Oklahoma St. 24 - 33 Oklahoma (Final)

Facing a 3d and 17 from its own 30, and with only 2 seconds left, Oklahoma State tries one of those lateral plays where you keep throwing the ball back and forth.  One of the laterals gets away from OSU, and rolls all the way back to the OSU 3 -- where Eric Striker of Armwood H.S. in Seffner, Fla. picks it up AND TROTS INTO THE END ZONE FOR ANOTHER OKLAHOMA TOUCHDOWN.

Looking back over the results of the second half, I think this has to be the most painful loss in Oklahoma State football history.  Consider what happened:

1.  Oklahoma State was at home, and was heavily favored to win the game, keep the UCFC, and take the Big XII championship to the Fiesta Bowl.

2.  OSU finished the game with 432 total yards, while OU had only 358.

3.  OU's quarterback was hurt at the end of the first half, and the Sooners had to use back-ups all through the second half.

4.  OSU had a running back, Desmond Roland, who went for 144 yards on 21 carries.

5.  OSU scored what appeared to be the game-winning touchdown after a flawless 82 yard drive, leaving less than 2 minutes for OU's third-string quarterback.

6.  OSU appeared to have the game-winning interception with less than a minute to go -- but the play was not even reviewed by the officials.

And when it was all over, OU had won anyway, 33-24.  The Sooners got one touchdown on a punt return.  They got another on a fake field goal that resulted in a pass from the holder to the kicker.  And they got another when a linebacker recovered a fumble on the last play of the game.  So OSU loses everything -- the rivalry game, the UCFC, the Big XII title, and the chance to play in the Fiesta Bowl.  Their all-time record in UCFC games is now 3-10.

OU does not get the Big XII title -- that will now go to either Baylor or Texas.  But the Sooners do get the UCFC.  We will have to wait to see which bowl game will host the next UCFC battle.  In the meantime, Oklahoma's all-time record in UCFC play is now 27-16-1.

Oklahoma St. 24 - 27 Oklahoma (19 seconds left in 4th Quarter)

Oh, my!  Blake Bell, OU's third-string quarterback, throws an 8-yard pass to Jalen Saunders for a TOUCHDOWN to put Oklahoma in the lead.

Oklahoma St. 24 - 20 Oklahoma (24 seconds left in 4th quarter)

What a wild game!

After a few more scrambling passes, OU has the ball with a first and goal on the OSU 8.

Meanwhile, the folks on the Touchdown Radio Network are enraged that OSU was not given credit for Justin Gilbert's apparent interception.  They report that Twitter is exploding with fury against the officials.

Oklahoma St. 24 - 20 Oklahoma (1:02 left in 4th Quarter)

But the Sooners are not dead yet.  A few passes and a pass interference call get them down to the OSU 30.  Then, on 1st and 10 from the 30, it appears that Justin Gilbert -- an OSU cornerback from Huntsville H.S. in Huntsville, Tex. -- has made a game-saving interception.  But the officials rule that Gilbert didn't hang on to the ball!

Oklahoma St. 24 - 20 Oklahoma (1:46 left in the 4th Quarter)

With their backs against the wall, the Cowboys pull off a scoring drive for the ages:

1st and 10 (OSU 11):  Clint Chelf passed to Josh Stewart for 14 yards
1st and 10 (OSU 25):  Clint Chelf passed to Charlie Moore for 27 yards
1st and 10 (OU 48):  Clint Chelf passed to Tracy Moore for 20 yards
1st and 10 (OU 28):  Clint Chelf passed to Tracy Moore for 23 yards
1st and Goal (OU 5):  Desmond Roland rushed for 2 yards
2d and Goal (OU 3):  Desmond Roland rushed for 2 yards
3d and Goal (OU 1):  Desmond Roland rushed for 1 yard.  TOUCHDOWN

This is the coldest game ever played at Boone Pickens Stadium, but the OSU fans are feeling very warm and happy right now.

Oklahoma St. 17 - 20 Oklahoma (4:27 left in 4th Quarter)

The OU drive stalls, and the Sooners punt down to the OSU 11.  This may be the Cowboys' last chance to score.

