updated 1:27 a.m. ET Nov. 23, 2008

NORMAN, Okla. - Graham Harrell entered Saturday atop most Heisman Trophy lists and with a chance to lift No. 2 Texas Tech to a national championship.

Now, neither one is likely after No. 5 Oklahoma routed the Red Raiders 65-21 and harrassed Harrell into — at least for him — a pedestrian performance.

The senior quarterback entered the game with 4,077 passing yards this season, having recorded five 400-yard games for Texas Tech (10-1, 6-1 Big 12 Conference). Four times he’d thrown for four or more touchdowns, including two weeks ago, when he shredded Oklahoma State’s defense for 456 yards and a career-high six scores while completing 40 of 50 passes in a 56-20 romp.

Harrell came nowhere near those numbers against Oklahoma (10-1, 6-1) and the Sooners’ suddenly resurgent defense, finishing 33-for-55 for 361 yards with three touchdowns, an interception and a lost fumble.

The Sooners sacked him four times, after he’d taken only five sacks in the previous 10 games. Only passing yardage recorded in garbage time in the fourth quarter kept Harrell from his lowest total of the season.

“People were down about our defense all week and last week,” Oklahoma defensive tackle Gerald McCoy said. “Tech has a great offense. They really do. ... They said they were going to pick us apart, and we took that as a challenge. We came out and we wanted to send a message.”

Indeed, in the first half, while the game remained in doubt, Harrell and the Red Raiders never found their rhythm.

Oklahoma’s linemen batted down passes and the Sooners’ defensive backs blanketed Tech receivers, including star Michael Crabtree, who had six catches for 62 yards, well below his averages. Harrell often had to move around in the pocket to buy time to search, often unsuccessfully, for someone who was open.

The Sooners even sacked Harrell on successive plays.

“Oklahoma has a quality front,” Texas Tech coach Mike Leach said. “I think it’s the strongest aspect of their team. But we pass protected (against) Texas well. We need to look in the mirror on the things that we need to solve.”

Harrell was unavailable for comment after the game. Texas Tech athletic department spokesman Chris Cook said Harrell was in the Red Raiders’ training room.

Texas Tech went scoreless on its first five drives, their longest drought all season, and the Red Raiders already trailed 28-0 before Harrell’s first touchdown pass, a 25-yarder to Tramain Swindall with 6:28 left in the first half.

The first quarter was only the second this season during which the Red Raiders hadn’t scored at least once.

“We just didn’t make routine plays like we usually do,” running back Baron Batch said.

Even when Harrell tried to make something happen, things went awry.

With the Red Raiders already down 35-7 in the final minute of the half, they appeared to be willing to run out the clock, calling a first-down running play from their own 25. But on second down, Harrell threw deep over the middle, and Oklahoma’s Travis Lewis intercepted the pass at the Tech 49. Lewis returned it to the 2, setting up another Oklahoma score.

Leach said Harrell was trying too hard in the first half “and tried to make too much happen.” Harrell settled down and played a “solid” second half, Leach said, but by then, the Red Raiders had dug too deep a hole.

“They put us in a position where we had to take chances and they didn’t go our way and we fell short,” Leach said.

Things didn’t improve much in the second half for Harrell. The Sooners not only built on their lead, but Harrell watched one of his main competitors for the Heisman — Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford — enhance his own resume. Bradford finished 14 of 19 passing for 304 yards and four touchdowns.

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