BCS Rankings 2011: Who Gets Credit and Blame for Texas Tech Win over Oklahoma?

One of the ageless questions in sports has been this: did this team win or did the other team lose?

In Texas Tech's 41-38 shocker over No. 3 Oklahoma on Saturday, the Red Raiders did many things right, but the Sooners did plenty wrong in what could be their spoiler for a shot at the BCS Championship Game.

Red Raiders quarterback Seth Doege impressively threw for 441 yards and four touchdowns and never turned the ball over. Sooners signal caller Landry Jones recorded an equally praiseworthy night, passing for 412 yards and five touchdowns, though Jones' lone interception proved costly at a critical juncture in the game.

Texas Tech picked up a landmark win in Norman, breaking Oklahoma's 39-game home winning streak. But who takes credit and who takes blame?

Credit: Seth Doege

The junior quarterback used a solid running game to open up the passing attack, as Seth Doege carved up a spotty Sooners secondary en route to 441 yards on 33-of-52 attempts.

More importantly, Doege took care of the ball all game long, as the Red Raiders had no turnovers to Oklahoma's one.

In Texas Tech's spread offense, Doege completed at least three passes to six different receivers, all of whom recorded at least 43 yards. The most important target of the night, however, was Alex Torres, who caught just four passes, but three of them for touchdowns of 44, 30 and 11 yards.

Doege has impressed through seven games, throwing for at least three touchdowns in six of them. But against Tech's toughest opponent to date, Doege put in one of his best performances.

Blame: Gabe Lynn

Sophomore cornerback Gabe Lynn had a night he would love to forget.

After struggling through much of the first half against Texas Tech's spread attack, a 40-yard completion that set up a Red Raiders touchdown in the second half prompted a switch in the Oklahoma secondary.

Though the swap seemed to solve some of the Sooners' problems, it all came a little bit too late.

Lynn, who started in place of the injured Jamell Fleming, simply was burned too many times.

Doege found that weakness and exploited it early and often.

Credit: Tommy Tuberville

Tommy Tuberville got his biggest statement win in his tenure at Texas Tech.

Bold play calls meant one thing for his Red Raiders: they came to Norman to win, and nothing less.

As risky as some of his strategy was, including an audacious fake punt late in the third quarter, Tuberville stuck to his guns, pun intended, and rode Seth Doege and his passing proficiency to an echoing win.

Credit Tuberville for having a solid game plan, which included a dashing running game that opened up the field for Doege and his receivers to exploit.

Blame: Bob Stoops

Although Oklahoma's secondary was missing three starters, why did it take over two quarters for Bob Stoops to make a change at cornerback, where Gabe Lynn was getting scorched all first half?

The Sooners were stunned, as they should be, but this is still a good football team capable of winning the Big 12 and capturing a very respectable bowl bid. The BCS is still not out of the picture.

Nevertheless, for a team that has BCS National Championship aspirations, more urgency could have been shown by Stoops' coaching staff against a Texas Tech team that was renowned for a dynamic passing game.

Despite the Sooners' frantic rally that nearly paid off, it was all too little too late, and the head coach will have to harbor some of that heat.

Credit: Texas Tech Offensive Line

Against perhaps the Big 12's best defensive line, Texas Tech gave up two sacks, while providing good protection and blocking for an offense that picked up 572 total yards.

Pass protection was phenomenal, giving Seth Doege time to carve up the Sooners' secondary for 441 yards. In the run game, meanwhile, the holes were there for DeAndre Washington and Aaron Crawford to pick up a combined 146 yards on 33 carries, solid production that really opened up Oklahoma's defensive backfield.

While the quarterback, receivers and running back will soak in the spotlight in this huge win for the Red Raiders, the offensive line will gladly smile in the background.