Hurdles can't keep No. 8 Oklahoma from championship game

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma has endured injury, instant replay controversy and an NCAA investigation but has still managed to reach another Big 12 Conference title game.<br/><br/>After back to back

Sunday, November 26th 2006, 5:27 pm

By: News On 6

STILLWATER, Okla. (AP) Oklahoma has endured injury, instant replay controversy and an NCAA investigation but has still managed to reach another Big 12 Conference title game.

After back to back losses by defending national champion Texas, the Sooners captured the Big 12 South championship with a 27-21 win against Oklahoma State in the Bedlam game.

Next up is a trip to Kansas City, Missouri for next week's game against another longtime rival, Nebraska.

OU (10-2, 7-1 Big 12) overcame the dismissal of starting quarterback Rhett Bomar and lineman JD Quinn for breaking NCAA rules, resulting in an inquiry. The Sooners then had to bounce back after a blown call and instant replay review resulted in a 34-33 loss at Oregon.

Texas then won the Red River rivalry and Adrian Peterson was hurt a week later.

Allen Patrick, who's made a fine substitution for Peterson, says the team finally became a family and decided it didn't matter who was playing and who was hurt as long as they were all doing their jobs.

Coach Bob Stoops says getting to the championship game isn't enough. Stoops says his team has to win.