Oklahoma's preseason motto has two games remaining.

The Sooners adopted an acronym - WTLG - as their rallying cry. It stands for Win The Last Game. Depending on the outcome of Saturday night's Dr Pepper Football Championship game with Missouri, The Last Game could involve the Bowl Championship Series national title game on Jan. 8.

The motto originated with how OU finished the last two seasons. Oklahoma, which is trying to win its third consecutive Big 12 title, has followed up its last two conference championships with Fiesta Bowl losses.

As the pre-season favorites to win the Big 12 South Division, Oklahoma has expected to be playing on the first Saturday in December. However, the Sooners have spent the week dealing with The Tiebreaker Controversy. The bad news for North Division representative Missouri is that Oklahoma apparently has a chip on its shoulder pads.

"Everyone is excited because half the nation thinks we shouldn't be here," said linebacker Travis Lewis, the Big 12 Defensive Freshman of the Year.

“I still think that we have to go out there and prove something to everyone and prove to them that we do deserve to be at this game,” said Oklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, the Big 12's offensive player of the year. “So I think it felt like it’ll give us some extra motivation this week.”

When the Sooners lost to Texas, 45-35, in the Red River Rivalry on Oct. 11, they faced an uphill battle to reach the Big 12 title game. Since its only loss, Oklahoma's offense has been unstoppable, averaging 59.5 points and 591 yards per game. The Sooners lead the nation in scoring at 53 points per game and have topped 60 in their last four games.

Bradford can enhance his Heisman Trophy chances in another prime-time showcase. His ability to excel in Oklahoma's no huddle offense (a scheme adopted in the off-season) has made this Sooners' offense the most prolific in school history.

“He doesn’t get hit a whole lot,” Missouri coach Gary Pinkel said of Bradford and the nine times he has been sacked in 393 pass attempts. “Any quarterback who doesn’t get hit a whole lot is going to play a little better. That’s where it gets back to the offensive line.”

In coach Bob Stoops' 10 seasons, the defense has been as stout as the offense has been productive. However, the Sooners have allowed 298 points - two more than what Missouri has allowed. Oklahoma has allowed six of its 11 foes to score 28 or more points.

The Tigers are sixth in total offense and average 45 points a game, fourth best in Division I-A.

"They're still making plays on offense, they're still averaging a million points, they're still averaging a million yards," Lewis said. "People don't think our defense is good enough to stop them and it's going to be a firefight and everything like that so we're definitely wanting to show otherwise."

Wanted: Middle linebacker
Oklahoma will start its fourth different middle linebacker Saturday.

The Sooners lost sophomore Ryan Reynolds to a season-ending knee injury in the third quarter of the Texas game. The following week, senior safety Nic Harris started at the position. He was then replaced by redshirt freshman Austin Box.

Box suffered a sprained knee in last Saturday's victory over Oklahoma State and will miss the Big 12 championship game.

Junior-college transfer Mike Balogun was in for about 10 plays Saturday against the Cowboys, his first action of the season. He could start against Missouri. The other option is to move redshirt freshman Travis Lewis at middle linebacker with Harris moving to Lewis' spot. That would open up a starting spot at safety for Quinton Carter.

Sooner stuff