Simulated season highlights

Published: August 15, 2007

• Postseason: Defeated LSU 38-7 in the Cotton Bowl.

• Passing: 235-of-383, 2,885 yards, 38 TDs, 16 INTs.

• Biggest successes: Made the cover of ESPN The Magazine after a 41-35 win at Colorado; threw five TD passes in a 38-26 win over Texas A&M, including a 46-yarder with two minutes left to seal it;

• Biggest struggles: Completed just 13 of 31 passes and was picked off twice in a 28-16 loss to Texas; he was sacked 20 times, threw 16 interceptions and fumbled six times.

• His case for the job: 12-1 ain't too shabby. The Halzle-led Sooners averaged 42 points per game. The loss to Texas kept them out of the Big 12 title game, but he still managed a bowl victory, routing a 10-win LSU team in the Cotton Bowl.

•Postseason: Defeated Georgia 36-35 in Cotton Bowl

•Passing: 232-of-408, 3,098 yards, 31 TDs, 21 INTs.

•Biggest successes: Bradford threw four TD passes to beat Oklahoma State 42-24 and had OU up 17-0 on Texas in the third quarter before the defense caved in and the 'Horns won; threw for 327 yards and four TDs to beat Texas A&M — the eventual Big 12 South champ — 37-31.

•Biggest struggles: Threw two interceptions in a 35-21 loss to Miami; completed just 13 of 31 passes in a 21-20 loss to Texas; was intercepted four times at Texas Tech, despite winning 20-10.

•His case for the job: Bradford played well in the clutch on the road, throwing late TDs to win at Colorado and Iowa State. After a slow start, he put together a good season, and even with two losses, he still got OU back to No. 6 in the final poll.

•Postseason: Defeated Oregon State 35-14 in the Armed Forces Bowl, Fort Worth, Texas

•Passing: 202-of-369, 2,508 yards, 32 TDs, 25 INTs

•Biggest successes: OU peaked at No. 3 in the poll under Nichol before the loss to then-13th ranked Texas; threw four TD passes and helped the Sooners pile up 488 yards of offense in a rout of Missouri; guided OU back from a 21-7 deficit to a 24-21 win over Texas A&M.

•Biggest struggles: Went 19-of-41 for 153 yards, no TDs and four interceptions in his first Red River Shootout, falling 28-6 to Texas; had an interception returned for a touchdown in a 34-31 loss at Iowa State; the Armed Forces Bowl won't keep OU fans happy for long.

•His case for the job: With the exception of the Texas disaster, Nichol put points on the board, averaging 38 per game. It's hard to blame the 45-43 loss to Oklahoma State on the offense, though a failed two-point conversion in the final minute could have forced overtime.

By Scott Wright

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