NORMAN — Oklahoma has become college football’s most disappointing program, and you don’t just need what happened against Baylor last Saturday to see that.

The loss dropped the Sooners to 6-3 overall, 3-3 in the Big 12 Conference and out of the AP poll for the first time since 2009. This from a team ranked No. 4 in preseason.

OU was ranked No. 4 in the 2012 preseason poll as well. The Sooners finished well out of national contention at No. 15.

OU was No. 1 heading into the 2011 season. The Sooners went from national championship favorite to a final ranking of No. 16.

And while injuries conspired against OU in 2009, the fact remains the Sooners went from preseason No. 3 to unranked and 8-5 to finish the year.

It would take a few chapters to explain the reasons for it all, but there is no avoiding the trend — from August to January, OU has gone the wrong direction in four of the past six seasons.

Ask Bob Stoops about it, he’ll remind you that his 2013 team won the Sugar Bowl and finished No. 6. Fine. His 2010 team also finished No. 6 after winning the Fiesta Bowl.

But two worthy years and the ’13 overachievement (OU opened at No. 16) don’t erase the shortcomings of the other four.