Jake Trotter: Miami is a huge game for Oklahoma, but no game is bigger on the schedule this year (or any other year) than Texas.
Scott Wright: A win against Miami will give the Sooners the kind of big-game experience they need to step on the field with a team like Texas. A sub-par performance against the Hurricanes, especially concerning QB Sam Bradford, will make it hard for the Sooners to go into any other big gamewithout the fear of mediocrity.
Trotter: Texas is ranked in the top 10, Miami is not ranked. Texas is a Big 12 opponent, Miami is not. Besides, OU will have three games to repair any damaged confidence Bradford might incur against Miami. If he has a bad game, it doesn't mean he won't play well against the 'Horns.
Wright: Beating up on the likes of Utah State and Colorado won't erase Bradford's memory if he gets knocked around all day today. If he has a long day against the 'Canes — no matter what he does the rest of the month — when he walks into the Cotton Bowl, he won't be able to ignore what happened the last time he played a good defense.
Trotter: By your argument, Miami is only important because of how confident the team will be for Texas. Miami is a big game. But it's all a precursor to the biggest game, in Dallas.
Wright: Confidence is paramount for OU. Sure, Texas is a bigger game on a national setting, but for the Sooners, they need to know they can beat Texas and they won't without a strong showing today. The difference between a team that thinks it might win and one that knows it will is OU in 1999 and OU in 2000.
