, Notre Dame seems like an easy Rose Bowl pick, since the Irish haven't played in the Rose since 1925.

But USC's ascension to the national title game would include the Irish losing in L.A. next week. And if Michigan is in Pasadena, would the Rose Bowl want a rematch of the Wolverines' September rout?

Michigan-Oklahoma has a nice ring, don't you think?

Rutgers' run at perfection is a great story. But a West Virginia win Dec. 2 over Rutgers would end the Scarlet Knights' BCS chances ? and might enhance OU's.

West Virginia would be guaranteed a BCS berth as the Big East tri-champ, but the Big East isn't tied to any of the bowls. The Sugar Bowl, which picks ahead of the Orange, had West Virginia last year.

Speaking of Sugar…

An Arkansas win next Friday over LSU would knock the Tigers out of the BCS picture. A Florida win over Arkansas in the SEC championship game might set Sugar Bowl honchos to salivating over a Gators-Stoops matchup in New Orleans.

OU-Arkansas? Ho-hum.

Apparently, voters aren't going to realize Gordon Riese and company altered the BCS picture. But it might be enough if they just pay enough attention to see if OU wins or loses.

The Sooners must rank in the BCS' top 14 to be an at-large team (they're 17th now). But politically, the guys in the bowl blazers would breathe easier if OU got to 10th or 11th.

At 10-2, OU would have the storyline bowls covet — an asterisk (Oregon) and a star returning (Adrian). Even in the BCS, story lines matter.

Speaking of storylines, how likely is all this?

Like OU coaches, I'm not much on percentages. But there's a better than decent chance a 10-2 OU makes the BCS. If not, the Sooners are almost a lock for the Gator Bowl.

And I'd say chances of Halzle today are 100 percent.