By Mike Lopresti

Gannett News Service

It’s not that we lack for reasons to applaud Oklahoma.

The Sooners have 47 touchdown passes this season. The three service academies together have 17.

Oklahoma — after going for 62, 66, 65 and 61 its last four games — is averaging 53.33 points. Auburn, Tennessee and Mississippi State combined — one-fourth of the mighty SEC — average 49.91.

The Sooners lead the nation with only nine turnovers. At the other end, Washington State has 38.

The Oklahoma stat sheet is nearly radioactive. It merits deep respect. Sincere admiration. A really nice bowl in a really warm place.

But not a spot in the Big 12 championship game.

In case anyone’s forgotten: Texas 45, Oklahoma 35. On a neutral field.

That’s the trump card, or ought to be.

Blame the Big 12 South tie-breaker that allows for no insertion of judgment. Oklahoma ranks ahead of Texas and Texas Tech in the latest BCS poll, and that is that.

Here’s what should happen: A clause that states if two teams are within a certain close range of one another on the BCS rankings, then the tie is broken by head-to-head result.

That uses the computers as guidance, not as handcuffs to a flawed decision.

Oklahoma and Texas are as close as electrons of the same molecule in nearly every measure. When that is the case, how can head-to-head not carry the day?

We can argue BCS versus playoffs until the Red River runs dry. But no matter which side of the debate one takes, no matter what system is used to select teams to play for the national championship — be it two for the BCS or eight for a playoff bracket — this can’t happen.