Oklahoma St. 17 - 20 (7:03 left in 4th Quarter)

Facing 2d and 10 from his own 1 yard line, Blake Bell dropped the snap.  He picked up the ball, and found Sterling Shepherd of Heritage Hall H.S. in Oklahoma City, Okla.  Shepherd caught the ball at the OU 25, and was off to the races.  He dashed all the way to the OSU 42 before he was tackled.

Oklahoma St. 17 - 20 Oklahoma (8 minutes left in 4th Quarter)

OSU's drive stalls at the OU 36.  On 4th and 5, the guys from the Touchdown Radio Network wanted OSU to go for it.  But Coach Mike Gundy orders a punt, and Kip Smith (of Legacy H.S. in Bloomfield, Colo.), lofts a perfect kick that is downed at the OU 1 yard line.

Oklahoma St. 17 - 20 Oklahoma (10:01 left in 4th Quarter)

This game has become the Michael Hunnicutt show.  The OU drive stalls, but Hunnicutt kicks a 39-yard field goal to put the Sooners in the lead for the first time today.  Hunnicutt has 14 of the 20 points scored by OU so far today.

I went to Vanderbilt, and I never, ever expect Vanderbilt to beat Tennessee -- no matter how good Vandy is, or how bad UT is.  That's what it's like when you lose to the same team so many times.  So if I had been an OSU fan, I would have been a nervous wreck, terrified that the Sooners would find some way to pull this game out.  And so far, that is what is happening.  OSU has 333 yards, to only 238 for OU, but the Sooners are winning.  Can the Cowboys now overcome the pressure, the weather, and the OU defense, to pull this game out?

Oklahoma St 17 - 17 Oklahoma (11:40 left in 4th Quarter)

The Sooners, facing a forth and 1 at the OSU 27, decided to go for it.  Brennan Clay, of Scripps Ranch H.S. in San Diego, plunges across for the first down.

San Diego!  Clay must be freezing out there.

Oklahoma St. 17 - 17 Oklahoma (end of 3d Quarter)

OSU goes three and out, and OU's patchwork offense has the ball again.  The Sooners are facing 2d and 7 on their own 28.

THE UCFC!  A great game, a great tradition!

Oklahoma St. 17 - 17 Oklahoma (2:35 left in the 3d Quarter)

Wow, this has suddenly become an amazing game.

Oklahoma, playing without its starting quarterback, is now going for broke on every play.  The Sooners used a double reverse to spring Jalen Saunders loose for a 35-yard game deep into OSU territory.  Then, on third and goal from the 8, OU's third-string quarterback -- Blake Bell of Bishop Carroll H.S. in Wichita, Kan. -- was chased all the way back to his own 30 before heaving the ball to the back of the end zone.  It was briefly in the hands of an OU receiver, but he was crushed by an OSU back and could not hang on to the ball.

So this set up fourth and goal from the 8.  With everyone expecting OU to kick a field goal, OU Coach Bob Stoops CALLED A FAKE -- and not just any fake, but a fake where the holder (Grant Bothun, a RECEIVER from Rowlett H.S. in Rowlett, Tex.) is supposed to throw a roll-out pass to THE KICKER.  The kicker, Mike Hunnicutt, made a nice catch and was HAMMERED in the end zone.  But he held on to the ball, and then made the extra point.  So we are all tied once again.

Here are the OU passing statistics so far:

Trevor Knight:  3-7, 28 yards, 0 TD's, 0 INT's
Kendal Thompson:  2-9, 17 yards, 0 TD's, 1 INT
Blake Bell:  1-2, 6 yards, 0 TD's, 0 INT's
Grant Bothun:  1-1, 8 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT's
TOTAL:  7-19, 59 yards, 1 TD, 1 INT

But the game is tied.

Oklahoma St. 17 - 10 Oklahoma (4:44 left in 3d Quarter)

OU's offense has been dreadful, but OSU has not been able to put the Sooners away.  The Cowboys were driving again, but Clint Chelf throws an interception to Julian Wilson of Southmoore H.S. in Oklahoma City, Okla.  It's OSU's first turnover of the game.  The Sooners will take over at their own 39.

Unfortunately for the Sooners, the guys on the Touchdown Radio Network report that OU quarterback Trevor Knight is out for the rest of the game with an injured wrist.

