Oklahoma Sooners

SoonerNation is counting down the top five moments of Oklahoma’s 2012 season this week.

Play No. 5

After outplaying TCU all afternoon, yet another game was coming down to the final seconds. This time, a shared or even outright Big 12 title was on the line. Maybe a BCS bowl berth, too.

After Mike Hunnicutt missed a 42-yard field goal that would've put the Sooners up by two scores, the Frogs had the ball at the OU 12 with a 46-yard completion. Two plays later, it seemed as if TCU would send the game to overtime. Trevone Boykin broke loose on a scramble into the end zone. Fortunately for the Sooners, officials didn’t miss an obvious holding penalty that cleared the path for Boykin to slash into the end zone.

After a short completion, TCU faced fourth-and-13 from the 15 with less than 30 seconds. Boykin lofted a pass in the end zone to favorite target Josh Boyce. But Tony Jefferson and Julian Wilson read the play all the way. As the ball drifted toward Boyce, the two Sooners collapsed on the ball to slap it away, preserving the Sooners’ hard-fought, 24-17 victory.

In the end, OU didn’t earn the outright conference title or the BCS bowl. Kansas State hammered Texas, and Northern Illinois slipped into the top 16 in the final BCS standings, automatically giving the Huskies the BCS bowl at-large spot.

But the Jefferson/Wilson pass deflection sealed a successful regular season for the Sooners, whose only blemish was the losses to top-ranked Notre Dame and fifth-ranked Kansas State.

FORT WORTH, Texas -- This wasn't the Big 12 shootout fans of the Big 12 (or even Oklahoma these past few weeks) have become accustomed to this season. It was a physical, fast game, but the Frogs couldn't swing the upset. Oklahoma likely clinches a BCS bid and has earned at least a share of the Big 12 title.

TCU made it interesting late when Oklahoma's Michael Hunnicutt missed a 42-yard field goal that would have iced the game, but the Sooners held on and earned a difficult win.

Let's get to some instant analysis:

It was over when: A host of Sooners defensive backs headlined by Julian Wilson and Tony Jefferson broke up a pass intended for Josh Boyce in the end zone on fourth-and-13 in the final minute that would have tied the score. The TCU crowd wanted a flag, and a Trevone Boykin touchdown run was called back for holding earlier in the drive, but it was to no avail.

Game ball goes to: Oklahoma running back Damien Williams. TCU is the Big 12's best rush defense and No. 1 in the league in total defense, but Williams broke his fourth touchdown run of at least 65 yards this season and finished with a 100-yard rushing game. This wasn't an offensive game, but Williams was the most consistent option for the Sooners.

Stat of the game: TCU converted just three of its 14 third downs against the Sooners. Can't do that and expect to win many games. That's nothing new for the Frogs, though. With Boykin at the helm in the past four games, the Frogs have converted just 25 percent of their third downs.

Second guessing: Officials on a field goal that would have brought TCU to within 24-17 early in the fourth quarter. Officials called Jaden Oberkrom's 32-yard attempt wide left, but replays showed that the kick appeared to slip inside the upright just before it crossed the crossbar. Kicks above the uprights, however, are not reviewable, and the call stood, allowing the Sooners to maintain a two-possession lead in a defensive battle.

What it means: Oklahoma will capture its eighth Big 12 title, but this might be the first one the Sooners have shared. They're likely to earn a Sugar Bowl berth whether Kansas State wins or loses tonight but will get an automatic bid to the BCS if the Wildcats lose. Oklahoma also would be the outright Big 12 champion if that happens. Meanwhile, TCU's regular season ends at 7-5, which might be disappointing when you consider the Frogs began the season in the top 20, but it's truly impressive when you consider that, because of injuries or discipline issues, TCU is missing 20-plus players it expected to have this season.