Did the BCS get it right?

It’s official: Oklahoma will be the South representative to face Missouri in the Big 12 Championship game next Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.

Since Oklahoma, Texas and Texas Tech finished the season 7-1 in Big 12 play, a tiebreaker was needed to determine which team represents the South. The tiebreaker came to whichever team finished the regular season with the best BCS ranking.

The No. 2 Sooners leapfrogged No. 3 Texas in the BCS rankings, in large part because of their consecutive impressive showings against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State, giving them the South’s berth in the conference title game. Here’s how the latest BCS rankings look:

  • 1. Alabama (0.971)
  • 2. Oklahoma (0.935)
  • 3. Texas (0.922)
  • 4. Florida (0.885)
  • 5. USC (0.807)
  • 6. Utah (0.784)
  • 7. Texas Tech (0.780)
  • 14. Oklahoma State
  • 20. Missouri

For a full listing of the BCS rankings, click here.

So my question to you is: Did the BCS get it right?

My answer, in short, is yes. Oklahoma is the only team this year to beat Oklahoma State in Stillwater. They won by 20. Oklahoma’s also the only team this year to beat Texas Tech. That margin? 44 points.

The Sooners have the most impressive non-conference slate as well, with victories over Cincinnati and TCU. Cincinnati (10-2), ranked No. 13 in the BCS, is heading to a BCS bowl after winning the Big East. TCU, at No. 11 in the BCS, is also 10-2 on the year.

Texas could still play in the BCS Championship game. The obvious scenario would be to have Missouri beat Oklahoma next week.

What if No. 4 Florida defeats No. 1 Alabama next week, though, in the SEC Championship game? The Longhorns could get leapfrogged again in this scenario, this time by Florida.

Only time will tell, but for now, the BCS has spoken. And it likes Oklahoma over Texas.

Now onto the Big 12 Conference Week 14 awards:

Performer of the week: Dezmon Briscoe, Kansas

The Jayhawks’ sophomore receiver produced 310 all-purpose yards in the 40-37 victory over Missouri on Saturday in Kansas City, Mo. Briscoe caught nine passes for 115 yards and a score, and also returned seven kicks for 195 yards. It’s particularly impressive when you consider KU was dead last in the nation much of the year in kickoff returns. Briscoe’s 28-yard return average gave the Jayhawks a short field much of the afternoon.

Most significant win of the week: Oklahoma 61, Oklahoma State 41

The victory moved Oklahoma ahead of Texas in the BCS standings and put the Sooners into the Big 12 Championship game next week against Missouri. One more victory and Oklahoma plays for the BCS Championship.

Biggest surprise of the week: The foot of Nebraska’s Alex Henery

With 1:43 left in Friday’s game against Colorado, Huskers coach Bo Pelini turned to Henery with Nebraska trailing, 31-30. The feat: Henery drilled a school-record 57-yard field goal that proved to be the game-winning points in NU’s 40-31 victory over Colorado. The sophomore booted four field goals for Nebraska in the victory.

We’ll continue this entry with the Sorrentino Scale. The number that follows in parentheses is what place the team was ranked last week.

  • 1 (1). Oklahoma (11-1): Since losing to Texas on Oct. 11, Sooners have outscored their opponents, 357-184 (difference of 173 points). Yikes.
  • 2 (3). Texas (11-1): ‘Horns fans not the biggest fans of the BCS right now.
  • 3 (2). Texas Tech (11-1): Didn’t earn style points vs. Baylor. Cotton Bowl most likely destination.
  • 4 (4). Oklahoma State (9-3): Bedlam a shootout as expected, but Cowboys didn’t have enough ammo.
  • 5 (5). Missouri (9-3): Logical thinking suggests Tigers should leave K.C. with two losses in two weeks.
  • 6 (6). Nebraska (8-4): Most likely will play in Gator Bowl on New Year’s Day. Not bad for Pelini’s first year.
  • 7 (7). Kansas (7-5): Insight Bowl representatives had to be drooling over Jayhawks’ gutty performance in Missouri victory.
  • 8 (8). Baylor (4-8): Is there a better 4-8 team in the nation?
  • 9 (9). Colorado (5-7): Didn’t deserve a bowl this season.
  • 10 (10). Kansas State (5-7): Can Bill Snyder recapture Manhattan magic?
  • 11 (11). Texas A&M (4-8): Does anyone else know why A&M players jumped up and down as if to talk noise to Texas before last Thursday’s game in Austin? I’m really confused. A&M is a great school and its football players are smart. They have knowledgeable, friendly fans. But please, don’t jump up and down in the Longhorns’ end zone just because you’ve defeated them the past two years. You just might lose by 40.
  • 12 (12). Iowa State (4-8): I honestly haven’t thought about these guys in weeks, so we’ll just skip a comment here altogether.

That’s all for now, friends. As always, discuss.