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.