NORMAN, Okla., Nov. 2 (UPI) -- Nate Hybl threw three touchdown passes, including two to Mark Clayton, and second-ranked Oklahoma took advantage of four Colorado turnovers Saturday to defeat the 12th-ranked Buffaloes, 27-11, in a possible preview of the Big 12 Conference championship game.
The game began in heavy rain and Colorado had the most trouble holding onto the ball as the Sooners turned the miscues into 24 points.
Quentin Griffin carried 21 times for 128 yards for Oklahoma (8-0, 4-0 Big 12 South), which again played well following a bye week. The Sooners are 11-1 under coach Bob Stoops when they have more than the standard six days to prepare.
"To hold them to 11 points is exceptional," Stoops said. "They had a lot of yardage but the bottom line is that wins and losses is points. I'm proud of our defense for keeping them out of the end zone as much as they did. They took away lanes and penetrated as well."
Oklahoma also justified its position atop the latest BCS rankings and is almost certain to remain there when they are updated on Monday.
"We are still going to take it one game at a time," Oklahoma tackle Jammal Brown said. "Our goal is to get (to the Big 12 title game) and go from there."
Colorado's Chris Brown, the nation's leading rusher, carried 25 times for 103 yards, but he fumbled on the Buffaloes' opening possession and Hybl soon followed with a 17-yard touchdown pass to Antwone Savage.
"It doesn't matter what the weather is or how the ball is thrown. I just try to make the catch," Savage said.
Brown became the first back to rush for 100 yards against the Sooners since Deuce McAllister of Mississippi in the 1999 Independence Bowl.
But Colorado made a series of mistakes, including two interceptions thrown by Robert Hodge.
"I'm going to say we played poorly and Robert had no business throwing the ball the way he did," Colorado coach Gary Barnett said. "It wasn't their defense making great plays, it was Robert throwing the ball right to them. Whatever everyone wants to attribute the errors to is fine, but we made a lot of mistakes."
Hybl threw a 17-yard touchdown pass to Clayton in the second quarter, capping a drive that began after safety Brando Everage returned an interception 64 yards to the Colorado 14.
Trey DiCarlo added field goals of 22 and 25 yards in the first half, helping the Sooners build a 20-3 halftime lead.
The skies cleared in the second half, but Colorado's chances did not as Hybl increased the lead to 27-3 with a 12-yard pass to Clayton, who caught three passes for 36 yards. That score followed a 31-yard interception return by linebacker Teddy Lehman.
Hybl completed 10 of 23 passes for 105 yards and was intercepted twice.
Hodge just 18 of 37 passes for 174 yards.
Bobby Purify scored on a 12-yard run and a two-point conversion pass cut the lead to 27-11. Colorado had chances to get closer and moved to the Colorado 23, 8 and 10 on three straight possessions. But Patri Brougham missed a 40-yard field goal attempt and the Buffaloes twice turned it over on downs.
The Buffaloes (6-3, 4-1 North) had their five-game winning streak snapped, but still control their own destiny in the North Division and could meet the Sooners in the Big 12 title game on Dec. 7 in Houston.
The Sooners defeated Colorado for the first time since 1988. Oklahoma was 0-8-1 in the last nine meetings, the most games it ever went winless against one opponent.
