The D will dominate. Defense, that is.
All signs point to the defenses dominating Saturday at the Cotton Bowl.
Texas (fourth) and Oklahoma (eighth) each rank among the Football Bowl Subdivision leaders in total defense.
Oklahoma has allowed more than two touchdowns in a game just once, in a 21-20 loss at Miami. Texas ranks first nationally in rushing defense, yielding a combined 45 yards on the ground in the last three games.
"That's going to be a major opportunity and a challenge," Oklahoma offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said, looking at the Texas numbers.
Our defense just might take us all the way.
Colt McCoy is impressed with the Sooner defense.
"They are really talented, especially their front seven guys," McCoy said. "They had some of the best (line) backers in the conference and their front line will probably all get drafted this year. They are really good and we understand that going into the game. We're just going to be sharp and focused and ready to execute."
The toughest part the season is here. Texas takes on three ranked teams the next three weeks and we are still trying to establish some type of run game.
Texas coach Mack Brown conceded he was being a bit stubborn in trying to establish the run Saturday against Colorado, trying to pound the ball rather than relying on Colt McCoy's accurate arm.
"We don't want to get in a game where we put so much pressure on Colt that he has to throw every play," Brown said. "We'd like to have some runs."
Maybe Brown was trying to fine-tune some aspects of his offense against an overmatched opponent, in preparation for Texas' next three games, all against ranked opponents. That stretch starts Saturday against No. 20 Oklahoma in Dallas.
Kirk Bohls has some advice for Mack Brown.
A piece of unsolicited advice for Mack Brown: Ditch the left-footed rugby punts. Two Justin Tucker rugby-style punts went for 25 and 5 yards against Colorado. It is still legal to punt conventionally, is it not?
We ned a big win over OU to sway those poll voters.
Although it may have raised an eyebrow or two around the Texas football facilities, the Longhorns weren’t saying much about being dropped in the polls this week.
Despite a 24-point victory over Colorado, the Longhorns dropped behind Alabama in the AP poll on Sunday, behind No. 1 Florida.
"It’s something that was mentioned, but it’s not really a big deal," Texas guard Charlie Tanner said. "Everything takes care of itself by the end of the season. If we win every game and try to get that Big 12 championship, we’ll be where we want to be."
We are now No. 3. Could we end up at No. 4 next week?
Barking Carnival has a BCS forecast.
Oklahoma
Jeremy Beal is a name Longhorns need to know.
Beal is already making an assault on the school’s career sacks record. Even though he’s played only two-plus seasons, he moved into fifth place Saturday against Baylor when he pushed his career total to 22.
Now with the Red River Rivalry dead ahead, the Sooners need Beal more than ever. He will be vital against the Longhorns and Colt McCoy. He will need to do his thing — harassing and harnessing the quarterback
"Over the last two years, he’s easily been our most consistent defensive lineman ... in making plays and playing with incredible effort,” Sooner defensive coordinator Brent Venables said after the 33-7 victory over Baylor. "He gets it. It’s easy for him.”
Dejuan Miller has stepped up after an injury to Ryan Broyles.
"What we’ve seen is an immature guy that doesn’t prepare in a consistent fashion,” said offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson. "Last week, he was a different young man.”
The Land Thieves are happy again.
The Sooners tried to speak carefully. Tried not to besmirch Landry Jones, who ably filled in as the Oklahoma quarterback.
But the truth is unavoidable. Sam Bradford’s return thrilled the Sooners. And Bradford’s return to the OU huddle is almost as valuable as Bradford’s return to the OU pocket.
Texas Week has arrived, and Sooner psyches are in much better shape knowing that Sammy B. will don shoulder pads in Dallas.
"There’s no denying it," Bob Stoops said. "There’s no getting around it. He gives everybody extra confidence."
The Sooners need to improve in the red zone.
Oklahoma settled for field goals on four of seven trips inside the Baylor 20-yard line Saturday, and the Sooners know that won't work against No. 2 Texas this week.
"I think we've got some guys that are pressin' and stressin' because we're supposed to just score every time and every play's perfect," offensive coordinator Kevin Wilson said. "You know, that's not football and that's not life.
Beating Texas would just make the Sooners' year.
If OU loses to Texas, then 2009 officially goes in the clunker file as far as Sooner seasons. A 3-3 record in late October? Disaster.
But what if the Sooners beat Texas? A 4-2 record and the Big 12 South lead? What does that do to OU outlooks, and I’m not even talking about the emotional satisfaction of wrecking the Longhorns’ national title hopes.
Two Central Texas kids are making us all proud. Todd Reesing and Steven Sheffield are having great seasons.
Astrong case can be made that Texas Tech quarterback Steven Sheffield deserves to be named college football's national player of the week. Another compelling argument can be made for Kansas quarterback Todd Reesing.
To bring the matter closer to home, we can refer to Sheffield and Reesing as Central Texas kids who have done well after leaving the nest.
These players are reminders that high school football in Central Texas has a sharp blend of talented players and coaches. And the pipeline that produces such talent gives no indication of running dry anytime soon.
The North
Music NSFW
Why was anyone surprised that Missouri and Nebraska had ball handling difficulties in the sheeting rain?
Why should we expect otherwise when players across the country spend so much time in multi-million-dollar indoor practice facilities designed in large part to impress recruits?
The Jayhawk defense was exposed last weekend.
Kansas’ offense turned in its best performance of the season. But the most eventful — and thoroughly disappointing — twist on Saturday dealt with a defense that was stripped and exposed for all the Big 12 to see. That it came at the hands of one of the conference’s least potent offenses only made it worse.
Iowa State’s offense slugged, pushed and simply dismantled Kansas’ defense on Saturday — and the Jayhawks did little to fight back.
Todd Reesing should be on the Heisman watch list.
"We've only played five games, but he certainly -- and this is only an opinion -- he certainly merits the right to be a part of the Heisman conversation," KU coach Mark Mangino said. "When you look at him statistically, you're impressed. But I think the true way you judge Todd Reesing is you have to watch him play."
The South
Mike Leach has a quarterback quandary.
Initially, Tech coach Mike Leach said there is no quarterback controversy but later acknowledged that "it’s not dreadfully hard" to pick a starter for next week, adding: "We’ll just get together and talk about it and figure out what we’re gonna do."
This just doesn't happen at Tech.
In Mike Leach’s first nine years as Texas Tech coach, the only changes he made mid-stream at quarterback were brief and with a limited purpose.
He once pulled Kliff Kingsbury for a series and Graham Harrell for a quarter, but only to settle them down during rocky games and give them a sideline view of what was happening. But back in they went.
Leach had never encountered circumstances that cropped up the last two weeks, in which an injury forced him to make a quarterback change and the backup suddenly made a compelling case to take over for good.
Or is Leach just pretending that it matters who starts at quarterback?
This is one list Tim Tebow did not make top.
Another good reason to hate Oklahoma...
We don't call them Land Thieves for nothing. OU stole the Boomer Sooner tune from Yale. The only music Sooners are known for is the worst musical ever.