Stoops said the week off helped Brody Eldridge’s injured ankle. He said the tight end should be ready to play against the Red Raiders. Eldridge has played only a few plays since suffering the injury against Texas.

The downtime didn’t do much to improve OU’s situation at defensive end. Neither Auston English nor Alan Davis are expected to play due to knee sprains. Defensive coordinator Brent Venables said sophomore Pryce Macon and junior linebacker J.R. Bryant would be the backups to Jeremy Beal and Frank Alexander Saturday. Macon has played sparingly this season and Bryant was moved to the spot last week.

No comment

Venables met with the media Monday for the first time since his interview with Clemson athletic director Terry Don Phillips last Tuesday about the ACC school’s head coaching position. The Sooner defensive coordinator decline to comment on how the interview went.

“I have nothing to say about that,” he said.

More than rankings

The BCS rankings, which have Texas Tech No. 2 and OU No. 5, aren’t the only rankings that signal Saturday’s game could be one of the best in college football this season. It’s also No. 2 vs. No. 4 in terms of total offense. The Red Raiders are second at 556.3 yards per game. OU’s fourth at 549.8. The pair are Nos. 1 and 3 in scoring offense. The Sooners are No. 1 at 51.4 points per game. Texas Tech is third at 47.9.

Gresham makes cut

OU tight end Jermaine Gresham was named one of eight semifinalist for the John Mackey Award Monday. The award goes to college football’s best tight end. The 2008 recipient of the prize will be announced Dec. 11 at the Home Depot ESPNU College Football Awards Show.