Oklahoma Sooners: Kent State Golden Flashes
Sooners could have BCS bowl berth spoiled
November, 25, 2012
11/25/12
8:31
PM CT
By
Jake Trotter | ESPN.com
NORMAN, Okla. -- After a wild win in Bedlam, No. 11 Oklahoma is on a collision course to meet an old foe in a BCS bowl.
That is, if a team from one of Bob Stoops’ old stomping grounds doesn’t get in the way.
Going into the final week of the season, the BCS bowl picture has begun to crystallize. After the 51-48 overtime victory over Oklahoma State, the 9-2 Sooners have emerged as a prime candidate to snag the Sugar Bowl’s BCS at-large berth, which would pit them against 11-1 Florida in a rematch of the 2008 national championship.
But a pair of obstacles remain: the Sooners’ road trip to TCU; and Kent State.
That’s right. Kent State, where Stoops coached as an assistant in 1988, could knock OU out of the BCS.
Seven of eight teams ranked directly ahead of the Golden Flashes -- Oregon State, Texas, UCLA, Rutgers, Michigan, Louisville and Oklahoma State -- all lost over the weekend, allowing Kent State to surge up to No. 17 in the latest BCS Standings.
If the Golden Flashes beat No. 21 Northern Illinois in the MAC championship game on Friday night -- they’re 5-point underdogs -- there’s a chance they could steal OU’s BCS at-large spot.
Per BCS rules, as a member of a non-AQ conference Kent State clinches an automatic BCS bowl berth if it’s A) ranked in the Top 16 of the final BCS Standings; B) ranked higher than that of a champion from an AQ conference; C) ranked higher than all other non-AQ teams.
That is, if a team from one of Bob Stoops’ old stomping grounds doesn’t get in the way.
Going into the final week of the season, the BCS bowl picture has begun to crystallize. After the 51-48 overtime victory over Oklahoma State, the 9-2 Sooners have emerged as a prime candidate to snag the Sugar Bowl’s BCS at-large berth, which would pit them against 11-1 Florida in a rematch of the 2008 national championship.
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Matthew Emmons/US PresswireBob Stoops and the Sooners need some help to solidify a BCS bowl berth.
Matthew Emmons/US PresswireBob Stoops and the Sooners need some help to solidify a BCS bowl berth.That’s right. Kent State, where Stoops coached as an assistant in 1988, could knock OU out of the BCS.
Seven of eight teams ranked directly ahead of the Golden Flashes -- Oregon State, Texas, UCLA, Rutgers, Michigan, Louisville and Oklahoma State -- all lost over the weekend, allowing Kent State to surge up to No. 17 in the latest BCS Standings.
If the Golden Flashes beat No. 21 Northern Illinois in the MAC championship game on Friday night -- they’re 5-point underdogs -- there’s a chance they could steal OU’s BCS at-large spot.
Per BCS rules, as a member of a non-AQ conference Kent State clinches an automatic BCS bowl berth if it’s A) ranked in the Top 16 of the final BCS Standings; B) ranked higher than that of a champion from an AQ conference; C) ranked higher than all other non-AQ teams.
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Jake Trotter
Jake Trotter joined ESPN.com in 2011 after four years with The (Oklahoma City) Oklahoman, covering OU and Big 12 football. He's a graduate of Washington and Lee (Va.) University and lives in Oklahoma City with his wife. Email him at trotterjake@gmail.com.
Brandon Chatmon
Brandon Chatmon joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending eight years with The Oklahoman, covering Oklahoma State University, high schools and recruiting. Chatmon lives in Norman, Okla. Email him at bchatmonespn@gmail.com.
Bob Przybylo
Bob Przybylo joined ESPN.com in 2011 after spending four years with The Oklahoman, covering high schools and recruiting. Przybylo lives in Oklahoma City. Email him at bprzybyloespn@gmail.com.