The Sooners’ prolific offensive numbers could be much greater if they hadn’t spent the fourth quarter trying to run out the clock in nearly every game this season; Kansas and Texas being the two exceptions.

OU coach Bob Stoops said that’s the big reason some of the offense’s and defense’s averages are skewed.

“Because you’re just trying to run out the clock, you’re punting more than you normally would, plus your back ups are in there,” he said. “The other team is getting more possessions in the fourth quarter so it changes your defensive stats. There are all kinds of things that it changes when you’re trying to burn up the last quarter. There are certain sportsmanship issues, so you just try to get out of the game, that’s the way it goes.”

The fourth quarter is the only one OU has been outscored in this season. Opponents hold a 56-41 edge in the final 15 minutes. OU has a 473-180 advantage in the first three quarters.

OSU can wait

Stoops said OU will use the off-week to exclusively work on Texas Tech. The Sooners usually use an open week to prepare for all future opponents. They face Oklahoma State on Nov. 29 in the regular season finale.

“I don’t feel comfortable doing that,” Stoops said. “We’re just spending our time on Tech and getting ready for them. And then we’ll do our best after that to zero in on Oklahoma State. We just feel that this is the best way to do it.”

No animosity

Stoops said he didn’t see the confrontation between OU kicker Jimmy Stevens and defensive tackle Cordero Moore after Stevens missed a field goal during the second quarter of the Texas A&M game. Moore and Stevens were face-to-face after Stevens missed the field and Stevens shoved Moore away after a shouting match.

“I’ll address whatever I need to with our team,” Stoops said. “I don’t need to detail it with the public.”

He added that confrontations like that aren’t uncommon.

“In a very stressful situation, a couple of guys got angry with each other,” Stoops added. “That happens all the time. It’s going to happen. It will continue to happen. It’s not a big deal.”

John Shinn