For Kyler Murray and Oklahoma, losses are rare things, as unsettling as they are unfamiliar.
The Sooners and their quarterback have spent the last two weeks coping with that 48-45 Red River loss to Texas, which had major ripple effects. Defensive coordinator Mike Stoops is gone after years of fan base angst and after OU surrendered its most points ever to Texas, replaced on an interim basis by Ruffin McNeill.
Even with the loss, No. 9 Oklahoma (5-1, 2-1 Big 12) has viable Big 12 title hopes and a possible road to the College Football Playoff for the third time in four years if it can take care of business, beginning with TCU (3-3, 1-2) on Saturday in Fort Worth.