Will he or won’t he? That’s the question relative to Oklahoma QB Sam Bradford and the NFL Draft.

Sure, we’d like him to stay. However, if projections land him in the first round of the draft, as I think they will, doesn’t he owe it to himself and his family to go?

Yes. C’mon, kid. The future owes you nothing, and financial security for generations awaits. Besides, Oklahoma is losing these senior offensive linemen next year:

• Branndon Braxton
• Jon Cooper
• Phil Loadholt
• Duke Robinson
• Brandon Walker

Among juniors, it looks like Trent Williams will opt for the draft. He probably should. Millions await, and he might be among the first Sooners taken. Bradford’s protection next year won’t be nearly as good as it was this year, and can Sam really afford that risk?

We’re going to lose Jermaine “Pay Attention” Gresham. That’s the nickname my friends and I gave him because it seemed, early in his career, like he would drift off into daydream land. But he’s terrific and will be a terrific pro TE.

We’re losing Juaquin Iglesias and Manny Johnson to eligibility. Quentin Chaney, too.

That means Ryan Broyles and Adron Tennell head up our WR corps next season, and — again — for Bradford, that’s scary. Broyles is terrific, but he can’t be the only go-to-guy.

And as for Iglesias, what can I say? Juaquin is one of my favorite OU players of the Stoops era, probably the best possession receiver we’ve had. He wouldn’t burn you for yards, but his hands were terrific.

Defensively, we’re losing guys like Nic Harris and Cory Bennett, and Lendy Holmes, too. Call me an idiot, but I think Holmes is one of the more underappreciated players of the past five years at OU. His catch-up speed was terrific, and he improved significantly from his first year until his last game. Early on in his career, he was terrible.

But for me, Nic Harris is the primary loss among defensive seniors. Unfortunately, I fear we may lose Gerald McCoy to the NFL Draft, as well. Early projections have him as a second or third-round guy, but he’s of strong enough character and has enough ability that he’s a sure pro.

I’d recommend one more year for Gerald but wouldn’t blame him a bit if he went now. What you don’t want to do is to pull a De’Mond Parker, Oklahoma’s premier running back of the late 1990s, who opted out as a junior, right as Stoops was coming in.

Worst draft decision I can remember at OU. Parker never caught on with Green Bay, and Parker would have soared in his last year under Stoops.

And, we lose Joey Halzle, who never even got his Nate Hybl day-in-the-spotlight outside of a gutsy performance against Texas Tech in 2007. Halzle was a competent backup, and I would not be surprised to see him at least attend an NFL camp or two. It makes me wonder if Keith Nichol is up in Lansing wondering if he made the right call transferring to Michigan State, a team that won’t sniff a national title chance in the near future.

Who knows. But I am of the mindset that these kids owe nothing to the university in terms of staying an extra year just for the chance at a national title. If you have a chance at a multi-million dollar contract in the NFL, you MUST GO.

Oklahoma will be OK. Go make some $.

Oklahoma lost to Florida 24-14 in the national title game tonight. Repeat of 2004. 2003. Bowl repeat of 2007, 2006. Rinse. Repeat.

Never. Picking. OU in a bowl. Again. No matter what.

The only thing keeping Oklahoma from being the true, blue Buffalo Bills of college football is the 2000 title. Truth is, OU did some nice things tonight. Didn’t get wiped off the carpet like in 2004 against USC.

(Editor’s note: I had a list of things that went wrong for OU tonight, and I am just deciding, resolving to cut everybody a giant break.)

I’ll give it up to the defense. Overall, they did enough. Plenty enough. Gerald McCoy and Nic Harris were terrific. Jeremy Beal.

One absolutely has to give it up to Tim Tebow. But he’s no Matt Leinart, sorry. In fact, I found Matt to be very likable in a gosh-wouldn’t-you-love-to-be-that-guy sort of way. I find Tim Tebow to be kind of an ass. That Gator chop in the fourth quarter was unbecoming for a guy wearing John 3:16 eye makeup.

Nevertheless, it’s clear that Bob Stoops isn’t the same Bob Stoops from 2000. Don’t know what it is, but it’s not a lack of a big-game mentality. We had several big games this year, and the play-calling was great. The stretch of 60-point games was among the best in Oklahoma history.

In the post-game news conference, he said that “if this is the biggest burden” had had to face in his life that he’s a pretty lucky guy.

For some Oklahoma fans, that will wreak of apathy.

But, dude, I gotta tell you: It’s kind of what I like abou him. He’s got perspective.

On the other hand, just once I would like to see him step to the podium like Tebow did earlier this year and say, “I’m sorry. I’m going to do everything in my power, work harder than anybody else to make sure this doesn’t happen again.”

But it wouldn’t change the fact that Bob doesn’t throw a pass, make a block, make a tackle or kick a field goal. At the end of the day, all you can ask is that your coach get you into position to win a national title, and there is nobody better at it than Bob.

Unfortunately, for the rest of Division I, it’s becoming a wet dream to land Oklahoma in a title game.

