Oklahoma Playing for Big 12 South Title Saturday

DALLAS -- The hard part is seemingly over for No. 2 Oklahoma.

After surviving consecutive tough road games against Top 25 teams Oklahoma State and Texas A&M, the Sooners (9-0, 6-0 Big 12) just have to win one of the last two games for their third straight Big 12 South Division title -- and fourth in five years.

"It's really important to finish it off," defensive tackle Carl Pendleton said. "You don't want to lose period, but you definitely don't want to lose at home."

Oklahoma's first division-clinching chance comes in its home finale Saturday against Nebraska (5-4, 3-3), the co-leader in the weak North Division. The Sooners then play at Baylor, which has never beaten Oklahoma.

Sooner Gameday Central - Nebraska | OU Quotes | Game Notes

No. 6 Texas (8-1, 5-1) plays Saturday at Kansas (3-6, 1-5), the only North team eliminated from title contention. The only way the Longhorns can take over the South is if they win their last two games and Oklahoma loses twice.

In other Big 12 games Saturday, No. 22 Texas A&M (6-3, 4-2) is home against Texas Tech (6-3, 4-2); No. 25 Oklahoma State (6-3, 3-3) hosts Baylor (3-6, 1-5); and Kansas State (4-5, 2-4) goes to Colorado (5-4, 2-4).

Iowa State (5-4, 3-3), which has gone from a 13-game conference losing streak to winning three straight and taking control of the North Division, has the weekend off. The Cyclones win the North if they win their final two games against Kansas State and Missouri (4-5, 2-4), which is also idle this week.

A week after winning 38-35 at Oklahoma State, the Sooners overcame three 14-point deficits last weekend in a 42-35 win at Texas A&M.

"It was another huge game and a major step in the Big 12 South race and getting ourselves in position," Oklahoma coach Bob Stoops said. "We have the opportunity to lock up the Big 12 South, which is a primary goal we have as a team. Our players understand the importance of it."

When Oklahoma and Nebraska last played in 2001, both were top-three teams. The Cornhuskers won that game 20-10, but trail 40-37-3 in the series that dates back to the 1920s and the early days of the old Big Eight Conference, and are four-touchdown underdogs this weekend.

Oklahoma will try to extend several winning streaks: 23 regular season games, 18 at home and eight over Big 12 North teams.

After falling behind 35-7 to Oklahoma State last weekend, Texas scored 49 unanswered points for its biggest comeback ever and fifth straight win since losing in the Red River Shootout. The Longhorns have won six in a row after Oklahoma in three of the last four years.

More importantly, the Longhorns moved back into the top six of the Bowl Championship Series rankings. If they can maintain that standing, they will be guaranteed a berth in one of the four major bowls.

Texas A&M had an NCAA-low one turnover the first seven games, but has six the past two games -- both losses. The Aggies are playing their finale at Kyle Field, where their only loss was to the Sooners last week.

Texas Tech is the nation's top passing team (411 yards per game) as usual, and needs to win its last two games for a chance at its first Jan. 1 bowl game since 1994.

Oklahoma State has lost three of its last four games -- all against Top 25 teams. Baylor's only Big 12 win was its overtime upset of Texas A&M, but the Bears returned to their old ways with a three-touchdown loss at Texas Tech last week.

Defending Big 12 champion Kansas State kept its slim division and bowl hopes alive last week by beating Missouri, which has the league's longest losing streak at four in a row. Now the Wildcats play at Colorado, and the loser is eliminated from the North chase.

"I couldn't imagine in our wildest dreams we'd have four losses and still be in the conversation about doing what we could do," K-State coach Bill Snyder said.

Kansas State has to beat Colorado and then Iowa State to get the six wins needed for bowl eligibility. If not, the Wildcats won't play in a bowl game for the first time since they started Big 12 play in 1996.

University of Oklahoma Athletics

Oklahoma Playing for Big 12 South Title Saturday

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