BCS Rankings: Is Oklahoma Still Worthy of Top 10 Ranking in USA Today Poll?

If you are going to lose, lose early.

Since the introduction of the BCS system into college football, that philosophy has forever been looked at as a positive after a loss.

For the Oklahoma Sooners, following a shocking 41-38 loss to the Texas Tech Red Raiders in Norman Saturday, that has to be the mindset of Bob Stoops' team.

Oklahoma's loss puts it at 6-1 with wins over two ranked opponents.

But before we throw the Sooners under the bus for a rather inexcusable defeat that halted its 39-game home winning streak, let us keep a dose of perspective.

All things considered, Oklahoma is still a top 10 team.

The 2011 season is far from over and the Sooners have ample opportunities to climb back towards the top of the polls.

With wins of varying convincing power over Tulsa, Florida State, Missouri, Ball State, Texas and Kansas, the Sooners nearly pulled off a furious fourth quarter rally that would have seen Oklahoma through to its seventh win of the year.

While that did not happen and Texas Tech quarterback Seth Doege threw for nearly 450 yards, he did so against a depleted Sooners' secondary that was missing three starters.

Oklahoma still maintains a Top 25 scoring defense and an offense that can be stacked up against the best in the country. Landry Jones is still a Heisman contender and a top five quarterback.

When fully healthy, there is no doubt that the Sooners are worthy of a top five ranking—especially on defense. Are they BCS National Title contenders? Maybe, maybe not. But they are definitely good enough to be a part of that conversation.

If you are going to lose, do it early. Oklahoma still has games against three ranked teams. They will play No. 12 Kansas State and No. 16 Texas A&M in the next two weeks. Going 2-0 during that span will surely slide the Sooners back into the big picture.