Oklahoma has had disappointing losses this season. But Saturday's 41-13 loss to Texas Tech elicited new, and deeper concerns.

It wasn't the fact the Sooners lost that caught many off guard. After all, OU is now 6-5 overall and 4-3 in the Big 12 Conference.

It wasn't that the offense struggled to move the ball or score points. That's been the case in every game away from Owen Field.

The curveball thrown Saturday was the play of the defense.

After locking down 10 straight teams to 21 points or less and eight to two touchdowns or less, OU was lit up by the Red Raiders.

"We didn't play well enough. That's all it was," defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. "We just didn't play good."

Defensive coordinator Brent Venables didn't point fingers.

He didn't have to.

The front seven struggled stopping the run. Defensive backs struggled locking up receivers. Every level of OU's defense struggled against the Red Raiders.

"I think playing good defense is a lot about attitude. That's as big as anything in tackling is attitude," he said. "Our guys competed and played hard but I don't think we had a nasty disposition. Just didn't play overall with a great sense of desperation."

There's no reason why it shouldn't have been there. A victory over the Red Raiders could have been huge when bowl bids are announced in 13 days.

A Cotton Bowl bid could have come if the Sooners were able to close out the season with two straight wins. After the Texas Tech loss, even a victory over Oklahoma State in Bedlam Saturday won't raise OU that high in the bowl pecking order.

It was a bad time for OU to come apart.

"I don't know if we came apart or not. I guess you can say we didn't have a focus," defensive end Jeremy Beal said. "A lot of credit to them (the Red Raiders). They played an outstanding game. We didn't come prepared to show up and play."

So, does a team and unit used to entering Bedlam with a conference and national championship on the line have the ability to rebound?