Brent Venables not focused on Big 12 tiebreakers in final weeks of season
Despite taking two tough losses, Brent Venables and the Oklahoma Sooners still have a path to the Big 12 Championship Game. However, tiebreakers could end up keeping the Sooners out of the championship thanks to a loss to Oklahoma State.
Despite not controlling its own destiny, Oklahoma isn’t thinking about those tiebreakers in the final weeks of the season.
“I’m just trying to go win this week and that’s it,” Brent Venables said. “That’s where I can utilize the time that I have in the best way. Obviously, everything starts and goes from me as the head coach. But what do we gotta do to win this week? And then, what is the turnaround on a short week next week to get these guys ready to play against TCU on that following Friday? Everything else falls, takes care of itself.”
Texas currently leads to Big 12 standings with only one loss. After that, there are four teams with two losses. Oklahoma is among them and whether or not the Sooners get a shot at the title game could easily come down to tiebreakers.
“We’ve put ourselves in a tough position. That’s what I know. We don’t control our own destiny. But let’s focus on the finish. Let’s focus on this week,” Venables said. “Let’s focus on the details and the DNA of this opponent because you don’t have unlimited time. You’ve got limited resources, limited time…I don’t care right now.”
This week, Oklahoma travels to BYU. Then, the Sooners will take on TCU. Both of those should be wins for Oklahoma, but a loss would all but eliminate the Sooners from contention.
Oklahoma ‘unaware’ of reported clarification of Big 12 tiebreaker rules
The Big 12 recently tried to clarify its tiebreaker rules. However, many have noted that the clarification is actually more confusing. However, it’s based on the fact there there are no divisions this season and not every team in the Big 12 plays one another.
“Record against the next highest placed common opponent in the standings (based on record in all games played within the conference), proceeding through the standings.”
As of now, that would put Oklahoma State in the Big 12 Championship Game. However, there are still games remaining to change things. Interestingly, Oklahoma was unaware of this clarification, according to George Stoia of On3’s Sooner Scoop.
“I’m told OU was unaware there would be a ‘clarification’ of the tiebreaker rules tomorrow,” Stoia said. “The Big 12 athletic directors met today and there was no discussion of it. They meet every Wednesday as a standing (virtual) meeting in line with CFP rankings release. #Sooners.”