As expected, Oklahoma passed Texas in the BCS standings, won the ticket to the Big 12 Championship Game as a result and gained a clear path to the national title game.

The fact that Texas beat OU earlier this season mattered not to voting panels and computers who decide these things.

Naturally, you can hear the squealing of Longhorn faithful from Austin to both coasts. Texas coach Mack Brown campaigned hard, as Sooners coach Bob Stoops did a year ago, but what’s done is done.

Here is what some of our favorite pundits wrote about the situation:

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Memo to Texas Coach Mack Brown: Shut up. Brown said earlier this week that college football ‘screams for a playoff.’ Yeah, ol’ Mack is screaming about a playoff now that there’s a possibility his Longhorns might get left out of the national-championship game, but I certainly don’t remember him being so adamant in the past.”

Ray Ratto, San Francisco Chronicle: “(Coaches) complain loudest, because that’s what coaches do, even when they’re being rewarded. One example among many: Mack Brown of Texas. Nobody grouses about the lack of a playoff system more than he does, and yet he votes in the coaches’ poll, which is such a breathtaking monument to conflict of interest, lack of transparency and simple corruption that it makes Italian politics look like an Amish barn-raising.”

Richard Justice, Houston Chronicle: “Great (Big 12) tiebreaking system, fellas. Really nice going. You couldn’t possibly look worse. Check it out. Your conference championship game will feature two teams — Oklahoma and Missouri — that lost to Texas. Never saw that one coming, did you? What’s that? You’re going to review the system? Hey, that’s great. I’ll pass the word to Roy Miller and Brian Orakpo and the other Texas seniors. They’ll appreciate your looking into it. Never mind that their chance to win a second national championship probably went out the window because you were asleep at the wheel.”

Tim Cowlishaw, Dallas Morning News: “The Sooners played the toughest schedule of the three tied teams. Cincinnati won the Big East and will be a top-15 team this week. TCU already is a top-15 team. The best nonconference team Texas played was Rice. For what it’s worth, the Sooners had the most impressive victory in the matchups of the three tied teams (65-21 over Tech). And on Saturday night, they scored the most impressive road win in the Big 12 this season.”

Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com: “A playoff is not the panacea to cure college football’s ills. A playoff would present as many problems as it does solutions. A playoff is politically unfeasible unless the regular season is shortened, which is financially unfeasible. A playoff could suck the life out of the regular season, much as it has done to college basketball. A playoff wouldn’t ratchet up the tension throughout November — National College Football Arguing Month — the way the BCS does.”

MYSTERIES OF THE UNIVERSE

Questions to ponder while the Mizzou secondary tries to figure out who is covering whom:

• Do Tigers fans sell their Big 12 Championship Game tickets this week, or do march into Arrowhead and bravely take the hit?
• How is Leo Lyons feeling about his decision to return for one more year? And how happy is Mike Anderson that he did?
• With the Blues playing Chris Mason like a No. 1 goaltender, isn’t only fair that he play like one?
• By playing with two shattered fingers on his left hand, did Texas Tech quarterback Graham Harrell lock up the Heisman Trophy?
• If Notre Dame fires Charlie Weis with seven years and a zillion dollars left on his contract, who would they hire next?

POINT, COUNTERPOINT

You may have read about New York City’s campaign to woo LeBron James away from the Cavaliers when his contract expires. James is eating up the attention, to the disgust of NBA commentator Charles Barkley.

“If I was LeBron James, I would shut the hell up,” Barkley said on Dan Patrick’s radio show. “I’m a big LeBron fan. He’s a stud. You gotta give him his props. I’m getting so annoyed he’s talking about what he’s going to do in two years. I think it’s disrespectful to the game. I think it’s disrespectful to the Cavaliers.”

What did LeBron think about that?

“He’s stupid,” James told reporters. “That’s all I’ve got to say about that.”

THE JOYS OF PLAYING WIDE RECEIVER

Wes Welker, say hello to Ryan Clark.

In this corner of cyberspace, we’ve heard lots of complaints about Torry Holt and Isaac Bruce ducking down after making catches over the middle in traffic. Our answer: How do you think they lasted this long?

QUIPS ‘R US

Here is some of America’s leading sports pundits have been writing:

Mike Bianchi, Orlando Sentinel: “Did you see where President Bush pardoned that Thanksgiving turkey earlier this week? And then he wished Rod Marinelli good luck and returned to the White House.”

Dan Daly, Washington Times: “Did you hear Mr. Irrelevant has worked his way into the starting lineup for the Rams? Yup, David Vobora, the last player picked in this year’s NFL draft, will be St. Louis’ middle linebacker Sunday against the Dolphins. Just wondering: When Mr. Irrelevant becomes a starter, does he have to relinquish his crown to the guy drafted before him - in this case, cornerback Kennard Cox, who was taken 251st by the Bills (and subsequently cut)?”

Norman Chad, syndicated columnist, advancing the cause of African-American coaches: “There were eight black head coaches — an all-time high — in 1997. Now — after the November firings of Ty Willingham at Washington and Ron Prince at Kansas State and the resignation of Sylvester Croom at Mississippi State — there are three in 2008. This projects to two black coaches in 2013 and none by 2020, at which time all 119 major college programs will be headed by either Bowden progeny or Joe Paterno.”

MEGAPHONE

“Once you drop one ball, you drop another ball, it does start to affect you mentally. I didn’t play good today. I’m not blaming it on the weather.”

Patriots receiver Randy Moss, on getting the dropsies against Pittsburgh.