by Sports Xchange

Updated: November 19, 2008, 12:00 AM EST

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? Many times over the past 10 seasons Oklahoma has played huge football games, even huge regular-season games, even late in the season. But for the first time there appears to be as much on the line for the opponent as there is for the Sooners. Also, only one other time has a game been anticipated with the same intensity as the Red River Rivalry, OU's annual contest with Texas played at the Cotton Bowl and surrounded by the Texas State Fair.

? That occurred when No. 1 Nebraska faced No. 3 Oklahoma in Stoops' second season (2000). That year, OU had an extra week to prepare for the Huskers.

This time around, the Sooners are again coming off an off week.

? But so is Texas Tech. That's the matchup, No. 2 (Tech) vs. No. 5 (OU).

? As a bonus, it was Tech coach Mike Leach who got the offensive ball rolling on the Stoops era. As OU's offensive coordinator in 1999, much of his offense was still being used by Mark Mangino, the following season, when the Sooners claimed the national championship.

? The measure of the intensity is even apparent from Stoops. Tuesday, he fell all over himself trying to turn the home crowd (always loyal, but rarely riotous) into a 12th, 13th and 14th man.

? "That is something our crowd will hopefully take an active interest in for this game," Stoops said. "They are a no-huddle team that does a lot of communicating at the line of scrimmage, and the louder you are, the more difficult you make it on them and it can influence the game."

? About 30 seconds later, he said the Sooners always work on their silent counts when preparing to go on the road, but he can't remember an opposing team ever having to deal with such a fix. Then he said he wasn't trying to get after the fans, yet he had already made his point.

? Another measure of bigness?

? ESPN Game Day, the television, radio and internet versions, will all be in Norman Saturday, as will that squadron of writers who make it their habit to hopscotch around the country each fall taking in the week's biggest game.

? At stake for Tech is an unfettered road to the Big 12 championship game, which is a likely conduit to the national championship game. But an OU victory, assuming the Sooners take care of business next week against Oklahoma State, would make way for a tiebreaker scenario to separate Texas, Tech and OU, each of which would sport 7-1 conference marks.

In that scenario, the South division nod would go to the team ranked highest in the BCS standings. Many think that would be OU by virtue of closing against Texas Tech and Oklahoma State.

? It's a pretty big week.