So Oklahoma ended up getting the nod in the BCS over Texas. I’ve thought about it, and I’ve come up with the boxing analogy for what OU, Texas, Texas Tech and Oklahoma State are.

It’s tough to follow, so you ready?

Texas is Muhammad Ali. OU is George Foreman. Texas Tech is Joe Frazier. Oklahoma State is Jerry Quarry.

In other words, this is the golden era of the Big 12 as the 1970s is arguably the golden era of heavyweight boxing.

Let’s start with OSU. Jerry Quarry is easily regarded as one of the greatest fighters, yet alone heavyweights, to never win a title.

Any other year, OSU would be close to being the toast of the Big 12. Just not this year. Hence the Quarry comparison. Quarry would be a beast in this era of heavyweights. But who did he have to fight? Ali and Frazier. He never beat those guys. Just on the cusp of being elite. He never fought Foreman, so that’s the only part of this four-man/team comparison because OU/OSU always play.

Tech and Frazier. Joe Frazier obliterated Quarry (Tech over OSU). Frazier was destroyed by Foreman (OU over Tech). Everyone remembers Howard Cosell’s “Down goes Frazier! Down goes Frazier!” Just like everyone is going to remember 65-21.

And Frazier and Ali waged an epic with Frazier getting the edge (Tech’s 39-33 win against Texas in the game of the year so far). Frazier and Ali also waged two more memorable battles, and Texas and Texas Tech are always in good tussles.

OU and Foreman. Foreman knocked out Frazier twice (and OU’s win over Tech felt like a double KO). Foreman was expected to beat Ali, but Ali shocked the world. OU was supposed to beat Texas, but the Longhorns came back and won a great one. Foreman would have beaten Quarry

Texas and Ali. Ali beat Quarry in a good battle (UT over OSU). Ali and Frazier classic where Ali was in position to cement himself as the unquestioned best (UT’s classic with Tech). And then Ali redeeming himself with a career-defining win against Foreman (UT’s huge win and statement against OU).

So the order for Ali/Texas isn’t quite there but give me a break. It wasn’t easy coming up with a fool-proof formula.

So how will history remember this quartet? Is Ali better than Foreman because of a head-to-head win? Is Foreman greater because he won the title 20 years after losing it? Don’t know, just thought I’d throw it out there.

On the personal side, Joe Frazier is my favorite of the quartet, but that’s just me.