The inevitable happened: Oklahoma beat Texas Tech in Norman creating a three-way tie for the Big 12 South lead. Texas beat Oklahoma on a neutral field, Texas Tech beat Texas in Lubbock, and Oklahoma beat Texas Tech in Norman. Those were each team’s sole loss, yet only one team can represent the Big 12 South in the Big 12 title game against Missouri, and after that point, only one can advance to the BCS National Title game should the Big 12 South winner lose to Missouri. So how do you decipher things? Who should get the nod between the three teams? Texas Tech coach Mike Leach knows his pick between Oklahoma and Texas: “I would put Oklahoma ahead,” Leach said. “They beat us and they deserve it.”
Oklahoma can eliminate themselves from contention should they lose to Oklahoma State in their final regular season game — something entirely within the realm of possibility. Should that happen, Texas Tech would need to beat Baylor in order to capture the Big 12 South since they own the tiebreaker with Texas. Should things end in a three-way tie, I would disagree with Leach and give the nod to Texas. The reason I give Texas the leg up on the other two teams is because they beat Oklahoma on a neutral field, not at home the way Texas Tech and Oklahoma got their wins. Additionally, Texas fought back and made it very close with Texas Tech on the road in their lone loss. By virtue of their neutral field win, I would say Texas should represent the Big 12 South should things remain tied. A Texas vs. Alabama/Florida winner for the national title? I could definitely go for that.
