College Football Corner: Sooner Enough

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Can you see them? There was Oklahoma's Barry Switzer patrolling one sideline. There was Brian Bosworth -- Switzer's All-American, all buzz-cut, all-attitude (and, ultimately, all-hype) inside linebacker patrolling the middle of the field. On the opposite sideline was Miami's Jimmy Johnson, his legendary pompadour still infused with a little too much hair product. There was Vinny Testaverde, the subdued signal-caller who led the merry band of young marauders that gave "The U" its swashbuckling soul.

Yet, those Sooner and Hurricane ghosts from the '80s are gone.

What we have this Saturday (8 p.m. EDT, ABC) instead are two teams whose rosters are filled with young men who weren't even born during that era. Instead, these are two 2-1 clubs moving in opposite directions.

For No. 21 Miami, this game is about finding its footing on a national stage after getting embarrassed by No. 6 Virginia Tech. Seemingly steady quarterback Jacory Harris came down to earth on Saturday, getting harassed into a 9-for-25 performance, with an interception to boot, on a rain-soaked field at Lane Stadium.

Landry Jones, Oklahoma quarterback

No. 8 Oklahoma, on the other hand, had the week off, watching those ahead in the polls get pilloried and exposed, allowing the Sooners an open window to advance in the rankings.

Coach Bob Stoops recently tipped his hand in deciding to leaving injured Heisman-winning quarterback Sam Bradford on the shelf and denying him his triumphant return, at least for this week. Instead, redshirt freshman Landry Jones will continue in his stead. Not that it seems to matter, considering Jones is coming off of a record six-touchdown performance against Tulsa.

Sam Bradford, Oklahoma's injured Heisman hero