Oklahoma St. 17 - 10 Oklahoma (9 minutes left in 3d Quarter)

OU has to punt again.  I should point out that Oklahoma's starting quarterback, Trevor Knight (from Reagan H.S. in San Antonio, Tex.), has not been able to play in the second half due to an injury sustained on OU's drive at the end of the first half.  I don't think OU can win the game even if he returns, but the Sooners will have no chance if he doesn't come back.

Oklahoma St. 17 - 10 Oklahoma (10:57 left in 3d Quarter)

After an exchange of punts, the Sooners will start from their own 21.

But that's not the big news here.  The big news is that the number one song in America on December 5, 1970 was:

"I Think I Love You," by the Partridge Family.  How cool is that?

Oklahoma St. 17 - 10 Oklahoma (13:18 left in 3d Quarter)

The Pokes make the Sooners pay for that interception, as they quickly drive 82 yards for a touchdown.  The scoring play is a 15 yard pass from Clint Chelf of Enid H.S. in Enid, Okla. to Desmond Roland.  OSU now has 267 yards to only 132 for OU.

This Casey Kasem countdown is great, by the way.  Here are the last three songs that he's played:

# 6:  "Fire and Rain," by James Taylor
# 5:  "We've Only Just Begun," by the Carpenters

# 4:  "I'll Be There," by the Jackson 5.

Oklahoma St. 10 - 10 Oklahoma (14:50 left in 3d Quarter)

First turnover of the game!

 Oklahoma got the ball to start the second half.  But the Sooners start by hurling a long pass that is intercepted by Kevin Peterson of Wagoner H.S. in Wagoner, Okla.  The Pokes will take over at their own 18.

Oklahoma St. 10 - 10 Oklahoma (Halftime)

After so many recent UCFC games that looked more like Tecmo Bowl than real football, this has been a pleasant and entertaining game to watch.  Oklahoma looked terrible in its earlier games against Texas and Baylor, and they don't appear to be quite as good as Oklahoma State.  But they are playing hard, and they still have a very good chance to take the UCFC back to Norman.

It's halftime, so I've switched to XM Radio's "70's on 7" channel, where they are playing Casey Kasem's countdown from December 5, 1970.  "See Me, Feel Me" by the Who is number 12.

Oklahoma St. 10 - 10 Oklahoma (38 seconds left in 2d Quarter)

Oklahoma's offense finally gets going, and the Sooners put together a long drive that stalls at the OSU 4.  Mike Hunnicutt boots a 21-yard field goal, and once again we are tied.

Oklahoma St. 10 - 7 Oklahoma (8:40 left in 2d Quarter)

OU couldn't do anything from its own 2, and they punted.  OSU took advantage of the short field to quickly move into field goal position.  Ben Grogan of Martin H.S. in Arlington, Tex. trotted in and booted a 41-yard field goal to put Oklahoma State back into the lead.

OSU now has 202 yards to only 62 for OU.

Oklahoma St. 7 - 7 Oklahoma (12:27 left in 2d Quarter)

Big stand by the Sooner defense.  OSU quickly drove down into OU territory, and soon had second and goal at the OU 1.  Normally that's an automatic seven points in the Big XII, but the Oklahoma defense stuffed Oklahoma State on back-to-back runs up the middle, and the Sooners will take over at their own two.

By the way, it's 20 degrees in Stillwater.

Oklahoma St. 7 - 7 Oklahoma (18 seconds left in 1st quarter)

Well, that didn't take long.  After OSU's touchdown, OU went three and out.  Then OSU went three and out.  Then Jalen Saunders, of Elk Grove, Calif., took an OSU punt at the OU 36 and ran it back -- untouched -- 64 yards for a touchdown.  Mike Hunnicutt of Pearce H.S. in Richardson, Tex. tacked on the extra point, and we are all tied at 7.

Uniform watch:  Oklahoma is wearing its classic white uniform with red numerals and red helmet with white OU logo.  Oklahoma State has a black helmet with OSU logo, orange shirts with white numerals, and black pants.

By the way, I'm watching the game on ABC, but listening to the broadcast of the College Football Game of the Week on the Touchdown Radio Network.  I love the idea of a Touchdown Radio Network.  It makes me feel as though I should be listening to the game on a big Philco radio from the 1940's.

