Texas Tech knocks OU o-u-t

LUBBOCK, Texas -- Graham Harrell and Texas Tech knocked No. 3 Oklahoma out of the national title chase Saturday night with a 34-27 victory.

Harrell threw for 420 yards and two touchdowns for the Red Raiders (8-4, 4-4) and for the 11th time this season a top-five team lost to an unranked team.

Tech fans stormed the field after the win, the second straight in Lubbock for Coach Mike Leach over Sooners Coach Bob Stoops, his former boss at Oklahoma.

“It’s unbelievable,” said Harrell, who completed 47 of his career-high 72 passes. “We came out and executed. Coach Leach told us if we executed we could move the ball. That’s exactly what we did.”

With Oregon losing on Thursday, the Sooners (9-2, 5-2, who were fourth in the latest Bowl Championship Series standings, appeared to be in good shape to play for a national title if they could win out.

The Sooners failed to get on track after quarterback Sam Bradford left the game in the first quarter because of an apparent concussion, and Oklahoma’s offense left with him.

Backup Joey Halzle, who had attempted only nine passes coming into the game, struggled to lead the Sooners. He went 21 for 41 for 291 yards. He threw for two touchdowns and had one interception.

“You can’t play these guys one-handed,” Stoops said. “Your backup never has the number of snaps the other guy has. But Joey did a good job in that regard of hanging in there and continuing to play.”

Oklahoma’s offense came up feeble on all fronts, falling short of its season averages in rushing and scoring.

The loss put Oklahoma in a tie with No. 12 Texas for the Big 12 South title, but the Sooners have the head-to-head edge, having beaten the Longhorns in October, and can clinch a spot in the conference championship game with a victory next week against Oklahoma State.

The Red Raiders had never beaten a team as highly ranked. In 2002, Tech beat No. 4 Texas, 42-38, in Lubbock.

Harrell rushed for Tech’s first touchdown. On the play before, Harrell completed a 60-yard pass to his favorite receiver, Michael Crabtree, who finished with 12 catches for 154 yards. It was the redshirt freshman’s 10th game of 100 yards or more