My prediction: Good two or three more seasons, and Stoops will call it a day in Norman, either heading to the NFL or retiring for a broadcasting gig or to take a break. He’s still the third-best coach we’ve ever had.

Something to look out for? Dare I say Gus Malzahn in Norman by 2012?

Eight years and four days ago, I rushed home from work to watch the national championship game between Oklahoma and Florida State. Can you believe it’s been eight years?

You know: Somebody has to lose Thursday night.

The sun will rise for both the Sooner and Sunshine states on Friday.

Oklahoma has lost this game twice since 2001, against LSU in 2003 and USC in 2004.

Florida lost the national title game in 1994, to a Big 8 school.

The Gators won with Bob Stoops as defensive wizard in 1996.

Three times has a second-year college football coach won the title this decade: Stoops in 2000, Ohio State’s Tressel in 2002 and Florida’s Meyer in 2006.

When Oklahoma and Ohio State went for seconds, they lost. Urban Meyer is going for seconds against Oklahoma.

The cockiest team? Florida. They’re favored. The saw Mississippi manhandle Texas Tech. They know their QB lost in the Heisman race, which is like a backward jinx. They believe they will win.

Nobody is picking OU to win. One ESPN or Sportsline nationwide vote had 78 percent of voters say Florida would win its third national title.

Dominique Franks had something to say about Tim Tebow, but Tebow was first to say something about Big 12 defenses.

In fact, Oklahoma’s defense has been dogged for the past month by association with other Big 12 teams.

What’s worse is that OU fans (guilty) have dogged Brent Venables’ efforts the past several years, and some of that is deserved. Just not this year.

What most folks don’t know is that Brent lost both his parents to cancer last season and the year before. That would distract anybody. I’m really pulling hard for the OU defense.

But this 2008 Oklahoma defense has a major chip on its shoulder, plays with great technique, hits really hard (Quentin Carter) and finally has the right middle linebacker starting (Mike Balogun).

This 2008 Oklahoma team started the season by remembering how 2007 ended, with an embarrassing 48-28 loss to West Virginia.

This year, we finish.

Bob Stoops was eerily calm at Wednesday’s press conference. Not that it means much, but for the record, he’s typically testy and tense.

I think he knows something.

I think we’ll look back at Thursday’s game as one of the best-coached games in Oklahoma history. Perhaps I am smoking crack, but last season, the Sooners were “tired” of all the why-can’t-you-win-a-BCS-game talk.

But OU was a favorite then, and the year before. OU is an underdog now, and — seriously — every legitimate college football sign points to a Florida win.

Oklahoma will get the ball first, and on the first play of the game, we go deep. Play-action pass over the middle to Jermaine Gresham for an 80-yard bomb. Florida will try to cover him 1-on-1 because “they have SEC defenders.”

The Sooners will produce a three-and-out, and follow it up with a 6-play drive culminating in a Chris Brown run from 6 yards out. 14-0 with 6:55 left in the first.

Florida marches down and settles for 3.

Oklahoma throw a tip-drill pick, and Florida again moves the ball on OU. Field goal only. 14-6.

Oklahoma goes three-and-out again, and Florida marches the ball downfield. We’re unable to deal with Tebow’s scrambling, and eventually, he runs it in from 31 yards. That’s right, 31 yards out. Florida goes for 2 and gets it. 14-14 with 5:58 left in the half.

However, 2008 has been the season of the tremendous second quarter defensive adjustment for OU. Venables will get Tebow under control, even if it takes awhile.

Meanwhile, Sam goes deep to Jermaine again for a 44-yard score, over a pair of cornerbacks on the right side, and OU is up 21-14.

Those defensive adjustments prove effective right off the bat as Nic Harris picks off Tim Tebow and runs it back 31 yards to give Oklahoma a 28-14 lead with 2:20 left in the half.

Florida gets the ball to open the second half and manages to cut the Oklahoma lead to 11. They say the first possession of the second half is most important, and Oklahoma’s second-half strategy is ball-control.

Chris Brown. Mossis Madu. Matt Clapp.

Madu scores from 2, and it’s 35-17 with 9:00 left in the third.

Florida returns the kickoff 90 yards for a score. Crap! 35-24.

Oklahoma and Florida both go 5 or 6 plays-and-out as things calm down a bit. However, the play that 2008 might forever be remembered by happens in the next possession.

Oklahoma lines Manny, Ryan and Juaquin on the left-hand side. Chris Brown is the back, lined up just to the back and left of Sammy. Brody Eldridge is the TE, while Jermaine Gresham and backup quarterback Joey Halzle are lined up on the right-hand side.

From shotgun, Sammy pitches it to a sweeping Halzle, who stops and immediately turns around, lobbing it to Gresham for a 61-yard, nothing-but-green-grass touchdown. The defense will pursue Halzle, thinking he’s running the start of a reverse, which will completely free Jermaine (who was lined up with Halzle).

42-24.

Florida gets the ball to start the fourth, but a fumble is recovered by Jeremy Beal. Five plays later, whoever kicks field goals for OU (is his name Jimmy? only kidding) hits a 41-yarder for a 45-24 lead.

