Column: Oklahoma can make a Big 12 statement against Tennessee

Get ready for another face-saving Saturday involving a “Power Five” conference that might be one loss from four-team playoff elimination.

Hint: The conference name begins with “Big” and the league has 10 members.

Yes, it’s the Big 12 — as opposed to the Big Ten Conference, which has 14 teams and is also struggling.

Five power conference teams are vying this year for four playoff berths to be determined by a 13-member selection committee. The Big Ten, for now, appears to be the odd league out.

Michigan State, at No. 13, is the highest-ranked Big Ten team in the latest Associated Press poll, but the Spartans can conceivably crawl back from last week’s 19-point loss at Oregon because they will get credit for playing well, on the road, against a top opponent.

The Big 12 is also vulnerable, though, as it battles through injuries, attrition and regime change.

Flagship program Texas is in shambles as first-year Coach Charlie Strong tries to restore order to a broken franchise. On Saturday, one week after a 41-7 home loss to Brigham Young, the Longhorns face another possible lopsided loss when they meet UCLA in Arlington.

Strong seems to have suspended or dismissed half the team, and lost the other half to injury. Texas quarterback David Ash sat out the game against BYU and has been ruled out again because of concussion syndrome.

Oklahoma State, also in rebuilding mode, pushed Florida State to the limit in its opener but has indefinitely lost starting quarterback J.W. Walsh to a foot injury.

Barring another magical grumpy-old-man charge from Bill Snyder and Kansas State, Big 12 hopes hinge on Oklahoma and Baylor.

However, Baylor’s schedule is ridiculously easy and might not pass the muster test. There is also the matter of Bears quarterback Bryce Petty, who is playing with two broken vertebrae.

That leaves Oklahoma, which appears the class of the league and also gets to host Baylor this year.

Oklahoma has a significant statement opportunity Saturday when it hosts Tennessee in Norman in a game of importance for the Big 12 and also the powerhouse Southeastern Conference, which is hoping to persuade the playoff committee it deserves two (or more) playoff spots.

Oklahoma is a 20-point favorite over Tennessee, which is 2-0 but still rebuilding under second-year Coach Butch Jones. The Volunteers have already played 22 true freshmen, more than any Football Bowl Subdivision team.

Anything less than an Oklahoma rout would make for ripe SEC political picking.

Oklahoma Coach Bob Stoops has been one of the few coaches to stand up against the SEC publicity machine. In 2013, he called out the SEC for spouting “propaganda” to promote itself as God’s gift to college conferences.

Stoops scored points when Oklahoma manhandled Alabama last season in the Sugar Bowl, then scoffed when Crimson Tide Coach Nick Saban suggested his team wasn’t motivated.

This week, Stoops has been smart to tone down the conference-baiting rhetoric. “We don’t need to go there again,” he said.

A second straight win over an SEC team would galvanize Oklahoma’s national contender credentials and prop up the Big 12’s reputation.

Every indicator points to Oklahoma domination. The Sooners are 37-2 in home games under Stoops. This season, Oklahoma has crushed two overmatched opponents, Louisiana Tech and Tulsa, with a dominant rushing game that has averaged 5.2 yards per carry.

Sophomore quarterback Trevor Knight is inching toward elite status and has a go-to target in receiver Sterling Shepard.

Oklahoma fell short of dynasty status in the Bowl Championship Series era, in part because it lost two championship games to SEC opponents — Louisiana State in 2003 and Florida in 2008.

There may be a new system in place now, but the Sooners continue to be on everyone’s watch list.

“We’ve been on display ever since the BCS started,” Stoops said. “I don’t see where it’s much different.”