Already, Oklahoma fans are adding Southern Cal and LSU to their watch list.
Wisconsin, West Virginia, defending champion Florida and others deserve attention, too, beyond a schedule that features that annual date in the Cotton Bowl with Texas and the other Big 12 foes looming in the coming months.
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Still, it's the Trojans and Tigers who now stand primarily in the way of a vision — a vision of an eighth national championship.
A vision growing focus by the minute among Sooner fans, and also growing credence with college football analysts across the country. A vision stoked by the fast start of redshirt freshman quarterback Sam Bradford — perceived as the team's one major question mark entering this season — and Saturday's 51-13 throttling of Miami.
"I'm real impressed with Oklahoma,” said Mike Gottfried, an ESPNU analyst and former coach. "I think they're the best team I've seen out there through two weeks.
"Now, I'm not moving them ahead of USC, but I've got them second.”
The first BCS standings aren't due for another five weeks, with the 2007 debut set for Sunday, Oct. 15.
By then, OU will have completed what amounts to an elimination match with Texas one week before. So for one squad, Sooners or Longhorns, the point will be moot.
For now, however, the teams to watch are USC and LSU, which rank 1-2 with the Associated Press and the USA Today Coaches Poll, just ahead of the Sooners at No. 3 in one ranking, No. 5 in the other.
And unless the Trojans or Tigers take a fall, the top of the polls figure to remain that way, with the BCS standings sure to be the same.
One slip by either, however, and envision the juicy possibilities: OU vs. USC or OU vs. LSU — a shot for the Sooners at avenging the massive disappointments of their most recent attempts for title No. 8.
At this point, all this poll talk is good for fueling water cooler conversations, TV time and cyberspace debates.
OU players and coaches deny being such long-term visionaries.
"That's something we're gonna put on the backburner right now,” said Sooner kicker Garrett Hartley.
Echoed defensive back Lendy Holmes: "We're not even thinking about that. We're just playing ball. We couldn't care less where we're at. No. 3, that's great. We deserve it, but we still have a lot of games to play. We're staying focused on what we have to do.”
What they have to do, obviously, is win.
Anything short of perfect won't likely be good enough to land a BCS title game berth, especially for a team from the Big 12. The Pac-10 and SEC currently carry more clout.
The Big 12's reputation, sullied of late because of struggles in major non-conference matchups, rests with several teams establishing themselves playing well throughout the season.
"It's way too early to tell, for sure,” said Richard Billingsley, who operates one of the computer rankings factored into the BCS standings. "Against a one-loss SEC or Pac-10 team, they would be comparable. Being undefeated carries a lot of weight in the Coaches/Harris polls, as we saw last year with Rutgers.
"But against an undefeated SEC or Pac-10 team, it would depend on whether the Big 12 can keep it together and have several good teams on into November. Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech or OSU, and at least one team from the North to be a quality opponent in the championship game; maybe a one-loss Nebraska or Kansas State or Missouri, or an undefeated Kansas.
"If the Big 12 falls apart with no other superior teams (top 15), it hurts OU's chances.”
For now, however, the chances — and visions — are endless.
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I think it's safe to say that WV doesn't stand a chance, but I think that was pretty clear after the first couple games. USC and LSU stand a better chance than OU because the BCS voters are going to favor them and Florida, even if they lose; that and because they have a harder schedule. Maybe not early on, but in conference play. LSU has Flordia, VT, Arkansas, Kentucky, and Alabama. Then they have to worry about Georgia, South Carolina, or a rematch with Flordia in the SEC championship game. USC already played Nebraska in Lincoln, and they have to go to Oregon, Cal, and Arizona St. before ending the season at home to UCLA. OU had Miami (disappointment this season) and Texas. Early on if could have been said that OU had Miami, Texas, A&M, Tech, OSU, and Missouri. Only one of those teams is playing up to standard and that's Missouri, who barely edged Ole Miss, and with the only impressive win on their schedule being Illinois. A&M got tossed around by Miami, OSU's whole season has been a disappointment, Texas could just as easily be 1-4, and Tech's defensive coordinator just resigned. At this rate the biggest test for OU in the South will be OSU. I personally believe OSU will beat Texas. They get them in Stillwater and OSU's playing better. But that could change depending on how OU plays in College Station. Going on what I've seen thus far the season will end this way: OU will finish 12-1 and play Colorado in the Big 12 title game and avenge their loss. With Colorado's defense, the only competition in the North will be Nebraska or Kansas State, but neither have a very highly respected defense and Colorado's offense is improving considerably. The South will finish with OU at 7-1, OSU at 6-2, Texas at 5-3, Tech at 4-4, Texas A&M at 2-6, and Baylor at 0-8. The North will finish with Colorado at 7-1, Kansas St at 6-2, Missouri at 5-3, Nebraska at 4-4, Kansas at 2-6, and Iowa St. at 0-8. OU will beat Colorado in the Big 12 Championship and get the BCS birth. UCS will lose to two of the 3 major road games (Oregon, Cal, or ASU; I'm thinking they'll lost to Orgeon and Cal, and skip by ASU like they did Washington), and LSU will lose in the SEC championship to Flordia. The national championship will be Ohio St. (who's only competition the rest of the season is Wisconsion unless Michigan steps it up. Beating Northwestern wasn't a huge sucess), and Cal (who has a chance to go undefeated in Pac-10 play with games at home against ASU and USC their only competition, and a #3 national ranking). OU will play Flordia in the Fiesta Bowl.
Let's put it this way. LSU hasn't played anyone either! VT is not that good, not good enough to be ranked 10 or 9 in the polls, Please! Give me a break! Both LSU, and USC will lose a game this year. Florida will beat LSU and USC will get beat by CAL or UCLA. It will be OU and WV or Florida.
