Oklahoma, with Big 12 South Title In Sight, Takes On Texas Tech

Nov. 14, 2001

Nate Hybl and Oklahoma look to inch closer to a Big 12 South Division title Saturday as they take on Kliff Kingsbury and Texas Tech.

The third-ranked Sooners (9-1, 5-1) need wins in their final two games to secure a division title, which would give them a spot in the Big 12 championship game.

An Oklahoma loss Saturday gives Texas a chance in the division race. The Longhorns, whose only loss this season came against the Sooners, could clinch the division with an Oklahoma loss and a win over Texas A&M on Nov. 23.

Advancing to the Big 12 title game would keep the Sooners in the hunt for the national championship, as they currently rank third in the Bowl Championship Series standings.

Hybl seems to be playing more relaxed now, realizing he'll be the starting quarterback the rest of the season. Hybl, who won the starting job in August but lost it after getting hurt in Game 5 against Texas, has again secured the spot now that Jason White is out for the season.

White, who became the starter after Hybl's injury, suffered a knee injury against No. 2 Nebraska three weeks ago in Oklahoma's only loss of the season.

Hybl passed for two touchdowns and 198 yards in a 31-10 win over Texas A&M on Saturday.

"Now he's starting to settle in and he knows it's his job to get it done," Sooners offensive coordinator Mark Mangino said of Hybl. "Now he knows that he's the guy we're counting on and he wants to be counted on, and he's proving that he can do the job."

Kingsbury, Hybl's counterpart, has been one of the nation's best. He passed for 440 yards and four touchdowns Saturday, completing 44 of 56 passes in a 49-30 win over Oklahoma State.

Kingsbury leads the nation with 302 completions and tops the Big 12 with 2,902 passing yards. He has led the Red Raiders (6-3, 4-3) to three straight wins.

Texas Tech has now qualified for a bowl in both of coach Mike Leach's two seasons.

"The next two weeks are going to be fun," Kingsbury said. "We're going to play relaxed and hopefully go out and upset some people."

Oklahoma leads the all-time series 6-2.