Sooners point toward later glory

KANSAS CITY, Mo. – Super offense. Dominating defense. Perfect opponent.

It would be almost impossible to deny Oklahoma a chance at the national championship after this performance.

The second-ranked Sooners were nearly flawless Saturday night, getting three touchdowns passing from Jason White and three more running from Adrian Peterson to dismantle overmatched Colorado 42-3 in the Big 12 title game.

Next, barring some kind of massive mix-up, comes a trip to the Orange Bowl where Oklahoma (12-0) will play for its eighth national title.

The opponent will almost certainly be No. 1 Southern Cal.

USC and Auburn – the other national-title wannabe – each took care of business Saturday. USC defeated UCLA 29-24 and the Tigers beat No. 15 Tennessee 38-28, but neither contender was anywhere near as impressive as coach Bob Stoops’ Sooners.

White finished with 254 yards and threw all his touchdowns over the first 15 minutes, 7 seconds. Two went to Mark Clayton, who made a reaching, fingertip catch on the second for a 21-0 lead. Clayton finished with eight catches for 108 yards.

Peterson surpassed the century mark in the second quarter for his 11th 100-yard rushing game, an NCAA record for a freshman. He finished with 172 yards and saved the best for last, breaking six tackles for a darting, spinning 32-yard score and a 42-3 lead.

Peterson and White did the Heisman voters no favors. They entered the weekend as two presumed favorites, and leave it just the same way.

Colorado finished 7-5. The Buffaloes took until the 9:35 mark of the third quarter to pick up a first down not via a penalty.