Best wins of the Bob Stoops era: No. 4, OU 65, Texas Tech 21 (2008)

OU's Manuel Johnson catches a touchdown pass during the Sooners' 65-21 win over Texas Tech in 2008. PHOTO BY BRYAN TERRY. THE OKLAHOMAN ARCHIVE

When: Nov. 22, 2008

Where: Gaylord Family-Oklahoma Memorial Stadium, Norman

Oklahoman headline: TECH THAT!

Why it’s on the list: This song will forever be a reminder of this night, when OU destroyed No. 2 Texas Tech and their national championship hopes — and Graham Harrell’s Heisman hopes — and vaulted itself back into the title hunt. OU scored early and often, and the crowd, which Bob Stoops had challenged earlier in the week, well, jumped around. Loudly. The Sooners, who lost to Texas earlier in the season, were all of the sudden back in the discussion for not only the Big 12 title game, but the national championship game. By the end of the regular season, OU, Texas and Texas Tech were tied atop the Big 12 South standings but the Sooners, with this game a huge help, were ranked highest in the BCS standings and played in the Big 12 championship game. Sooners QB Sam Bradford won the Heisman Trophy, but OU went on to lose to Florida in the national title game.

Here is Berry Tramel’s column from the game:

Fans jump for joy on special Saturday night

NORMAN — The Sooners started jumping early. Jumping, jumping, jumping, like the sidelines were spring loaded. Jumping like kids turned loose in a mattress factory.

Truth is, they’d been jumping for days.

“Last week,” said defensive tackle Gerald McCoy. “It started last week. We came to practice on fire. That’s when all the energy started.”

Then Bob Stoops lit the match with a do-better talk to fans, who boiled the old stadium with a rowdiness unseen since that Nebraska epic eight years ago. Owen Field sizzled all night long, and that made the Sooners jump even more, and the pandemonium on the Oklahoma bench spilled over to the playing field.

Before you knew it, the fifth-ranked Sooners had annihilated No. 2 Texas Tech 65- 21 in what was supposed to be the game of the year but instead became endorsement for team of the year and player of the year.

And all that jumping might take the Sooners up where they think they belong. Above Texas and Texas Tech in the Big 12 South triangle.