COLLEGE FOOTBALL : Oklahoma Slips Past Oklahoma State, 13-0

Oklahoma took a slippery step Saturday night toward an Orange Bowl showdown against No. 1 Penn State.

Spencer Tillman ran three yards for a touchdown on an ice-covered field, and Tim Lashar kicked two field goals to give No. 3 Oklahoma a 13-0 victory over No. 17 Oklahoma State.

The Big Eight champion Sooners improved to 9-1 overall and finished their Big Eight season 7-0. Oklahoma completes its regular season against Southern Methodist next week.

Oklahoma State (8-3 and 4-3) goes to Jacksonville, Fla., to play Florida State in the Gator Bowl on Dec. 30.

“It was miserable on the sidelines, (but) it was a great victory,” Oklahoma Coach Barry Switzer said. “We’re undisputed Big Eight champions.”

Both coaches said the field conditions neutralized the offenses.

“In this type of weather, it is usually going to boil down to field position,” Oklahoma State Coach Pat Jones said. “And it didn’t ever really seem like we had any until right down there late, and we couldn’t take advantage of it.

“I was by and large pleased with the way we played defensively. I thought we battled around with them pretty good.”

The temperature fell steadily from 26 degrees at kickoff, and the wind chill reached 10 below zero by the time the game ended.

The first quarter was played in a sleet storm.

Despite the ice, Cowboy tailback Thurman Thomas carried 23 times for 100 yards to become the first player to rush for 100 yards against the Sooners this year. Oklahoma fullback Lydell Carr gained 78 yards in 24 carries in the Sooners’ second shutout of the season.