Q: So where does Oklahoma go from here now that Sam Bradford is gone? What’s the Sooners’ short-term and long-term future outlook?
— Bob from Saint Joseph, Mo.
A: Oklahoma was an elite program before Sam Bradford’s arrival. It will be an elite program after his departure (which is well under way).

Bradford’s injury was unfortunate. He’s a really talented player who works hard and does the right thing, on and off the field. Those are the people who should be rewarded (and he was last season with the Heisman Trophy and a BCS Championship Game appearance).

For now, the Sooners will make do with Landry Jones at quarterback and he has shown some pluck. The real story at Oklahoma this season, though, is the much-improved play of its defense. It has kept the Sooners in every game.

Special feature Boomer Sooner Check out Oklahoma quarterback and Heisman winner Sam Bradford in action. NBCSports.com

The Big 12 title may not be in the cards this season — unless there is an unexpected collapse by Texas — but I see the Sooners rolling into a bowl game at 8-4. A potential nine-win season is not a bad outcome for a team that lost is Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback.

As long as Coach Bob Stoops is in charge, the Sooners will be a consistent winner and a threat to win the national title. Oklahoma might not get a quarterback the caliber of Bradford anytime soon, but the Sooners will never be a program lacking in overall talent.

Q: What’s going on at Nebraska? Just when it looked like the Cornhuskers were on the path back to respectability … ouch!
— Paul Phillips from Mich.
A: Nebraska still has quite a way to go, Paul. And I’m not even saying that in the context of Saturday’s 9-7 loss at Iowa State (that’s still a difficult sentence to type; the Cyclones had not won in Lincoln since 1977).

Nebraska has eight turnovers — including four inside Iowa State’s 6-yard line — so the fault is easy to pinpoint there.

I’d be more alarmed by two previous defeats — the 31-10 home loss against Texas Tech, when the Red Raiders simply took it to the Cornhuskers, and the 16-15 defeat at Virginia Tech, when the Cornhuskers’ defense couldn’t produce at crunch time against resourceful Hokies quarterback Tyrod Taylor.

Nebraska’s football tradition was forged on imposing its will upon opponents — whether that was through an unyielding ground game or an aggressive defense. So far, neither element has shown itself with much consistency.

Even if Nebraska had pulled out a victory against Iowa State, I’d still say the same thing. It’s going to take another season or two before the Cornhuskers are ready to reclaim their perch atop the Big 12 Conference.

Q: OK, what exactly is the rule on how you can legally down a punt near the goal line before it’s ruled a touchback? I’ve heard it explained several different ways by announcers. Can the ball cross the goal line in the air? Can the player be touching the end zone?
— Steve Banks from Jackson, Tenn.
A: Here is the explanation, courtesy of the NCAA’s Ty Halpin:

“In NCAA football, the determining factor in this rule is the position of the ball. As long as the ball does not break the plane of the goal line and the ball has either come to rest or the kicking team stops the ball, it is not a touchback. Therefore, a player may be touching the end zone or goal line and still legally down the ball.’’