NORMAN, Okla. -- Clemson down. Stanford to go?

The Sooners' national championship hopes received a big boost on the weekend, as Oklahoma jumped three spots to No. 6 in the BCS. OU pasted unbeaten Kansas State by 41 points, then got help as Georgia Tech took down undefeated Clemson.

And with that, the Sooners are back in the championship picture, positioned as the top one-loss team on the board. Of course, OU still needs help. But not much.

Quarterback Landry Jones and the Sooners still have a shot to play in the BCS Championship Game. Peter G. Aiken/Getty Images

Only LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma State, Stanford and Boise State stand in front of the Sooners.

LSU goes to Alabama this weekend. OU gets its shot at the Cowboys in the regular-season finale. And just by winning, the Sooners figure to pass Boise eventually, because of the computers.

That leaves Stanford as perhaps the biggest roadblock, should the Sooners run the table. In their first legitimate test of the season, the Cardinal survived at USC in triple overtime, but three more obstacles await: eighth-ranked Oregon, Notre Dame and No. 19 Arizona State, most likely, in the Pac-12 title game. If Stanford loses any of the three, OU would really be in business.

Obviously, the Sooners must win out. But they sure looked like a team on a mission in Manhattan, Kan. Facing a program on a roll, the Sooners embarrassed K-State on its home field, scoring 44 unanswered points to win 58-17.

Oklahoma scored touchdowns on its first five possessions of the second half, while holding K-State to 32 total yards and four first downs and sacking QB Colin Klein six times.

The Sooners' defense is now No. 1 in the country in sacks, with 34, and the offense is No. 1 in fewest sacks allowed, with three.

"We just need to play like that every week," coach Bob Stoops said after the game.

If they do, the Sooners surely will win their next three games to set up what still should be the biggest Bedlam game in series history. And then, all bets are off.