Missouri vs. Oklahoma: Do Sooners Have Clear Path to BCS Title?

The Oklahoma Sooners played like champions last weekend as they prevailed in a hard-fought bout against a Florida State team on its way back to national prominence.

The Sooner defense outplayed their expectations, looking every bit as dominant as an FSU defense that was being touted as one of the best in the country.

The offense did struggle against that athletic defense, but they did what they had to do to come out on top. There are only a few, if any, teams that can match their offensive firepower.

With that victory behind them, is the Sooners' path to the BCS title paved with gold?

As we have seen in recent years, the answer is no....heck no.

As training and coaching improves across the board, parity has worked its way into college football. Oklahoma should know that just as well as any other team.

For the past decade, head coach Bob Stoops has trotted out nationally competitive teams year after year. These teams, stocked with future NFL talent, are consistently labeled title contenders but, with similar regularity, have succumbed to bad luck or upsets.

The 2003 squad was billed as one of the greatest teams in college football history as they marauded through their schedule like Vikings through an unsuspecting village.

65-13 over Texas, 77-0 over A&M, 52-9 over OSU... you remember. T

he result? Getting whooped 35-7 by Kansas State in the Big 12 championship. Scratch that, they got whooped 35-7 by Darren Sproles himself. The guy is still running through my nightmares.

Uttering the term "Statue of Liberty" became treason in Norman in 2006 after Boise State embarrassed us in the Fiesta Bowl.

2007 was Colorado, Texas Tech and West Virginia. They were all teams against whom the Sooners were heavily favored but fell flat on their faces.

The 2009 version was looking like a dominant, 2003-esque team but was decimated by injury (Bradford, Gresham, entire offensive Line) and ended with a Stoops era-high five losses.

Even if our schedule didn't have several high-quality, top-25 teams remaining I would still say nothing is guaranteed.

Texas looks like they have things pointed in the right direction. Texas A&M's mountain-sized chip on their shoulder always makes them dangerous, too. By now, I imagine Oklahoma State is willing to do anything (food poisoning, overnight vigil, witchcraft) to beat their big brothers.

Asking Stoops' troops to maneuver their way through a tough remaining schedule and avoid the dual-threat curses of bad luck and parity is asking a lot. Lest we forget getting matched up with whoever wins the SEC or (gasp!) Boise State in the BCS title game.

Does Oklahoma have the talent? Yes.

Are they going to be focused on their opponent each week? The "RIP #12" stickers on their helmets, in honor of fallen teammate Austin Box, should have them as focused as ever.

Keyword: should.

Considering their previous debacles, should lady luck finally be on their side? I left my crystal ball in the pocket of my other pants, so we will just have to wait and see.

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