Uh, people we got enough to focus on in our own conference before we start looking at USC ( who gave us a whoopin we will never forget), LSU, etc. In OU - Texas games rankings, talent, etc mean NOTHING. Enjoy the ride but we still have to play the games and win all to get to the BCS. In regards to Boise St. vs OU,, that was won of the greatest college games I can remember in a long time - regardless of how it ended.
I would love to see OU get a piece of LSU or USC. Sooner fan, your memory needs to go back further than the last two weeks. Recent history against those two schools is not favorable. Last I recall, Trojans were calling out Sooners as quitters.
OK, OK!!!! So let's all sit around wringing our hands game by game which is the reasonable thing to do, or we can plan on beating the dog out of everyone and rinsing the nasty taste of Boise out of our mouths once and for all with our 8th National Championship! BOOMER SOONER!!!!!!!!
It's always way too early to be counting on any of that. As Sooner fans we should all know that better than anyone. The Big 12 Championship was too early to count our eggs four years ago, shoot we were wondering if that team was the best collegiate football had EVER seen prior to that blistering, and the BCS championship was too early the following year. Biggest heartbreaks I can ever remember as a fan. Please from here on, let's take every week, every game, one at a time thru the final horn before we get crazy and start chalking it up. Boomer Sooner!
It seems that every couple of years we are comparing our current team to the 2000 Title team and our quarterback to Heupel or White! Stop the insanity and lets wait and see what unfolds in the coming months! Enjoy the season and thank God that we aren't back in the 90s under Schnelly or Blake!
Please fellow Sooners, as good as this Sooner TEAM looks let's not get ahead of OUrselves. Long road ahead and we still haven't been tested in many ways. Let's put the title talk away until we get past the meat of conference play, say November. Still tons of ball to be played!
Sean from Broken Arrow, if you're referring to North Texas being in their first year in I-A, you're incorrect. They've been playing I-A for awhile and actually have a couple of conference titles and bowl appearances under their belts. Granted, the Mean Green wasn't so mean this year, and I'm sure I've provoke others to post some demeaning remarks about UNT. But I thought I'd correct you and let you know this isn't UNT's first year at I-A. Okay, now continue on OU critics with your gripes about it being too early to talk about the Sooners and the national championship picture.
OU looks great and has played well. I’m a Sooner from the hey, ho, let’s go, but let's see where we are October the 7th. Having played a road conference game against the Buffs and Tejas will be a better measure of potential than two blowouts. If the Canes tag any real teams before we play Tejas, then I’ll start to feel better. I guess the media needs something to do and this year it's go crazy over OU early. When you have seven national titles and decades of great success, the media goobers want to be on the bandwagon early. If they have to jump off late, they have a clear path to the end of the wagon bed and have time to tell you how you suddenly stink up the place.
I bet if OU goes undefeated, but gets left out of the title game, the Daily Oklahoman can proclaim some sort of National Championship! You can have the BCS, AP, and DO National Champions. (Can't wait to see the rings)
Im die hard ou but all this hype this early is driving me nuts. why cant we just enjoy the rest of the season. the media is putting rediculous pressure on them by constantly writing about how great they are.
Tap the brakes. OU has played two games vs. unranked opponents at home. I'm as big of a fan as anybody, but let's at least wait until they've played at least half of their schedule before we start imagining who they will defeat for the national championship.
I'm already sick and tired of the hype. Geez...it's only week three. We haven't even started conference play. I hope coach Stoops is able to keep his team on a even keel, because the media frenzy, local and national, is completely insane. Let's see, we have played one team with a first year I-A (or FCS, or whatever they're calling it) and another team with a first year coach clearly rebuilding a program.
Let's win one game at a time and prepare for the next week's opponent. Our mantra should be "Who's Next?"
It is early and big tests loom(Texas, A&M, OSU, Missouri, Colorado, Tech and Big 12 Championship) but There's just something about this team that reminds me of the 2000 team. Man, it would be great to get another shot at USC or LSU.
Please get the date of the championship game right if you are going to run such a stupid story this early in the year. It is on the 7th. I would be fired if I made the mistakes you make.
Helsey gives a good assessment. When you compare schedules, USC's and LSU's are pretty stout on the non-conference front. What this could mean is if all three - USC, LSU and OU -- go undefeated this year, we Sooners fans better be prepared to be the "odd man out" of the national championship game. I realize it's early, and I personally don't expect both USC and LSU to go the whole season undefeated, nor am I really trying to toot OU's horn before the OU-Texas game. But for the sake of the hypothetical, Sooner fans should be braced for falling into the same situation that USC and Auburn experienced in the past.
I agree that it is important that the team take it one game at a time, but its just fun for the fans and the media to talk about all the what ifs. Just like folks talking Michigan only winning 3 games and Les Miles leaving LSU and whatever stud recruit is supposed to be coming next year, etc. Its all in fun.
I'm sorry, but after two games, I think it is totally irresponsible to be talking about an 8th national title. We have zero conference wins as of right now, still have three games to go before Texas, and are not ranked in the top 2. Can we not just enjoy the team week by week, and quit penciling in OU national champs, and Bradford for Heisman? Besides, he would have to take a bunch of money from a booster, (T.Smith), or hook up his family with 100k in benefits, (USC), before he is truely a Heisman candidate.
Good God people, we've played 2 games - Let's flashback to 2003 for a second. All this team heard from the media was that they could be the greatest team ever. Can this stuff wait until after the season is complete? It's a long season......
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Leave a comment. Log in below or sign up (it's free).Editor's note: It is not our intent to offer comments on crime or fatality stories.
Boomer Sooner!
Its kind of premature to put em in that situation - dont you think so.
Let's win one game at a time and prepare for the next week's opponent. Our mantra should be "Who's Next?"