Tech-OU certain to shake up the BCS

AP file photo THIS WAS THEIR BIGGEST WIN EVER — CAN TECH TOP IT? — Texas Tech wide receiver Michael Crabtree (5) caught a pass from Graham Harrell and scored the winning touchdown against Texas with just one second left. This week, the No. 2 Red Raiders visit Oklahoma, where they've never won under coach Mike Leach, and try to keep their national title hopes alive. The game, to air on ABC on Saturday night, kicks off at 7 p.m. LUBBOCK (AP) — Texas Tech has never beaten Oklahoma on the road under Mike Leach.

Another week, another neverbefore to conquer for the nation's No. 2 team. And in a season flush with firsts for the Red Raiders, a win in Norman against No. 5 Oklahoma on Saturday would give Texas Tech its only Big 12 South title and move it closer to playing for an national title.

The game, which definitely will affect the upper tier of the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), will be aired on ABC, and kicks off at 7 p.m.

The Sooners are the last in a four-game gantlet of Top 25 opponents for the Red Raiders, who own the nation's longest active win streak at 12 games. They crushed then-No. 19 Kansas, stunned No. 1 Texas in a thriller and clobbered No. 8 Oklahoma State.

Last week? A bye that Leach says was anything but time off.

"There's nothing off about it," said Leach, who has Texas Tech 10-0 for the first time since 1938. "It was better for the players because the load was reduced so their legs are probably fresher."

Offensive lineman Rylan Reed said the week away won't do anything to slow the momentum.

"I think we're just so focused and done such a good job of being prepared that I don't think there's any chance of that happening," he said. "We just got to keep it going."

That means keep scoring. And in Norman, expect a shootout.

The game pits two of the top three passing offenses and scoring offenses in the country. Led by quarterback Graham Harrell, Tech is tops at 433.7 yards per game, and the Sooners are third at 355.5. When it comes to scoring, Oklahoma ranks first (51.4 points per game to 47.9).

The Heisman Trophy could be on the line, too. Harell and Oklahoma's Sam Bradford are ranked first and fourth in the nation in total offense.

In last year's matchup in Lubbock, Bradford received a concussion in the first quarter and left the game. This time, Tech knows the sophomore is coming in with more experience.

"He's got the size and the arm and makes good decisions back there," said Texas Tech safety Daniel Charbonnet, whose five interceptions tie him for ninth in the nation.

Texas Tech has won two of the last three against Oklahoma but has never beaten the Longhorns and the Sooners in the same season under Leach, who served as offensive coordinator for Bob Stoops in 1999 before taking over in Lubbock.

Texas Tech has been on the verge of winning the South division before, but that chance in 2002 didn't come with national title implications.

Six years ago, the Red Raiders upset No. 4 Texas and headed to Norman the next week with the Big 12 South at stake. The trip ended badly — No. 4 Oklahoma pummeled Tech 60-15, giving Leach the first of four losses at Oklahoma since 2000.

A loss to the Sooners this time wouldn't necessarily knock the Red Raiders out of the Big 12 race. Oklahoma must still play at No. 11 Oklahoma State on Nov. 29, the same day Tech wraps up its regular season against Baylor.

Bradford doesn't remember much about last year's loss to Texas Tech that knocked the Sooners out of the national title hunt, and he's not just playing coy. What he does know about Oklahoma's 34-27 loss comes only from video.

"I've watched it, so I know pretty much everything that happened now. It's a little frustrating to turn on the tape and see that I played the first couple plays and then wasn't out there to finish the game with my teammates," Bradford said Tuesday.

"So, there's probably a little bit of extra motivation to go out there and play well this year."

Sooners coach Bob Stoops said he was watching film with his offensive coaches Monday night in preparation for this Saturday's game against Tech when he had a flashback to that play.

"They were talking about Sam doing something here or there and I said, 'What about just get out of the way and watch it?'" Stoops said.

For good reason, Stoops doesn't want his quarterback doing any more tackling even if "99 times out of 100, he's not going to get injured or knocked out" but both he and Bradford know what would happen if he was put in the same situation again.

"Obviously you're not going to give up six points. If I am forced into a situation to make a tackle, I will, but let's hope that doesn't happen," said Bradford, joking that "maybe we'll go lower this year" if the opportunity arises.

Bradford has followed his fabulous debut season, in which he set an NCAA freshman record with 36 touchdown passes, by putting up even bigger numbers this season. He leads the nation with 38 touchdown passes, two away from Jason White's school record of 40 during his 2003 Heisman Trophy season. Bradford is ranked second in the country in passing efficiency (188.9) and third in yards passing yards per game (340.6).

Bradford said he's more caught up in the enormity of the game than the meeting of two Heisman caliber quarterbacks. "It's exciting to be in a game with two top-five teams getting to play in Norman at home. I don't think we've played a top-five team at home since I've been here," Bradford said.