Oklahoma St. 7 - 0 Oklahoma (1:37 left in first quarter)

So far OSU looks like much the better team on a frigid but sunny day in Stillwater.  The Pokes have 122 total yards to only 54 for the Sooners.  Ninety-nine of OSU's yards came on their touchdown drive, which ended with a one-yard touchdown run by Desmond Roland of Lake Highland H.S. in Dallas.  We'll see if the Sooners can get back into this one.

Oklahoma St. v. Oklahoma

This is one of the great underrated rivalries in college sports.  Most folks don't know much about the Oklahoma/Oklahoma St. rivalry, mainly because the Sooners lead the all-time series by a whopping 83-17-7.  But Oklahoma State has a big fan base in the Sooner State, and the Cowboys have a richer tradition than Oklahoma in a number of other sports, such as basketball.  As a result, the Bedlam Series (as it is known in Oklahoma) is a big deal in a state that loves sports as much as any state in the Union.  Any time OU and OSU meet, in any sport, there is a lot at stake.

Today, of course, there is more at stake than usual.  With one day left in the regular season, here are the standings in the Big XII:

Oklahoma St:  7-1

Baylor:  7-1

Texas:  7-1

Oklahoma:  6-2

Kansas St:  5-4

Texas Tech:  4-5

Texas Christian:  2-7

W. Virginia:  2-7

Iowa St:  2-7

Kansas:  1-8

Oklahoma State has already beaten Baylor and Texas, so the Pokes hold all the tiebreakers.  If they beat Oklahoma today, OSU will win the Big XII and probably go to the Fiesta Bowl.  They will also keep the UCFC.  On the other hand, if OSU loses, then the winner of the Baylor/Texas game will get the Big XII title, and the Sooners will take the UCFC.

It is rare for Oklahoma to be playing the role of spoiler in this game, but the Sooners will likely not be intimidated.  They've only lost to the Cowboys once since 2002.

This will be the third time OU and OSU have met for the UCFC.  On December 1, 1956, OU capped off a national championship season with a 53-0 victory over Oklahoma State.  On November 29, 2008, OU successfully defended the UCFC in one of the highest-scoring title games ever:  a wild 61-41 win for the Sooners over the Cowboys.

The oddsmakers don't give Oklahoma much of a chance -- they have installed OSU as a 10-point favorite in a game expected to total 57 points.  That would work out to something like a 34-24 win for the Cowboys.  Of course, OSU fans would like something like the 44-10 beatdown they put on OU in 2011 -- the last time the Sooners came to Stillwater.  But my guess is that they would be happy with a 10-point victory as well.

Oklahoma

The Oklahoma Sooners are, I think, the last of the programs in the Big XII that we have profiled, and in my opinion they are the best.  The Sooners have finished first in the AP Poll on seven occasions:  1950, 1955, 1956, 1974, 1975, 1985, and 2000.  Only Notre Dame (8) and Alabama (9) have topped the AP poll more often than Oklahoma.  The Sooners are 6th in all-time wins (840) and 4th in all-time winning percentage (.719).

Oklahoma also has a rich record in the UCFC.  They are 26-16-1 all-time in UCFC games, and have played in some of the biggest title bouts.  On January 2, 1956, they beat Maryland 20-6 in the Orange Bowl to take the crown in the same season they won the national championship.  They then held the trophy for seventeen games in a row, before being stunned by Notre Dame 7-0 on November 16, 1957.  On September 28, 1963, they went to Los Angeles and took the crown from defending national champion Southern California -- only to lose it a few weeks later to eventual 1963 Champion Texas.  On January 1, 1968, the Sooners beat Tennessee 26-24 in the Orange Bowl to regain the crown.  The Sooners played for the UCFC on January 4, 2005 -- when they played Southern California for the 2004 national championship -- but lost 55-19.  The UCFC was also on the line when Oklahoma played for the 2008 national championship against Florida on January 8, 2009 -- but the Sooners lost that game 24-14.  That 2008 Oklahoma team was the last Sooner squad to hold the Big Gold Trophy.

Of course, Oklahoma had a chance to win the UCFC a few weeks ago, but were drubbed by Baylor, 41-12.  We will have to see if they do better today.