These games make him a regular customer

Forget the talk about a playoff system for college football. It's already in place and it's called the regular season. How else to explain a Saturday that provided all anyone could want in terms of drama and relevance, not only regarding the national title, but the chase for the Heisman Trophy, too?

One hardly could keep up with the drama, which started at noon with the Texas-Oklahoma Red River showdown in Dallas and lasted until almost midnight, when Florida put the finishing touches on Louisiana State in a battle of the last two national champions. Also, Oklahoma State knocked off Missouri and put a crimp in the Heisman hopes of Tigers quarterback Chase Daniel, and Penn State took apart Wisconsin.

And it's just beginning, because we have more battles in the Southeastern Conference and Big 12 coming next week, and it will last right through the end of the regular season when rivalry games abound.

Start with Texas-Oklahoma, which was high tension from the start between the No. 1 and No. 5 teams in the country. They produced 80 points and 873 yards of offense in Texas's 45-35 win.

"I didn't see anybody loaf," said Texas coach Mack Brown. "I didn't see anybody give up. I thought it was one of the greatest football games I've ever seen."

Oklahoma's loss should not have stunned anyone. It is part of the business of college football these days, or at least part of being No. 1.

The Sooners were the third top-ranked team to drop from its lofty perch in six weeks. The same thing happened to Southern California, with a loss to Oregon State, and Georgia, with a loss to Alabama. And the newly installed No. 1 Longhorns need to be especially wary, since they will host Missouri (a 28-23 upset loser to Oklahoma State) Saturday night in what looks like a classic letdown/trap game.

That the process will at least partially be decided by polls and computers still is bothersome. But after Saturday's action, one could say, "Playoffs? We don't need no stinking playoffs!"

Biggest losers
Daniel was intercepted three times against Oklahoma State, damaging his Heisman hopes. "Put it all on me," he said. "I should have made all three of those throws. It seems like we were a bit off all night. As for the reason, I have no idea." OK, we will put it all on you, Chase. And it doesn't get any easier against unbeaten Texas . . . LSU came out of its meeting in The Swamp with Florida with its dignity barely intact after taking a 51-21 pounding. "I think we had a little chip on our shoulder going into the game," said Florida QB Tim Tebow, who had said the Gators would redeem themselves after a stunning home loss to Mississippi Sept. 27 . . . Tennessee lost again, ho hum, dropping a 26-14 decision to Georgia. Coach Phil Fulmer's team is now 2-4 and off to its worst start in 20 seasons. It is 0-3 in the SEC for the first time since 2000. It had just 1 net yard rushing, and has been held under 20 points for four straight weeks, including a 13-9 win over Northern Illinois . . . Last season, it was Appalachian State walking out of the Big House with a stunning victory over Michigan. Saturday, Toledo pulled off a 13-10 upset there, much to the dismay of Wolverine fans. The program under first-year coach Rich Rodriguez is indeed a work in progress, and it is slow work. The loss to Toledo was Michigan's first to a MAC team after 24 straight victories.

Mark Blaudschun can be reached at blaudschun@globe.com.