Four minutes left in the game, and the stadium is starting to empty. Run, run, run. Run, run, run. Announcers talk about Stoops’ future, his legacy. They’ll talk about how Meyer’s legacy isn’t diminished one bit by this loss, and while they’re talking, Chris Brown will scamper 22 yards for a score. 52-24.

Stoops gets the Gatorade bath with 1:55 left.

Dominique Franks gets an interception with :58 left.

Sam kneels twice, and it’s over. Jermaine is the MVP.

That’s about how I believe it will go, give or take a little. I think OU is perfect as the underdog. I think Oklahoma is way better this year than in 2006 and 2007. I think Florida is a tad overrated, unless Utah is THAT good. I still think Florida is a great team.

And, you bet, we could still lose. Oklahoma has done it before, and it will live to do it again. Most people think we WILL lose Thursday night!

But honest to goodness, as real as I sit here typing this, I think Oklahoma wins Thursday. Better chemistry. An on-fire defense. Great ground game. A coach who feels like he has something to prove.

I’m ready. Oh, and I think this should be the pregame speech. This comes from a very underrated sports movie, and it’s a wonderful speech. You could put the helmet on me after this.

I have been a fan of the Utah Utes for a few years, at least back to the Alex Smith and Urban Meyer days. This program is gritty, and anybody who’s followed them knew they’d at least hang with Alabama.

However, Utah whipped ‘em 31-17.

Now comes word that Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff is considering an anti-trust suit against college football on the basis that the sport is a multi-million-billion-trillion dollar business whose participants are not offered equality of opportunity.

Utah is 13-0, clobbered a team that spent weeks at No. 1 and yet has no shot at a national title. None. For the Boise States, the BYUs, the TCUs of the world, the playing field is uneven, and (not to toot my own horn) I told a colleague less than 48 hours ago that if I was the Utah AG, I’d consider an anti-trust lawsuit against college football.

Am I in this guy’s head or what?

Look, I am an Oklahoma Sooner, and I hope and pray they win Thursday night. However, to deny some level of collusion on the part of major colleges against its smaller brethren is to deny the hand in front of your face.

This is a clear, long-term case of anti-trust, and regardless of who wins Thursday night — if I’m Utah — I push this in court. I sue for a share of the national title. It would be a precent-establishing moment, one that should create a playoff in major college football.

You can tell me the university presidents are “against a playoff” for whatever reason. I am here to tell you a playoff WILL happen, and it will be by MANDATE of the courts. Whether it be next year or in the next 10.

For good or for bad, I suspect we could have Utah to thank.

Feel bad for Ohio State, their third BCS loss in a row. On the other hand, this Texas team had a ton of heart.

Dare I say it, but I’ll bet you a nickel we hear announcers mention Thursday night that in the event of an Oklahoma win over Florida, some reporters might just vote the ‘Horns ahead of OU.

If Oklahoma only wins by 1 or 2 points, why couldn’t that case be made?

Look, I’m as big an OU fan as you’ll find, but if OU beats Florida 48-46, why is an AP voter from Walla Walla, Wash., supposed to vote the Sooners ahead of the Longhorns given that Texas beat OU 45-35.

In the discussion relative to the Big 12 title game, rules were already in place. I didn’t feel sorry for Texas at all. Likewise, however, rules are in place relative to an AP national title vote.

The writers can vote for whomever they please. Them’s the rules.

What will keep a mutiny from happening, thankfully, is Utah. They went 13-0 and smoked Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The Western contingent would split any reporter pool considering a non-OU vote in the event of a Sooners win.

If Florida wins, there will be no controversy among the writers. Likewise, if OU wins 55-14, there will be no controversy.

I won’t tell you who to root for. Heck, in 2005, I absolutely rooted for the Texas Longhorns to beat USC.

First, USC was riding a win streak that I feared could near Oklahoma’s 47-gamer.

Second, USC had demolished us the year before.

Third, I liked Vince Young.

However, under no circumstances is it good for the Oklahoma Sooners for Texas football to do anything but be good up until the Red River Shootout. Ideally, Texas would start 5-0 each year and then lose to Oklahoma resoundingly.

Then, UT should lose each game by 900 points.

This argument that “what’s good for the Big 12 is good for Oklahoma” is not just nutty, it’s insane. You’re not insane if you think this; I don’t mean to lay that trip on you. You’re merely misguided.

Oklahoma and Texas compete directly for the same recruits. So, it’s important for Oklahoma to beat a good Texas team, and it’s good for Oklahoma for Texas NOT to win bowl games and championships.

To win in college football, you need to recruit your state well. It’s a must. But you also have to recruit one of these five states really well: California, Texas, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Florida.

Let me ask you this: Why do you think we’ve seen USC, Oklahoma, Texas, Ohio State and Florida dominate the past several years?

So, root for Texas if you’d like. I’ll do it from time to time because I like the state and love Austin and love their tradition. I want Texas to be good.

But it’s not because it does one darned thing for Oklahoma.