Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray (7) carries the ball against Texas Tech. Giving chase are Tech’s Marion Williams (39) and Brandon Williams (84). Oklahoma ripped Texas Tech, 65-21, on Saturday night in Norman, Okla.

Oklahoma running back DeMarco Murray, third in the nation with 2,171 all-purpose yards, will miss the Jan. 8 BCS Championship game because of a left hamstring injury.

Murray will undergo surgery on Dec. 22 to repair a partial rupture of his left hamstring tendon.

“Obviously, we’re very disappointed for DeMarco,” Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said in a statement. “He has been an important part of our success this year and we will miss his contributions.”

Murray’s injury occurred on the opening kickoff of the Dec. 6 Big 12 Championship game against Missouri in Kansas City, Mo. Oklahoma went on to defeat Missouri, 62-21, marking the fifth straight game the Sooners put at least 60 points on the scoreboard.

Murray, the Sooners starting running back, rushed for 1,002 yards and 14 touchdowns this season. The sophomore also had 31 catches for 395 yards and four touchdowns through the air.

Expect junior Chris Brown to start in the BCS Championship against Florida. Brown is the Sooners’ leading rusher with 1,110 yards and 20 scores on the season.

Sophomore Mossis Madu will step into Brown’s role as the No. 2 back in the BCS Championship. In the Big 12 title game, Madu proved he could be a threat, carrying 15 times for 114 yards and three scores. In fact, without Murray, Brown and Madu combined for 236 yards and six touchdowns on the ground against Missouri.