Oklahoma rose to No. 20 in the latest Associated Press Top 25 Sunday, but that still didn’t change the bad news it received Saturday.

Adrian Peterson’s broken collarbone will take at least six weeks to heal. If he plays again this season, it won’t be until a bowl game.

The status of that postseason game will be determined by how the Sooners (4-2, 1-1 Big 12) finish out the regular season.

Those next six games are where they are focued.

“This won’t be an excuse, just like our quarterback situation wasn’t to start the year,” OU coach Bob Stoops said.

With Peterson out, Allen Patrick and Jacob Gutierrez will take over the tailback spot. Neither has played much of an offensive role this season. Patrick has 18 carries for 62 yards. Gutierrez has two for 17.

But it isn’t like they haven’t been in this position before.

They were among a quartet of running backs OU used last season when Peterson missed the better part of four games with an ankle injury. OU went 3-1 in those games with the only loss against Texas.

Patrick averaged 5.5 yards per carry last season. Gutierrez averaged 5.3 and rushed for 173 yards against Baylor.

Stoops believes the cast around them should make for a better transition, too.

“These guys have played and done well. I feel better,” he said. “Our offensive line is playing well, our receivers are playing well, the tight ends and the fullbacks are playing well.”

Quarterback Paul Thompson, who threw two touchdown passes in Saturday’s 34-9 victory over Iowa State, has already matched Rhett Bomar’s touchdown total from last season.

Clearly, Peterson isn’t the only reason the Sooners are averaging 32.8 points a game.

But Thompson admitted Peterson’s absence changes things.

“There might be more pressure towards me,” he said. “I will need to step up to the pressure and still be successful.”