Sunday afternoon notes: A&M game time, polls

CAMPUS CORNER — Back in the saddle to let everyone know that ESPN/ABC/Big 12 has told us the Texas A&M game will be a 2:30 p.m. CT start on ABC/ESPN. That means Oklahoma State’s home game against Kansas State will be a 7 p.m. CT kick.

It will be Oklahoma’s first — and last — home day game of the year, in the penultimate home game of the year. After this week, only Iowa State on Nov. 26 (7 p.m.) remains at Owen Field. It’s OU’s second consecutive 2:30 p.m. kickoff after all night games and an 11 a.m. start in the Red River game.

OU up two in polls: The 58-17 win at Kansas State, along with Georgia Tech’s upset of Clemson, was enough to get the Sooners back up to seventh in both the Associated Press and coaches’ polls. Oklahoma is not too far behind No. 6 Oregon, which plays No. 4/3 Stanford on Nov. 12.

The bottom line: We’ve learned that if OU keeps winning, the Sooners aren’t out of this entirely. Stanford, which needed three overtimes to defeat Southern Cal last night, presents a problem if it keeps winning. The Cardinal, however, has tests against the Ducks, Notre Dame and (likely, in the conference title game) Arizona State remaining. And then there’s the Bama-LSU loser. What becomes of that team after this week’s game?

Would not at all be a surprise if OU were sixth tonight when the BCS standings are announced. And the Sooners are perhaps a hair from being fifth a week after losing at home. This thing’s not over just yet.

Condolences: Folks from around the country are weighing in to express their sympathy for the Barry family after the death of OU broadcasting legend Bob Barry Sr. My thoughts, also, with his friends and family. I never had a chance to meet Senior, but I know all the things I’ve heard about him as a person and professional. I’ve met and spoken with Junior a handful of times, so my thoughts with him, certainly.